Martin Scorsese Reflects on the Controversy of Taxi Driver

London, UK — Martin Scorsese opens up about the turmoil surrounding his 1976 film, Taxi Driver, in a new documentary series on Apple TV+ titled Mr. Scorsese. The five-part series, created by Rebecca Miller, includes fresh insights into Scorsese’s experiences during a volatile period in filmmaking.

Miller describes the era as one where filmmakers operated in a ‘Wild West’ environment, executing bold, unconventional moves. She shared her observation of Scorsese’s intense emotional state during a significant disagreement with studio executives. ‘He’s definitely not proud of his behavior,’ she remarked, noting that film directing is deeply intertwined with Scorsese’s identity.

The controversy ignited when Stanley Jaffe, then head of Columbia Pictures, pressured Scorsese to alter the film’s violent ending. The Motion Picture Association of America threatened to issue an X rating unless changes were made. Scorsese recalls his reaction, saying, ‘That’s when I lost it.’ He reached out to friends and screenwriter John Milius, revealing his extreme frustration. He humorously recounted his impulse to threaten Jaffe.

In the documentary, Milius narrates a tense phone call he received from Scorsese. ‘Steve, Steve, it’s Marty, Steve. Can you come over to the house?’ Milius detailed how Scorsese was distraught over the request to censor the film’s content. Scorsese wanted to retain critical scenes and described his feelings by saying, ‘I was angry and said I’m going to threaten them or maybe just shoot or something.’

Despite claiming he never intended to use a firearm, Scorsese admitted he contemplated acquiring one. ‘What I wanted to do… was to break the windows and take it away,’ he explained, frustrated by the notion of losing his artistic vision. Ultimately, he resolved the standoff by toning down the sequence’s color, a move that filmmaker Steven Spielberg acknowledged as pivotal in saving the movie.

Scorsese’s retrospective on violence in cinema also touches on his past struggles, including nights spent using cocaine with musician Robbie Robertson. ‘The problem is that you enjoy the sin. When I was bad, I enjoyed a lot of it,’ he reflected.

Taxi Driver, famous for its graphic violence and for featuring 12-year-old Jodie Foster in a controversial role, became both a critical and commercial success. As anticipation builds, the documentary series will feature interviews with notable figures including Robert De Niro, Daniel Day-Lewis, and Leonardo DiCaprio, with its release scheduled for October 17 on Apple TV+.