MARTIN
SCORSESE AND THE AMERICAN CINEMA
by Ro Pucci
--One
of the most fascinating journeys in American culture
is the trip through the history of American Cinema.
Having
a legendary guide in this journey is certainly a luxury
that everyone, no matter how knowledgeable about the
subject, can definitely appreciate.
A
particularly masterful guide for the journey is Martin
Scorsese, the esteemed director of
timeless movies such as Taxi Driver and The Gangs of New York.
Scorsese has
studied the subject with a burning passion no doubt
influenced by his Italian-American
roots. This particular cultural sensitivity
colors and helps us through the long exciting road
of Hollywood “dreams factory”.
One
of the first movies, that according to his own admission,
touched the great director was Duel in the Sun. This
was a visually shocking and powerful work, far too
explicitly erotic for its time. The movie left the
young Scorsese with the puzzling question of how was
it possible that the beautiful protagonist could fall
in love with the villain.
According
to the director, the contemporary movie is thus the
result of a combination of three major genres: the
American western born from the tales of the frontier,
the detective stories of the east coast’s big cities,
and finally the musicals that developed on Broadway.
These three main routes intersect with other less
prominent genres, evolving and adjusting to the important
changes of American society. If we follow the evolution
of the American cinema will find movies that are important
milestones.
These
movies portray realistically the age of innocence,
the desperation caused by the Stock market crash of
1929, and the ensuing confusion characterized by crime
and depression. A skillful director can quickly transform
a hero that lacks a variety of qualities, into a complex
and miserable human being of questionable morality.
--Excellent
examples of this type of metamorphosis can be seen
in movies where John Wayne is transformed
by John Ford, and also in others
where the good hearted James Stewart interprets roles less “traditional” and more in line
with a “modern” America.
Scorsese
belongs to the American cinema, to Hollywood with
its majestic studios, industry, and collective creative
efforts. He is aware of the contrast experienced in
the work relationship between the director and the
producer. In his opinion, during the golden age of
Hollywood, it was the latter that had the upper hand,
while the former was only aware of being the author
and did not fully comprehend how else to fit in the
picture. Only the best directors are able to find
the right compromise between working with their counterparts
and succeeding in bringing to life their creative
vision.
Martin
Scorsese believes that in our time directors
such as Capra, Hitchcock,
and Lucas have mastered this ability.
In his artistic production martin Scorsese draws from
the personal Italian-American nature, as well as the
art of other great movie directors.
By examining some of
the ideas and statements made by Scorsese we realize
that according to him the next generation of director
should always keep in mind that a good movie is never
just the result of professionalism. For Scorsese the
classics of the golden age were great because they
were the result of a heartfelt passion for the telling
the story.
The director believes
that it is important that those who nowadays choose
to sit behind the camera have the same inner fire
and drive. A masterpiece is thus the ultimate creation
that is able to magically reproduce the director’s
personal fantasy to its fullest.
It is the experience
that gives countless moviegoers a special insight
into the mind and creativity of a movie director.
Roberto
G. Pucci (Ro
Pucci)
Ro
Pucci is
U. S.
citizen of Italian origin, we live in
Houston
,
Texas
and we work as a freelance photojournalist. Some of
his articles and pictures have been published on "ITALIA
ESTERA" and on "La Gente d'Italia".
Is
follow Italian and American facts and culture and
is write also poems for his picture books.
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