Film Masters: Martin Scorsese (Early and 70s)


Martin Scorsese on the set of Taxi Driver

Martin Scorsese He is one of the best directors still active today, a master of cinema who remains at the same level as he was in the 70s, 80s and 90s.

Biography

Born on November 17, 1942 in Flushing, New York. Martin Charles Scorsese is of Italian American descent. From a very young age, he spent evenings at the movies, which made him decide to dedicate himself to directing instead of the priesthood as his family wanted.

Recurring themes in his career have been the life and customs of the Italian-American family, guilt and redemption according to the Roman Catholic religion, and violence in American society. His interest in music has also led him to shoot and produce films about singers and groups.

Studies and first jobs

Scorsese received a BA in film directing from New York University in 1964, and in 1966 he earned a master's degree in the same discipline.

While studying at the University, he shot three short films “Vesuvius VI”, “What's a nice girl like you doing in a place like this?”, “It's not just you, Murray!”.

After finishing his studies, the director shot one last short before making his feature film debut, it was called "The Great Shave" and it was in 1967.

From feature film debut to the first half of the 70s

In 1967 the director shot his first feature film “Who is knocking on my door?”, A drama scripted by Scorsese himself and starring his fellow student, Harvey Keitel.

His second work behind the camera was the documentary "Street scenes" in the year 1970.

In 1972, "Bertha's Train", a "Bonnie and Clyde" series B, began to show the potential of the director.

In 1973 the director carried out his first great success, “Bad streets”, The tape that would mark his own style. It wasn't a box office hit at all, but it garnered rave reviews.

Ellen Burstyn, actress chosen to star, in 1974, “Alicia no longer lives here”, Asked Martin Scorsese to direct it. So it was. Burstyn knew how to choose well because with this film she won the Oscar for best actress, the film also won two more awards from the academy and the Bafta for best film.

After "Alicia no longer lives here", and still in 1974, the filmmaker returned to the documentary with "Italian American”An approach to families like yours, in a medium-length film.

The second half of the 70s

The 1976 film "Taxi Driver”It revolutionized North American society. The cult work recounts how a Vietnam veteran with serious psychological problems due to what he experienced on the battlefield, decides to take justice on his own. To do this, he decides to start working as a taxi driver at night, since he suffers from insomnia. The film, winner that year of the Palme d'Or inCannes , marked the big screen debut of actress Jodie Foster.

In 1977 Scorsese paid tribute to the city that saw him born with the musical "New York, New York", starring Robert De Niro and Liza Minelli.

The director ended the 70s with two documentaries dedicated to the world of music, "American Boy: A profile of: Steven Prince" and "The last Waltz”, Both in 1978. The first is a medium-length film about the life of Steve Price, the second is the filming of the concert of“ The Band ”.


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