Fresh Air A 50th anniversary celebration of ‘Taxi Driver’
Feb 6, 2026
Justin Chang, New Yorker film critic, offers a sharp review segment. Harvey Keitel, early Scorsese ensemble actor, recalls researching and improvising his pimp role. Paul Schrader, screenwriter of Taxi Driver, reflects on crafting Travis Bickle’s voice. They explore improvisation, casting memories, the script’s origins, and the film’s enduring cultural impact.
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Film Born From Schrader’s Urgent Vision
- Martin Scorsese credits Paul Schrader as the creative impetus behind Taxi Driver and says the screenplay came from Schrader's visceral, two-week outpouring.
- Scorsese frames the film as personal cinema made before blockbuster rules transformed the industry.
Improvised Street Tension Between De Niro And Keitel
- Scorsese describes an improvised street scene where De Niro and Harvey Keitel play off each other, with De Niro freezing as Keitel's character taunts him.
- Scorsese highlights how their physical interplay and improvisation shaped the scene's tension and blocking.
Keitel’s Research: Improvising With A Real Pimp
- Harvey Keitel recounts living in Hell's Kitchen and rehearsing with a real pimp to develop his role as Sport.
- He says much of his dancing/rap scene with Jodie Foster was improvised from that work and a Barry White influence.
