Taxi Driver is an intense and violent motion picture that was directed by American filmmaker Martin Scorsese. The film was released in 1976. It won praise for its grim exploration of an individual’s capacity for violence and the sense of social isolation experienced in New York City. The dark view of life in urban America placed Taxi Driver in the film noir tradition established in Hollywood movies of the 1940’s and 1950’s.
The central character in Taxi Driver is Travis Bickle, a veteran of the Vietnam War (1957-1975). Bickle is an alienated, lonely figure who cruises the night streets of New York City driving a taxicab. Bickle hates the filth and corruption he sees in the city. He strikes up a relationship with a 12-year-old prostitute named Iris. His urge to rescue her from her sordid life leads to a violent rampage that concludes the motion picture.
Robert De Niro gained international acclaim for his searing portrait of the mentally disturbed Travis Bickle. De Niro was nominated for an Academy Award for his performance, as was Jodie Foster for her performance as the young prostitute. Supporting actors included Peter Boyle, Leonard Harris, Harvey Keitel, and Cybill Shepherd. Paul Schrader, a frequent collaborator with Scorsese, wrote the screenplay.
See also De Niro, Robert ; Foster, Jodie ; Scorsese, Martin .
