Taxi Driver (1976)

Director:

Martin Scorsese

Writer:

Paul Schrader (written by)

Release Date:

8 February 1976 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

On every street in every city, there's a nobody who dreams of being a somebody.

Plot:

A mentally unstable Vietnam war veteran works as nighttime taxi driver in a city whose perceived decadence and sleaze feeds his urge to violently lash out, attempting to save a teenage prostitute in the process.

Plot Keywords:

Prostitute | New York City | Alienation | Insomnia | Gunman

Awards:

Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 18 wins & 9 nominations

Cast

Robert De Niro	...	Travis Bickle (as Robert DeNiro)
Jodie Foster	...	Iris
Albert Brooks	...	Tom
Harvey Keitel	...	Sport
Leonard Harris	...	Charles Palantine
Peter Boyle	...	Wizard
Cybill Shepherd	...	Betsy
Diahnne Abbott	...	Concession Girl
Frank Adu	...	Angry Black Man
Gino Ardito	...	Policeman at Rally
Victor Argo	...	Melio (as Vic Argo)
Garth Avery	...	Iris' Friend
Harry Cohn	...	Cabbie in Bellmore
Copper Cunningham	...	Hooker in Cab
Brenda Dickson	...	Soap Opera Woman
Harry Fischler	...	Dispatcher
Nat Grant	...	Stickup Man
Richard Higgs	...	Tall Secret Service Man
Beau Kayser	...	Soap Opera Man
Victor Magnotta	...	Secret Service Photographer (as Vic Magnotta)
Bob Maroff	...	Mafioso
Norman Matlock	...	Charlie T
Bill Minkin	...	Tom's Assistant
Murray Moston	...	Iris' Timekeeper
Harry Northup	...	Doughboy
Gene Palma	...	Street Drummer
Harlan Cary Poe	...	Campaign Worker (as Carey Poe)
Steven Prince	...	Andy - Gun Salesman
Peter Savage	...	The John
Martin Scorsese	...	Passenger watching silhouette
Nicholas Shields	...	Palantine's Aide
Ralph S. Singleton	...	TV Interviewer (as Ralph Singleton)
Joe Spinell	...	Personnel Officer
Maria Turner	...	Angry Hooker
Robin Utt	...	Campaign Worker
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Tommy Ardolino	...	Boy on Sidewalk (uncredited)
Joseph Bergmann	...	Movie House Patron (uncredited)
William Donovan	...	Police Officer (uncredited)
Jean Elliott	...	Clerk at Sam Goody Store (uncredited)
Annie Gagen	...	Campaign Worker (uncredited)
James Mapes	...	CIA Agent (uncredited)
Debbi Morgan	...	Girl at Columbus Circle (uncredited)
Billie Perkins	...	Friend of Iris (uncredited)

Directed by
Martin Scorsese

Writing credits
Paul Schrader		(written by)

Produced by
Phillip M. Goldfarb	....	associate producer
Julia Phillips	....	producer
Michael Phillips	....	producer

Original Music by
Bernard Herrmann

Cinematography by
Michael Chapman		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Tom Rolf
Melvin Shapiro

Casting by
Juliet Taylor

Art Direction by
Charles Rosen

Set Decoration by
Herbert F. Mulligan		(as Herbert Mulligan)

Costume Design by
Ruth Morley

Makeup Department
Irving Buchman	....	makeup artist
Mona Orr	....	hairdresser
Dick Smith	....	special makeup

Production Management
Phillip M. Goldfarb	....	production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Robert P. Cohen	....	dga trainee (as Robert Cohen)
William Eustace	....	second assistant director
Peter R. Scoppa	....	assistant director
Ralph S. Singleton	....	second assistant director (as Ralph Singleton)

Art Department
Leslie Bloom	....	property master (as Les Bloom)
Dave Goodonoff	....	assistant property master (as Dave Goodnoff)
David Nichols	....	visual consultant
Cosmo Sorice	....	scenic artist
Carter Stevens	....	additional photography (uncredited)

Sound Department
Rick Alexander	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Dick Alexander)
Gordon Davidson	....	sound effects editor
James Fritch	....	sound effects editor (as Jim Fritch)
Sam Gemette	....	sound effects editor
David M. Horton	....	sound effects editor (as David Hourton)
Les Lazarowitz	....	sound mixer
Roger Pietschmann	....	sound recorder (as Roger Pietschman)
Vern Poore	....	sound re-recording mixer
Robert Rogow	....	boom man
Tex Rudloff	....	sound re-recording supervisor
Frank E. Warner	....	supervising sound effects editor
Mel Zelniker	....	adr recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Tony Parmelee	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Alec Hirschfeld	....	assistant cameraman (as Alec Hirshfeld)
Bill Johnson	....	assistant cameraman
Richard Quinlan	....	gaffer
Ed Quinn	....	grip (as Edward Quinn)
Fred Schuler	....	camera operator
Steve Shapiro	....	special photography
Robert Ward	....	key grip
William Ward	....	best boy (as Billy Ward)
Josh Weiner	....	still photographer
Ron Zarilla	....	assistant cameraman
Michael Zingale	....	camera: second unit
Paul Kimatian	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Casting Department
Sylvia Fay	....	atmosphere casting (as Sylvia Faye)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Al Craine	....	wardrobe

Editorial Department
Marcia Lucas	....	supervising film editor
George Trirogoff	....	assistant editor
Billy Weber	....	assistant editor (as William Weber)
Steven Spielberg	....	supervising editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Shinichi Yamazaki	....	music editor
Dave Blume	....	musical director (uncredited)
Jack Hayes	....	conductor (uncredited)
Jack Hayes	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Bernard Herrmann	....	musical director (uncredited)
Dan Wallin	....	music engineer (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Raymond Hartwick	....	transportation coordinator (as Ray Hartwick)

Other crew
Keith Addis	....	assistant to producers
Marion Billings	....	special publicity
Kay Chapin	....	script supervisor
Pat Dodos	....	secretary to the producers
Connie Foster	....	double: Jodie Foster
Amy Holden Jones	....	assistant to director (as Amy Jones)
Eugene Iemola	....	production assistant
Howard Newman	....	publicist
Dan Perri	....	title design
Noni Rock	....	production office coordinator
Renate Rupp	....	secretary to the producers
Chris Soldo	....	production assistant
Gary Springer	....	production assistant
Sandra Weintraub	....	creative consultant
Dan Coplan	....	location security (uncredited)

Thanks
Julia Cameron	....	special thanks
Loretta Cubberley	....	special thanks
Richard B. Goodwin	....	special thanks (as Richard Goodwin)
Jack Hayes	....	special thanks
Bernard Herrmann	....	our gratitude and respect to: June 29, 1911 - December 24, 1975
Linda Kopcyk	....	special thanks
Kris Kristofferson	....	special thanks
Charlie McCarthy	....	special thanks
Jerry Orange	....	special thanks
Hank Phillippi	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures Corporation (presents) (as Columbia Pictures)
• Bill/Phillips
• Italo/Judeo Productions

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1976) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Films (1976) (France) (theatrical)
• Filmayer (1977) (Spain) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1979) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Park Circus (2006) (UK) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (1999) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (????) (UK) (video) (laserdisc)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (????) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1991) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1999) (Canada) (DVD) (Collector's Edition)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1999) (USA) (DVD) (widescreen)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1999) (USA) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar (????) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar (????) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Criterion Collection, The (1981) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• LK-TEL (????) (Argentina) (VHS)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (????) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Sony Video (2007) (USA) (DVD) (widescreen)

Special Effects

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) Studios (optical effects) (as M.G.M.)

Other Companies

• Alhambra  score album released by
• Devon/Persky-Bright  production services by
• Dick Clark Productions  with special thanks to
• International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE)  this picture made under the jurisdiction of (as I.A.T.S.E.)
• Sylvia Fay/Lee Genick & Associates Casting  extras casting

Runtime:

113 min | Spain:110 min (cut version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR (re-release) | Stereo

Certification:

New Zealand:R18 | Canada:R (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Italy:VM14 | Germany:16 (re-rating) | West Germany:18 (original rating) | Iceland:16 | Brazil:14 | South Africa:16LV | Philippines:R-18 | Canada:18A (Canadian Home Video rating) | Spain:13 (re-rating) | Argentina:18 | Australia:R | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 (re-rating) | France:-16 (original rating) | Hong Kong:IIB | Ireland:18 | Israel:18 | Japan:R-15 | Netherlands:16 | Norway:18 | Peru:18 | Portugal:M/18 | Singapore:M18 | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 (video rating) (1986) (cut) | UK:18 (video re-rating) (1993) (uncut) | UK:X (original rating) (cut) | USA:R (Approved No. 24441)

Filming Locations:

13 St between 2nd & 3rd Avenues, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Paul Schrader wrote the part of Travis with Jeff Bridges in mind.

Goofs:

Continuity: Travis's hair style changes from scene to scene as he begins to plot his revenge. His hair is long in front as he sharpens his knife and builds the arm slide, then is shorter when he chats with the suspicious secret service agent, then long in front again as he practices in front of the mirror (the famous "Are you talkin' to me?" sequence), then short again as he watches a campaign appearance from his cab, then long as he kicks over his television, then finally short again as he visits Iris.

Quotes:

[first lines]
[phone rings loudly]
Personnel Officer: Harry, answer that.
Personnel Officer: So whaddya want to hack for, Bickle?
Travis Bickle: I can't sleep nights.
Personnel Officer: There's porno theaters for that.
Travis Bickle: Yeah, I know, I tried that.
Personnel Officer: So now what do you do?
Travis Bickle: I ride around most nights - subways, buses - but you know, if I'm gonna do that I might as well get paid for it.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Chopper (2000)

Soundtrack:

HOLD ME CLOSE

God's lonely men make a great film

The strength of Taxi Driver is that it proves film is a collaborative art. Undoubtly the films power lies in its unwavering first person narrative; De Niro appears in virtually every scene as God's lonely man Travis Bickle, a character craving human contact yet so crippled by paranoia and mental illness that this modest goal is seemingly unattainable. Scorsese films New York like its hell on earth - and we come to realise it is Travis' twisted world view that we are party to. Paul Schrader's script keeps the tension at an almost unbearable simmer, violence threatens to erupt at any moment making the experience a deeply distressing one for the casual viewer.

However, this film would be unimaginable without Bernard Hermann's haunting score made doubly poignant because it was his last. And I could go on about contributions made by other members of the Taxi Driver team.....but I hope my point has been taken that it is the synergy of deeply creative people at the height of their powers that makes Taxi Driver such a unique and rewarding experience. They have all made excellent work since this production but will never better this their finest moment.