Actor and director Robert De Niro has revealed that he never anticipated his 1976 film 'Taxi Driver' would become one of the greatest movies ever made. In a recent interview with Page Six, De Niro shared his surprise at the film's enduring legacy.
De Niro's Perspective on Impact
"You never can think that you're doing something that's going to have an impact," the 82-year-old actor told Page Six while promoting the upcoming Tribeca Festival alongside co-founder Jane Rosenthal. De Niro emphasized that he does not approach projects with thoughts about their long-term legacy. "I just never look at it that way," he said, noting that success is "out of your control."
The Making of 'Taxi Driver'
Directed by Martin Scorsese, the neo-noir drama stars De Niro as Travis Bickle, a troubled taxi driver whose mental state deteriorates throughout the film. The movie also features performances by Jodie Foster, Cybill Shepherd, Harvey Keitel, Peter Boyle, and Albert Brooks. At the time of its release, 'Taxi Driver' generated controversy for its graphic violence and for casting Foster as a child sex worker at age 12. It was later linked to John Hinckley Jr.'s attempted assassination of former US President Ronald Reagan.
Enduring Legacy and Recognition
Despite the controversy, 'Taxi Driver' achieved critical acclaim and was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the US Library of Congress in 1994 for being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant. The film, which marks its 50th anniversary this year, will be screened at the upcoming Tribeca Festival, where De Niro and Scorsese are set to reunite for a special conversation about the iconic project.
Tribeca Festival Highlights
The discussion is among several high-profile events planned for this year's festival. Conversations with Madonna, Sean Penn, and Josh Safdie are also scheduled, along with anniversary screenings of 'The Cable Guy' and 'Bridget Jones's Diary.' Rosenthal highlighted the festival's diverse offerings: "There are so many great things to see. There's so much music, everybody from Earth, Wind & Fire and Madonna to Noga Erez and Sarah Bareilles and Peter Frampton." She called the festival "a welcome festival for all New Yorkers."
Festival Details
The annual Tribeca Festival, running from June 3 to June 14, was founded in 2002 to help revitalize Lower Manhattan following the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Centre. It continues to celebrate film, music, and culture in New York City.
