When Martin Scorsese’s idol broke his heart: “Walked out halfway through”
Michael Powell, renowned for his partnership with Emeric Pressburger, profoundly influenced Martin Scorsese’s career as a filmmaker. Scorsese discovered Powell and Pressburger’s work early in his career and was entranced by their unique storytelling and visual style.
Scorsese has cited 1951’s The Tales of Hoffmann as a significant inspiration, noting that its integration of music and dance deeply affected his approach to cinema. During the editing of Raging Bull, Scorsese frequently revisited this film, highlighting its lasting impact on his creative process. Additionally, the intense close-ups in Taxi Driver draw inspiration from The Tales of Hoffmann. Beyond stylistic elements, Powell’s thematic exploration of complex characters and moral ambiguities resonated with Scorsese, shaping his narrative choices.
Powell’s influence is all over Scorsese’s work. His trademark use of the colour red is a direct homage to Powell, for example – though Powell told him he overused the colour in Mean Streets. And Powell was practically a consultant on Raging Bull, giving Scorsese script advice and even guiding him towards releasing the film in black and white.
Powell famously observed that Robert de Niro’s boxing gloves were too red…which is the color boxing gloves are supposed to be, but it’s been observed before that authenticity to pugilism was not Scorsese’s priority. And whatever the cause, it turned out to be a fine artistic decision. It’s hard to imagine Raging Bull in anything but a black & white binary. It goes without saying that Michael Powell’s artistic vision and personal mentorship left an indelible mark on Martin Scorsese’s career, influencing his cinematic style and thematic depth.
There was the occasional trouble in paradise between the two collaborators, though. The Guardian reports ”Meanwhile, Powell’s Tales of Hoffman informed the movements of Raging Bull’s fight scenes. “Marty was always asking Michael, ‘How did you do that shot?’ or ‘Where did you get that idea?'”
The anecdote continues with Martin Scorsese being rejected while trying to share his favourite films with Powell, “They shared a tremendous passion for the history of film – but he didn’t always go along with Marty’s taste in modern filmmakers. For example, Michael didn’t quite get Sam Fuller. Marty showed him Forty Guns, or started to show it to him, and Michael walked out halfway through. Marty was heartbroken.” You can imagine why, close and creative relationships always possess a certain fragility.
And who hasn’t been there? Trying to show someone you admire a film or book and having them roll their eyes in boredom. It’s a crushing experience, even for someone like Martin Scorsese, who just wanted to show his friend Forty Guns, possibly because the 1957 western was also shot in black & white. However, he still paid homage to Powell’s legacy, and Scorsese has been instrumental in restoring and promoting his films. He narrated the 2024 documentary Made in England: The Films of Powell and Pressburger, aiming to introduce their work to new audiences and ensure their contributions to cinema are recognized and preserved.
