Martin Scorsese confirms that Taxi Driver’s most famous scene was nearly ruined by producers. Starring frequent collaborator Robert De Niro, Scorsese’s gritty 1976 portrait of a disturbed New York City cabbie won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, and today is still regarded as one of the master filmmaker’s best movies. Among the film’s iconic moments is an oft-imitated scene that sees De Niro’s Travis Bickle practicing his tough-talk in front of a mirror, as he prepares himself for the acts of violence that explode in the film’s shocking climax.
“You talkin’ to me?” is indeed one of the most famous lines in movie history, but that iconic Taxi Driver moment almost didn’t happen, says Scorsese, because producers were literally banging on the door trying to halt shooting. Appearing on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, Scorsese related the story of how close De Niro’s big scene came to not happening, and how the rush to shoot forced the improv that led to an immortal moment. Check out Scorsese’s remarks below (around 2:20 of the clip):
We were behind schedule. We were in such trouble. They were banging on the door and I had to open the door and say, “This is good. This is good.” Two more minutes. One more take. He was improvising. I was at his feet. There were no video assists. I was saying, “Do it again, do it again.” He’s doing the thing with the moves and the gun and that. Columbus Avenue we shot that. Some of the buildings now are gone. Condemned buildings.
De Niro’s Taxi Driver Improv Was Supposedly Inspired By Bruce Springsteen
Scorsese’s story of De Niro’s rushed improv in Taxi Driver‘s famed mirror scene confirms previous remarks from screenwriter Paul Schrader, who has said in interviews that the actor came up with his lines and actions on the fly. Digging deeper into the specific origins of the “You talkin’ to me?” line, it was once claimed by Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band saxophone player, Clarence Clemons, that De Niro told him he was inspired by The Boss, who would often say the line “You talking to me?” onstage during his shows.
The world may never know exactly what was in De Niro’s mind while he improvised Travis Bickle’s most famous moment, as De Niro doesn’t like to discuss his own work in much detail. It’s definitely true that he came up with the words himself, uttering one of cinema history’s most famous lines even as producers were literally trying to stop him and Scorsese from shooting. Thankfully for cinema buffs everywhere, De Niro and Scorsese were able to complete the scene despite the intrusion, giving Taxi Driver its signature moment.
Taxi Driver
Martin Scorsese’s classic 1976 film stars Robert De Niro as Travis Bickle, a Vietnam veteran turned New York City cab driver whose increasingly disturbed mental state due to his PTSD begins to drive him to more and more violent actions as he attempts to rid the city of what he sees as the “scum” on the streets. Jodie Foster, Harvey Keitel, Cybill Shepherd, and Albert Brooks also star in the film.
- Release Date
- February 9, 1976
- Director
- Martin Scorsese
- Cast
- Albert Brooks , Harvey Keitel , Cybill Shepherd , Robert De Niro , Jodie Foster
- Runtime
- 114 Minutes
- Writers
- Paul Schrader
- Budget
- $1.9 Million
- Studio(s)
- Bill/Phillips Productions
- Distributor(s)
- Columbia Pictures
