For what is arguably Woody Allen's best film to date, MGM has put together an embarrassingly sparse package. Excepting the original trailer and the obvious scene and language selection, this DVD release contains no other special features. Given the director's idiosyncrasies, not much could be expected in the form of a commentary or mini-documentary. Nevertheless, the two page "collector's booklet" covering the origins of the film, including quotes from Allen himself, could have been incorporated digitally instead. Including biographies and/or filmographies for the main performers would have been appreciated. The DVD format brings out the best in the film's glorious cinematography. The black-and-white image is crisp (leveled well with the contrasts of gray, shadows, and light) and is presented in anamorphic widescreen, though there is a choice of other ratios as well. Though the inevitable scratches and grain appear in only bright daylight scenes, the overall picture is the cleanest it has ever been to home viewers. The Dolby Digital Sound is good for being in mono (another one of Allen's quirks), showcasing the witty dialogue. The Gershwin soundtrack is able to shine through now and again, and the buzzing New York street sounds do make an appearance as well. Although the brilliance of Manhattan is enough to recommend this disc, it would have been nice to see MGM compile some simple supporting elements to make a more comprehensive package.
