A Look Inside Taxi Driver and The King of Comedy
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 20 ก.พ. 2014
- This video looks at the ideas and inspirations for the films Taxi Driver and The King of Comedy.
P.S.
I would like to thank Sony Pictures for releasing its copyright claim on this video.
Copyright Disclaimer - This video contains copyrighted images and sound. It is an educational study and falls under the "fair use" provisions of copyright law and the first amendment to critique and discuss. - บันเทิง
Scorsese has also said that he believes fantasy should be depicted as reality in movies, because the fantasy is real to the person having it. Just something to note.
Yes, excellent point! Fantasies ARE real to the people experiencing them ... in fact, every bit as real as the world that exists outside of someone's fantasy life and world.
It depends on what type of movie your making
@@shunbeats5431 a Scorsese type movie...
Yes and no. We have fantasies which we believe and ones we don't believe. We are capable of self-deception and of wishful thinking we know to be such.
It is amazing that is the same actor in both films.
IMO, everything is real until Travis points his trigger finger at his head and pulls the trigger three times. Then the overhead shot that tracks out of the building with everything frozen in time. Time has stopped for Travis. Stasis. Whether an actual or metaphorical death, the nods to Bresson are filled throughout the film and while one could assume redemption on one side, (a particular Schrader fascination) the other is viable as well. If you pay close attention to the two leitmotifs by Bernard Hermann's score, "The good Travis", the saxophone piece and "The bad Travis", the percussive piece, the two sides never cross until the final cab scene when the two worlds intersect briefly as Travis readjusts his mirror in something he see's but we do not. The duality of Travis, briefly crosses thru his world and it would seem he is destined to repeat this throughout eternity. Just my two cents but thanks for the review.
The new Joker movie is pretty much a combo of these two movies
Its a worst copy cat of these two
@@shinnybuttnerd248 Agree
@@shinnybuttnerd248 You gotta be blind if you think so.
Cesar Hernandez it’s a great movie, but king of comedy is a totally flawless movie and taxi driver a total masterpiece
Joker is a great movie, but in my opinion, it’s biggest con is that it’s influences are so obvious. As soon as I saw it, it screamed these two films, at least for me. Taxi driver and king of comedy are definitely better
The metaphors, allegories and Similitude's are endless; Travis's room and Rupert's basement. Places of solitude, fantasy and isolation. Not rooms then but, 'minds' of the films main characters. A place where what they desire to be, they can become...etc...shall I continue? Anyone can do this shit!
The basement and the mother calling down were a bit cliché.
@@anonb4632 Rupert states that he bases his comedy off of his real life experiences, and from his final comedy act and plenty of other scenes in the film, we can surmise that Rupert definitely had a troubled childhood. Rupert also claims in his comedy routine that his mother was an abusive alcoholic who has been dead for 9 years, which could suggest that his mother in his appartment who we never actually see might not be really there.
@@phosphorescenceking6114 I'm not convinced by that either... That heads into Norman Bates territory. I think Pupkin's mother is the weak link in the whole film. In the recent Joker though, the maternal link works very well.
Nobody ever mentions how great Jerry Lewis was in KOC???
He was great but I don't think he got enough credit because the character wasn't a huge stretch for him to play.
Acceptable critique, however, no role would be a "huge stretch" for him to play. He's seen and done it all: comedian, singer, dancer, actor, writer, producer, director, and mime.
There should be a movie about JL as KOC!
He did very well in KOC.
Sean McDougall agreed, while jerry was great. He was essentially playing himself
Taxi driver. King of Comedy. The Joker. Seriously, the last two are so similar! I loved it! I really think Joker made a nod to King of Comedy with the running by the door scene!
the whole movie is a carbon copy of taxi driver and the king of comedy
Yeh I thought the exact same thing about the running scene. Also the scene where Arthur watches the cab drive by him at night, and sees the passenger wearing the joker mask, and Arthur smiles. That scene reminded me a lot of when the black guy walks past Travis bickle, and Travis stares with contempt. And obviously the joker environment as a whole is very taxi driver.
when it comes to explore the dark side of the human soul scorsese can do in a great way he did that in taxi driver & raging bull & king of comedy
one interesting detail i noticed in taxi driver is that when travis is eating with iris, she starts the scene wearing one pair of sunglasses and ends it putting on a totally different pair. made me wonder if she was just eccentric or if it was a clue that we couldn't trust everything that we saw.
+maseca the space boy Well she is wearing different glasses in every scene and since she is always carrying that hand bag (where she is probably keeping all of the glasses) I think it is just part of her character.
Scorsese is one of my favourite directors, particular because of the characters that feature in his movies. I love Taxi Driver, but have not been able to quite make my mind up on The King Of Comedy. I think it is an amazing study of "celebrity", and Rupert's character is an extremely interesting one. From what I can gather, Rupert is obsessed with being a "King" and not a comedian. He has no passion for comedy or Jerry Langford really, more a passion for fame and Jerry simply represents this. The tough part of the film for me is in the awkwardness of his encounters. I know it is an intentional tool, which shows Rupert's lack of social awareness and general persistence, but these "cringe-worthy" encounters make the film a little tough to watch at times. The issue that is then raised is that because this is the intended effect, does this mean that the film is engrossing me so much that it deserves credit. Taxi Driver, on the other hand, to me very much places me in the seat of a viewer, whereas because of the increased relevance of King of Comedy's "celebrity" theme in todays society, I very much feel a part of the world Rupert is in and identify with him personally. This is where the films separate in my mind. I think in summary I can appreciate the effect of both films, but of the two it is only The King Of Comedy that truly makes me uncomfortable. Which is why I cannot decide whether I actually enjoy it or not! Do you understand this point of view?
Sam Hollis You know when a film really works? It works when you have an emotional reaction to it. Laugh, cry, cringe, if it can get that out of you then the film deserves credit. I can understand your reaction to The King of Comedy because it is actually a serious look at stalking and people with mental problems (Sandra Bernhard's character). But not every great film is a pleasurable experience; just look at The Exorcist or Schindler's List for that. And if you take a long look at Rupert he is actually a very frighting character because he doesn't just want to be famous he wants to be Jerry. He wants his show, he wants his house, he wants his life. I don't know if you have ever seen the 1996 film "The Fan" because it is surprisingly similar to The King of Comedy. In it Robert De Niro is obsessed with a baseball player played by Wesley Snipes and it isn't until the end do you know how crazy he really is. It's not as good as The King of Comedy but it's an interesting watch.
The Exorcist and Schindler’s List are much easier watches for me because they both offer high-stakes drama. The King of Comedy, on the other hand, is a tough watch because Rupert’s encounters are definitely very awkward. It also hits a little too close to home for me because it’s about a guy trying to break into entertainment and getting rejected over and over again by people who just want to get rid of him... ugh, too relatable.
The same has been said about Joker. Which of course is the two movies put together. Thanks. Nice vid.
Anyone here after watching joker
I'm hearing that a lot lately.
Yep
Yeah just watched taxi driver now gonna watch this
yup
Rebuild his career? After Hours is one of his best.
+Dale Chawkins Yes After Hours was great; but just watch the making of After Hours featurette where they talk to Scorsese. At that time in the 80's after King of Comedy bombed he did not know where his career was going. Most of the great directors who came out of the 70's felt the same way at that time. They could no longer make personal films anymore because Hollywood drastically changed and only wanted to make "commercial" films. He really didn't get back on track until Goodfellas became a hit in 1990.
Sean McDougall In 70's budgets bloated to massive sizes (Apocalypse Now being one of the best examples) because directors had so much control which produced classic movies but many big time studio almost went under because of it. In 90's studios were trying to find ways to make safe bets with remakes and known properties like tv-shows made into movies, early 2000's they found it with comic books. In these days Hollywood climate even Spielberg or Scorsese are having hard time getting the cash for projects they want to make. Real money is handed to directors that goes with the program and directs almost 100% what studios want and real directors ain't obviously interested in that. Scorsese have said he don't want to take overtly big budget because of constant interference from studio after that. But yea you're right, just my two cents.
Another reason why the 80's were tough for Scorsese was because he was seriously thinking about retiring after Raging Bull. He had just come out of a terrible drug addiction and health problems, and Paramount pulled the plug on Last Temptation of Christ during his first attempt to make it. Scorsese is taken for granted these days as a legend, but most of his movies in the 70's and 80's were commercial failures... even Raging Bull. I think The Aviator was his first true "blockbuster" hit. Honestly, I think Leonardo DiCaprio is the one who made Scorsese commercially viable in the new century.
His Habit for Drugs really took off After the Success of "Taxi Driver" Apparently he and Liza Minelli Was on a Coke Binge the whole time on the making of "New York New York" and it was so Severe DeNiro (Who lives a life of Sobriety) Threatened to Quit the Film if they didn't Stop. Then Several Years Later He Nearly dies of a Herion Overdose and DeNiro puts the Script of "Raging Bull" on his Hospital Bed when he was recovering and Thought it would be a good film to make together but also had Marty Died from Drugs during that time that was the Final Film he wanted to make with him. Funny Between their 8 Films Together, the only that was a True Commercial Success was "Goodfellas" Makes you think that had Film Studios Stopped working with him how Film could have been shifted around that time
I like that movie and The King of Comedy more than Scorsese's more well known and popular films about criminals.
I've always seen them as companion pieces thematically.
Very very refined work here. For a couple of exellent movies.
Thanks Martino.
8:55 - no, it's not imagined that part. That's what makes this film so great. And so ahead of its times.
Matteo Prezioso why would the broadcaster say Ruperts name so many tines? Seems like a dream to me
great analysis as always Sean thanks
Great video. I've long considered that the happy ending of Taxi Driver might be a dream which Travis had after dying, but I never considered that half the movie might be one giant dream because all the scenes were shot in the same building. Both films are tough for me to watch because the protagonists are so creepy and unpleasant, but Taxi Driver is perhaps easier to watch because at least it has cathartic violence. King of Comedy is harsher because Rupert is completely unlikable and unsympathetic from beginning to end (though it's kind of amusing that the audience laughs at his jokes... maybe that is indeed just a dream, though?). Didn't know that the actress who played the porn theater concessionist was also the female love interest in King of Comedy. I've often wondered if Scorsese and De Niro made King of Comedy in response to John Hinckley, but have never found direct quotes from them confirming it.
A little extra trivia, the actress in both movies was Diahnne Abbott and she was married to De Niro at the time.
Whoa. Didn't know that, either. I only have one book at home about Scorsese, and clearly it doesn't contain enough behind-the-scenes information...
He Met his 1st Wife on the Set of Taxi Driver, They would get Married before Deniro and Scorsese Would do "New York New York" Where she was in that Movie as well
KOC was written by Paul D. Zimmerman in 1973 not the late 60's. He was busy being the film critic then Arts Editor of Newsweek before then. It was DeNiro's passion project(he wanted to play Pupkin) and he had made several film commitments before KOC could be made. It was filmed a couple of years before it came out in 1983 because Scorsese's illness delayed the editing process. After KOC Scorsese started his one for them(the studio) one for me system. He made the Color of Money to make Last Temptation of Christ. That was how he could survive the vacant 80s movie trend. Is it so hard to do a tiny bit of research?
Ah, thanks!
I have gone back and forth with my opinion on what the ending of these two films mean, and I have come to the conclusion that I think that these endings take place in real life and are not fantasies at all. In both films our main character goes to radical lengths to complete a fantasy in their lives and in the process are rewarded for it even if though they didn't go about it in conventional ways. We see this in history time and time again where people considered to be "bad" or "evil" are praised for their crimes, such as Bonnie and Clyde and the kids who commit the mass shooting of Columbine High School. Even though Taxi Driver came before the Columbine shooting I feel that they hold the same similarity that these people do terrible things to become famous and the media gives them that, so in the end they won.
No the end KOC is definitely all in his head.
What show was Rupert on at the end? No mention. When he was really on the Jerry Langford show we saw Lou Brown, Tony Randall, Bert Thomas the producer, etc. Even a cameo by Marty S. But at the end? Nothing. And what TV announcer keeps repeating his name over and over... with Rupert in that ridiculous red suit? No, it was pure fantasy. Easy to decipher my friend.
Sean, you did a lot of work. Thanks!
Thanks Hugh.
Great video man!
Michael Little Thanks Michael.
So that's the reason he directed the Bad music video, lol
You're a tough man, Sean. Well, you gotta be in this business. :P
Hey greetings & hope all is well physically & mentally during this lockdown ,, Im happy you’re channel is here for us so many thanks,, I came across Bernard Herrmann today & his contribution to a host of great movies 🎥 & was taken back. This brought me here as I’m sure you appreciate his work such as the trumpet in Taxi driver & the strings in Psycho also citizen Kane a movie that is now on my must watch list as I herd a snippet of the low woodwinds,, sounded cool,,also his sound in Vertigo. This prompted me to ask if you kindly have a movie recommendation by any chance & if so thank you. Cheers from the U.K.
Pure fantasy in the scene where Rupert and Jerry are at the restaurant, as mentioned. But notice as they get into the scene that when the camera is on Jerry they're at the restaurant. But when it cuts to Rupert, he's in his basement. Especially the part about 6 weeks for Rupert to "take over the show"! You even hear the mother yell down "Rupert what are ya doing down there!!?? He turns his head for a moment, then continues his argument with Jerry... Plus his clothes are different as the camera cuts back and forth...
you are soo right man THATS SOME MIND BLOWING STUFF
Great great great GREAT work bro.
Great work
Thanks Willy.
Exellent review!
+gRosh08 Thanks gRosh08.
After Hours (1985) would be a good film
Ya, After Hours could have been the start of a completely different career for Scorsese if Hollywood kept refusing to work with him. He would have been forced to be an underground independent filmmaker. Weirdly Tim Burton was hired to direct After Hours after Scorsese turned it down; but after a couple of months went by Scorsese asked if he could make it and Burton graciously gave up the job.
incredible insight. I think it will spoil my next viewing of the film because of it, I bet I won't prevent myself from thinking it.
+joaquim mach ado Thanks Joaquim.
very unique perspective on bouth movie... nice : )
Todd Phillip's watching this in 2018: *writes in notepad ferociously*
I can't say i don't understand why this is in my recommended this late.
Rupert Pupkin is Travis Bickle without the extreme masculinity.
This video saved my life thank you
Are you being serious or sarcastic?
@@SeaTac411 Maybe exaggeration a little but the day i posted the comment i was in a dark place but i remembered you video saw how i kind of related to Travis and saw my own flaws my self desruction does ruin relationships and it had so i decided to try and be more positive
@@dornravlin Good to know. The writer of Taxi Driver Paul Schrader has made an entire career commenting on the fallacy of masculinity and self destructive behavior created by societal expectations and abusive fathers. Check out "Affliction" (1997) it's Schrader's masterpiece.
@@SeaTac411 There is nothing wrong with being masculine. The boss class wants to castrate working class males (metaphorically) because they know they are the most likely group to overthrow them. This is why billionnaires attack trade unions and pump money into SJWs to destroy the left. It has succeeded in setting the left back twenty or thirty years.
This would make an excellent Joker origin story
*[WASTED]*
It's almost like I planned it that way
Have you ever seen Bringing Out The Dead (1999) with Nicolas Cage? That's a grossly underrated Scorsese picture, and something of a companion piece to Taxi Driver (1976).
Ya I have seen it on cable; but it felt more like a mix of "Fear and loathing in Las Vegas" and "Leaving Las Vegas" (and I'm not just saying that because Nicolas Cage is in that one).
+Sean McDougall Yeah, that kind of makes sense. It does blend surrealism with melancholy, considering that the lead character is almost constantly depressed and worn out by his entire existence. I do have kind of a disturbing theory about Bringing Out The Dead; what if most of the events that occurred in the film only happened in Nicolas Cage's character's head rather than how they were presented during his ambulance shifts? Since his character goes through some sort of existential crisis throughout the film and that his job has psychologically exhausted him, it is possible that he could've been hallucinating what has been going on. Maybe I'm saying that the film is a companion piece to Taxi Driver because both films revolve around the urban decay of New York City as seen through the eyes of rather disturbed individuals; only difference is that one resorts to violence, while the other seeks hope and redemption by attempting to save the lives of others. That's just how I see it.
Nick cage sucks in it like always and ruined the movie for me. That one and the color of money are the only Scorsese films I don't like
I guess if you have a certain idea in your mind and you find the majority of people find another interpretation ,and actually love this version, then perhaps your original idea becomes confined to quieter moments .
I love the shopkeeper beating the guy with a crowbar after Travis shoots him. He then calls him a maricone and a mothefucker while still hitting him with the crowbar after he is quite obviously dead.
Well, I disagree. I don't believe there are always hidden meanings in every work of art, or that things are truly always that deep. It reminds me of Pee Wee's Big Adventure when he crashes his bike and tells the neighbor boys, "I meant to do that."
I'm glad that I'm not the only one who thought The King of Comedy was one of the worst films ever. The difference in the two characters (to me) is that one was a do-good hero vigilante, (something I believe every male fantasizes about at one time or another in their lives) and a criminal kidnapper.
You must be dense if you think there isnt any deep meaning within these two films. Also the main character being a criminal kidnapper doesn't make it the horrible film, especially the "worst film ever" thats a bit of exaggeration on your part.
The subtext is that Pupkin doesn't really want to work for his fame, and bathes in someone's reflected glory.
My biggest problem with the film is that it isn't that funny.
Joker brought me here. See it yet?
Nobody better than DeNiro in those years
Good review! do you think you could do Blade Runner?
I don't know if I could offer much more to Blade Runner that Rob Ager hasn't already gone through in his videos of the film. I was thinking of doing a video comparieng Prometheus and some of its ideas to Blade Runner because there are similarities to Peter Weyland and Dr. Eldon Tyrell that could be interesting to look at.
Sal the stockbroker!
I think Network definitely goes in the same vibe with KOC .
Funny you say that th-cam.com/video/HMiuY5szhP4/w-d-xo.html
I like to think that king of comedy is a prequel to the deer hunter and the deer hunter is a prequel to taxi driver
Sean, excellent and insightful analysis. Thanks. I wish someone could do a scene by scene analysis of Taxi Driver. It would take about 6 hours or so but, it would be awesome.
Carlton Young Ya, a video like that would be long but Taxi Driver is one of those rare films where every shot has something to say to the viewer.
Agreed!!
Someone with LOTS of time on their hands. Oy!
Expand the medium. Make a film of someone showing us a film (film of his family), a documentary he shot but can't remember much, war film,
Cut sound, video, commentary,
After the joker movie this shit gets recommended to me I love it
Ive always believed that the ending of king of comedy isn't literal but not that he's dreaming it all
ive always thought it was Rupert getting what he wanted and it being too much
Unfortunately, the ending is the most plausible of his fantasies.
Who's here after Joker?
THE AMERICAN DREAM LIKE GATSBY GONE MAD
JOKER!
Marty is King
IN THE FALL OF THE AMERICAN EMPIRE LEFT PEOPLE DOWN AND OUT
Joker 2019 is based off of these.... I wonder how a Clockwork Orange would compare, being that it was Heath's main inspiration in Dark Knight...
Or even Fight club, seeing that Jokers being compared so much
Scorsese and the screenwriter of Taxi Driver both confirmed that it was real
I would actually love your thoughts on the new joker movie because it's kind of a spirtual successor of taxi driver and the king of comedy
Its nowhere as good as those 2
Well If you are still interested here we go. I thought it was.......... O.K. Phoenix was certainly doing the heavy lifting and kept me engaged with the film and the whole look of the film (photography/sets) was impressive. My biggest complaint was just how many movies the screenwriters were lifting from. Of course they have openly talked about "Taxi Driver" and "The King of Comedy"; but I also got a big "Fight Club" vibe when it's revealed that his relationship with his neighbor isn't real. And the entire Robert De'Niro talk show segment was inspired by "Network", right down to using the same shot of TV monitors (spoiler alert for this link) th-cam.com/video/37nkErzdTOA/w-d-xo.html I know we are in a sampling culture and everyone takes from each other but it got pretty blatant for me. So even if I didn't love it hopefully the success of "Joker" will open the door for more original stand alone superhero films in the future.
Could you do American Beauty?
It's been a long time since I've watched it; but from what I remember it didn't effect me that much. I'm not a giant fan of the social drama genre (Ordinary People, Revolutionary Road)
1983 better to be king for a night than be a schmuck for a lifetime
2019 what do you get when you cross a loner with a society that treats him like trash, ill tell you murrary you get what you ******* deserve.
Also: Elliot Rodger lol.
Who else was brought here by Joker??
Sorry, but your assumption that most of "Taxi Driver" happens in his head and never actually happened is a stretch to say the least.
What evidence do you have to support your claim?
Two problems I had with KOC are a) it isn't that funny (it is supposed to be a black comedy, I think), and b) living in a basement with your mother calling down is a big cliché and was lazy imagery.
I find Taxi Driver more effective. It is very disturbing for the simple reason that I find some of it close to the bone. He is awful in many ways and sympathetic in others and the boundary between the two is not clear cut.
However, the recent attacks on masculinity as being inherently toxic are there to isolate and demonise working class males, because they could overturn the status quo as has happened on many occasions in history.
NEW YORK WAS A SLUM, NOT LIKE TODAY
too much time on your hands
Yet you're the one that clicked and watched the video.
Sorry, but Joker is just a worse version of both of these movies but in clown comic book make up 🤷🏼♂️