Martin Scorsese Reveals the Movies That Made Him Want to Become a Filmmaker

Before Martin Scorsese became one of the most celebrated filmmakers in American cinema, he was a young boy in New York discovering the power of movies. In this video, we look back at the films, filmmakers, and childhood experiences that helped shape Scorsese's extraordinary relationship with cinema. From growing up in Little Italy and discovering Italian neorealism to the influence of Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger, Roberto Rossellini, and Vittorio De Sica, these early encounters helped change the way he saw movies forever. We also follow that influence into his own early work, including Who's That Knocking at My Door and Mean Streets, as Scorsese began turning the streets, people, music, and memories of New York into cinema. 00:00 Opening: Before I Ever Thought About Making Movies 02:45 The Films That Opened the Door 05:10 When Movies Became More Than Entertainment 07:13 Finding My Own New York on Film 09:31 Ending: The Movies Never Really Leave You Archival photos and footage from that era are extremely rare. We hope you enjoy the video. This video is a retrospective created for commentary, education, and appreciation of film history. The narration is an original presentation inspired by documented biographical information and Scorsese's publicly discussed relationship with cinema. It should not be interpreted as a verbatim recording or direct quotation from Martin Scorsese. #MartinScorsese #ClassicHollywood #FilmHistory #MeanStreets #ClassicCinema