During a discussion at the Marrakech Film Festival, Jodie Foster reflected on her experiences working with Robert De Niro on the iconic 1975 Martin Scorsese film, Taxi Driver. Their roles in Robert De Niro Taxi Driver garnered both actors Oscar nominations, making the film a standout in cinema history.
Jodie Foster Shares Insights from the Taxi Driver Set
Speaking to the festival audience, Foster revisited the dynamic she shared with her co-star amid the movie‘s production atmosphere in 1970s New York City. She recalled De Niro’s dedication to his character and his distinctive on-set presence. In her words:
“Maybe you would have been here, when Robert De Niro was here. One of the greatest American actors, so proud to have worked with him, not the most interesting person. And at that time he was very much in character, as he was in those days, so he was really uninteresting.”
– Jodie Foster, speaking to audience at the Marrakech Film Festival
The Film’s Lasting Impact and Notable Cast
Taxi Driver centers on Travis Bickle, a solitary taxi driver wrestling with his mental health while navigating nights in New York City. Alongside Jodie Foster and De Niro, the ensemble includes Cybill Shepherd, Harvey Keitel, Peter Boyle, Leonard Harris, and Albert Brooks. The screenplay, written by Paul Schrader, was the first of several collaborations with director Martin Scorsese, including their later partnership on Raging Bull.
The Ongoing Influence of Taxi Driver
The film remains a significant part of American cinema, with the performances of De Niro and Foster frequently discussed in the context of their careers and the industry’s history. Foster’s reflections provide a unique glimpse into the making of a celebrated classic and the intense processes actors like De Niro bring to their roles. As events like the Marrakech Film Festival revisit such stories, the legacy of Taxi Driver continues to spark interest and conversation among film enthusiasts around the world.
