Ciao Manhattan (Edie in Ciao! Manhattan) (1972)

60% of critics liked it
(10 reviews)
66% of users liked it
(1,292 ratings)

Edie Sedgwick,1960s heroine of decadence, is exploited from beyond the grave in this clumsily pieced together film taken from two unfinished Sedgwick vehicles -- one by Chuck Wein from 1967 displaying Edie at her peak as a Warhol star, and the other from 1970 by David Weisman and John Palmer, made… More Edie Sedgwick,1960s heroine of decadence, is exploited from beyond the grave in this clumsily pieced together film taken from two unfinished Sedgwick vehicles -- one by Chuck Wein from 1967 displaying Edie at her peak as a Warhol star, and the other from 1970 by David Weisman and John Palmer, made when Edie appeared decimated from drug and alcohol addiction. The film is arranged in the form of a cinema verité examination of her life and lifestyle: the woman lives in an empty, covered-over swimming pool, surrounded by posters of herself. She prances around topless for a good portion of the film, the better to display the results of a generous addition of silicone. The film shows her reminiscing about the days when she was a "star" and when her drug highs were mellower. Sedgwick died of a drug overdose in 1971. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 24 min.
Directed By: John Palmer, Allen Ginsberg
Written By: John Palmer, David Weisman
Genres: Television, Art House & International, Documentary, Drama, Musical & Performing Arts, Special Interest

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1972 Wide
On DVD: Dec 10, 2002
Studio: Plexifilm

Critic Reviews

Variety Staff, Variety
Monotonous and nearly incomprehensible.
Roger Greenspun, New York Times
At bottom Ciao! Manhattan is cruel exploitation -- though the film is dedicated to Miss Sedgwick's memory, an ultimate indignity.
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
You'll hate yourself in the morning, but you'll sit through it.
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com
Not a great movie, but absolutely essential viewing.
Douglas Pratt, DVDLaser
Whether [Edie Sedgwick] is acting or stoned-for-real with a model's instincts propping her up, her performance is wonderful, highly amusing at all the right moments, yet melancholy in a way which is free of self-pity.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
The film only seems to exploit her tragedy.
Martin Hoyle, Time Out
Two attempts at a movie spliced uneasily into one.
, Film4
The narrative is rambling, but there are some genuine, inspired comic moments.
John G. Nettles, PopMatters
Ciao! Manhattan is ultimately a testament to the odd, elastic nature of the '60s.

Read all 9 critic reviews

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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

Quinto W

Give credit to Edie Sedgwick's death for the popularity of this film, but even if she had lived it would've been an incredible and strange scrapbook of what the 1960's culture represented and how it worked. It's interesting to see because it's basically almost… More
Give credit to Edie Sedgwick's death for the popularity of this film, but even if she had lived it would've been an incredible and strange scrapbook of what the 1960's culture represented and how it worked. It's interesting to see because it's basically almost a documentary.