Filmmaker Martin Scorsese has revealed he was that miffed by a request from movie bosses that he threatened to get a gun and destroy a copy of hit film Taxi Driver
Martin Scorsese has revealed the backlash to his hit film Taxi Driver was so strong, he threatened to buy a gun. The award-winning director said he was willing to destroy a cut of the 1976 movie instead of making the changes suggested.
Fellow filmmaker Steven Spielberg revealed Scorsese was asked to cut violence from Taxi Driver, which he strongly refused. He shared how he had received a call from a “very upset” Scorsese.
The director had been asked to reduce violence in a scene from the psychological thriller. It comes after Richard Osman reveals axed Ant and Dec show was ‘expensive car crash’.
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In the first look at Apple TV+’s upcoming documentary series about the director, Spielberg recalled: “’Steve, Steve, it’s Marty, Steve. Can you come over to the house?’
“‘They want me to cut all the blood spurting, they want me to cut all the blood spurting, they want me to cut the guy who loses his hand’.” Scorsese was asked whether he had a gun at this time, which he denied.
However, he admitted he was threatening to get one. “I was going to get one,” Scorsese said. “But I wasn’t going to get it, really? I was angry and said I’m going to threaten them or maybe just shoot or something, I had no idea, I mean I was threatening.
“What I wanted to do, and not with a gun, I would go in, find out where the rough cut is and break the windows and take it away. They’re going to destroy the film anyway, you know, so let me destroy it.
“I’ll destroy it but before destroying it I’m going to steal it.” Scorsese revealed Spielberg stepped in as he tried to stop him taking such drastic action.
“Spielberg and a number of others said ‘Marty, stop that, Marty, you can’t do that’,” he explained. The scene in question was changed ever so slightly as Scorsese “toned the colour down.”
Spielberg confessed it meant none of the violence had to be cut from the film and “saved the movie”. Taxi Driver features Robert De Niro as Travis Bickle, a former US marine who becomes a taxi driver, which earned him his first Oscar nomination.
Its also saw co-star Jodie Foster nominated in the best supporting actress category.
The five-part documentary series, directed by award-winning filmmaker Rebecca Miller, features Scorsese’s personal archive and interviews with collaborators including actors De Niro, Daniel Day-Lewis and Leonardo DiCaprio.
It follows the director from his time as a New York University student to the present day, exploring the themes that have influenced his work. The series will be released on the streaming platform on October 17.
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