Taxi Driver (BFI Top 50) (=31) Taxi Driver (BFI Top 50) (=31)

Screenwriter Paul Schrader drew on the mythology of 1940s film noir thrillers for this story of Vietnam vet Travis Bickle’s increasingly psychotic disgust at the nocturnal New York street life he observes from his taxi. Brought to vivid life by director Martin Scorsese – then one of Hollywood’s hot-property new filmmakers – the film is one of the 70s’ most strikingly original works.

Although the film is evocatively rooted in contemporary New York, Scorsese’s camera dwells on strange expressionistic details – such as the sulphurous, steaming sidewalk and abstract neon signs – that contribute to the film’s hallucinatory, nightmarish quality. Centred on a brilliant performance by Robert De Niro, the grim intensity of Bickle’s avenging mania is framed by Bernard Herrmann’s forceful and occasionally nostalgic score.

DVD Extras

• Behind the Scenes Documentary (70 mins)
• Video Photo Gallery with Commentary
• Original Screenplay
• Storyboard Sequence
• Advertising Materials
• US Theatrical Trailer
• Filmographies

Blu-ray Extras

• Interactive Script to Screen
• Original 1986 commentary with director Martin Scorsese and writer Paul Schrader recorded by The Criterion Collection
• Commentaries by writer Paul Schrader and Prof. Robert Kolker
• Martin Scorsese on Taxi Driver
• Producing Taxi Driver
• God's Lonely Man
• Influence and Appreciation
• Taxi Driver stories
• Making of Documentary
• Travis' New York The Changes of New York from 1975 to today
• Travis New York Locations We visit the famous location in New York City in 2006 and compare them to the same locations in 1975
• Storyboard to Film Comparisons with Martin Scorsese introduction
• Animated Photo Galleries