Apple TV+ has dropped a clip of First-Look from Scorsese, a five-part documentary about legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese. It features the director, reminiscing about the time he planned to “steal” a taxi driver from the studio.
Check out the clip above and read more about the series.
Scorsese’s wild plan for taxi driver cuts
Sneak Peak shows that Martin Scorsese recalls a tense battle with the studio over the violent climax of the classic in 1976. As Scorsese says, executives wanted to cut some of the bloody moments.
“I was mad, I was going to threaten them, or maybe I was just shooting them. I didn’t know,” Scorsese says in the clip. “What I wanted to do is not a gun… I go in and find out where the rough cut is, break the window and remove it. They’re trying to destroy the movie anyway.
His friend and filmmaker Steven Spielberg recalls the phone he received. “I call the office, and he says, “Steve, Steve, that’s Marty. Yeah, will you come to the house? They want me to cut all the blood. And he’s hooked.”
A final compromise? Scorsese tightened the colour of the sequence to make the blood look brown rather than red. “It saved the film,” Spielberg said.
Dive deeper into the life and career of a film icon
Scorsese comes from acclaimed film director Rebecca Miller (she came to me, personal speed). The five-part Apple TV+ series examines how Scorsese’s life experiences shaped his artistic vision.
“The project was a filmmaker’s dream and had that access to industry legends, from Marty himself to prolific collaborators, close friends and family,” Miller said in a press release. “I was honored that he trusted me to create this documentary. I think everyone from dedicated Scorsese fans to those who worked on their mistakes and reached out to the stars will resonate.”
The series features a wide range of conversations with Scorsese, as well as new interviews with collaborators and friends, including Robert De Niro, Daniel Day Lewis, Leonardo DiCaprio, Thelma Sukhunmaker, Sharon Stone, Jodie Foster, Paul Schrader, Margot Robbie, Cate Blanche, Jay Cock, and Rodrigo Pretau. It also features musicians such as family, childhood friends, Mick Jagger and Robbie Robertson.
With Scorsese’s unprecedented access to personal archives and a set of talent, Scorsese should prove his treatment of filmmakers and film enthusiasts.
Scorsese will premiere on Apple TV+ on October 17th.
