The Films of Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro

by Andrew J. Rausch

Overview

In 1973, early in their careers, Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro collaborated for the first time. Over the next few decades, they worked together on seven more movies, many of which brought them both acclaim and awards. And while successful director and actor pairings have occurred throughout the history of film, few have fashioned so many works of enduring value as these two artists. In little more than two decades, Scorsese and De Niro produced eight features, including the classics Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, and GoodFellas.

In The Films of Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro, Andrew J. Rausch examines the creative output of this remarkable pair, from their initial offering, Mean Streets, to their most recent film together, Casino. Rausch looks at their relationship as individual artists who worked together to create cinematic magic, as well as the friendship that was forged nearly 40 years ago. Drawing upon interviews and other sources, Rausch goes behind the scenes of their eight films, providing insight and analysis on all their collaborations, including New York, New York, The King of Comedy, and Cape Fear. A rare glimpse into the moviemaking process of these two legends, The Films of Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro will appeal to both scholars and fans alike.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780810874138
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	05/03/2010
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	234
Product dimensions:	5.70(w) x 8.60(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Andrew J. Rausch is the author or coauthor of several books on popular culture, including Turning Points in Film History (2004), Making Movies with Orson Welles (Scarecrow, 2008), and Reflections on Blaxploitation (Scarecrow, 2009).

Table of Contents

Foreword David Walker vii

Acknowledgments xiii

Introduction xv

Chapter 1 Mean Streets (1973) 1

Chapter 2 Taxi Driver (1976) 27

Chapter 3 New York, New York (1977) 47

Chapter 4 Raging Bull (1980) 69

Chapter 5 The King of Comedy (1982) 97

Chapter 6 GoodFellas (1990) 119

Chapter 7 Cape Fear (1991) 143

Chapter 8 Casino (1995) 165

Epilogue 191

Collaborative Filmography 193

Bibliography 199

Index 205

About the Author 215

Editorial Reviews

Can there ever be enough written about the emotionally fraught and visceral work of cinema legends Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro? For fans who've snapped up biographies of the distinguished director and his first celebrated muse, not to mention special DVD collections of their films, the answer is no, never. Rausch (Reflections on Blaxploitation) presents a thorough and enthusiastic examination of the eight movies on which Scorsese and De Niro collaborated, from Raging Bull, often said to be the best film of the '80s, to the underappreciated The King of Comedy, to the lackluster Casino. With insight into their collaboration and breezy behind-the-scenes accounts, Rausch explores the dynamics of their partnership, notably Scorsese's instinct for improvisation and De Niro's Method immersion. Blow-by-blow plot descriptions of each film go into startling detail, and although Rausch didn't speak personally with either Scorsese or De Niro, he edits previously published interviews well, and gleans great insights from the conversations he did have with many of the duo's colleagues.
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Publishers Weekly

Can there ever be enough written about the emotionally fraught and visceral work of cinema legends Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro? For fans who've snapped up biographies of the distinguished director and his first celebrated muse, not to mention special DVD collections of their films, the answer is no, never. Rausch (Reflections on Blaxploitation) presents a thorough and enthusiastic examination of the eight movies on which Scorsese and De Niro collaborated, from Raging Bull, often said to be the best film of the '80s, to the underappreciated The King of Comedy, to the lackluster Casino. With insight into their collaboration and breezy behind-the-scenes accounts, Rausch explores the dynamics of their partnership, notably Scorsese's instinct for improvisation and De Niro's Method immersion. Blow-by-blow plot descriptions of each film go into startling detail, and although Rausch didn't speak personally with either Scorsese or De Niro, he edits previously published interviews well, and gleans great insights from the conversations he did have with many of the duo's colleagues.--Publishers Weekly

Fascinating and well written.... An enjoyable read.--Library Journal

From the Publisher

Martin Scorsese's work has been the focus of multiple books in recent years, but his matchless relationship with Robert De Niro has not received the same level of study. Unfortunately, Rausch's (Turning Points in Film History) attempt to fill this void is largely unsuccessful. Eight chapters discuss the films they made together, but half of each chapter contains a complete plot summary that offers little analysis. Anyone choosing to read this book would likely be already familiar with these films; for others, a full synopsis could ruin the eventual viewing experience. The other half of each chapter is a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the filmmaking process; these are fascinating and well written, but their impact is lessened by superfluous information. VERDICT While this is an enjoyable read, the price is high and there is not enough original insight to recommend it to anyone but particularly focused film students or Scorsese completists.—Peter Thornell, Hingham P.L., MA

Library Journal