As James Sanders explained in his book '' Celluloid Skyline : New York and the Movies , '' the director 's goal was to capture spontaneously Manhattan 's exuberance , the stampede of individuals smothered , isolated and comforted by the crowd in their quest for '' success at all costs '' and the '' gradual reduction of Sims 's dreams as he confronts the inevitable urban reality of a million other dreams , all vying for greatness . ''