Scorsese on Scorsese (Directors on Directors) [Paperback]

David Thompson (Author), Ian Christie (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1990 | Series: Directors on Directors

In this book, Scorsese discusses his enormously controversial film, "The Last Temptation of Christ", and expresses a passionate view of the cinema. He describes the battles to make the film and the text is illustrated with stills and sketches from his own archive.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

True to its title, this book lets Martin Scorsese speak for himself. In what is essentially a long and fascinating interview, David Thompson and Ian Christie encourage Scorsese to recall the whole of his life, from his childhood in Little Italy to the creation of his most recent films. More than any major director working in America today, Scorsese proves himself to be terrifically articulate and wonderfully open when speaking about his life and work. Scorsese on Scorsese also contains a biography, a filmography and lots of terrific behind-the-scenes photographs.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Faber & Faber (November 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0571152430
• ISBN-13: 978-0571152438
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,307,894 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Answers Scorsese Fans' FAQS, March 30, 2001

By 

Renee Thorpe (Karangasem, Bali) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Scorsese on Scorsese (Directors on Directors) (Paperback)

This reader felt almost privileged to read these interviews, lectures, and conversations with Martin Scorsese. He simply shares everything, and indeed he is, if nothing else, a true fan of movies!

The insightful words of Scorsese, arranged to parallel his filmography up through New York Stories, are annotated by the redoubtable editors Thompson and Christie. Scorsese is arguably the greatest postmodern artist, (and I would have to say the only postmodernist I unhesitatingly adore -with possible exception of Matt Groening), and the reader really gets to see how Scorsese constructs a film. His inspirations are as predictable as directors Pasolini and Powell, yet as diverse as Mahatma Ghandi and Little Richard. He loves all with equanimity and enthusiasm.

That's the joy of this book... the guy loves movies, loves making them, and all that energy just shines through.

Extremely valuable resource for the student of film, but good fun for the humble film buff, too. Bonus: interesting black and white photos you won't find elsewhere. Excellent (though naturally out-of-date) filmography appendix.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars insightful comments on the great and not-so great films of this master, by himself, September 22, 2009

By 

Muzzlehatch (the walls of Gormenghast) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Scorsese on Scorsese: Revised Edition (Paperback)

Like the couple of other books in this series that I've read, this is done mostly in conversational style, clips from interviews originally, in most cases, with the questions edited down so that most of the space is devoted to the director's answers. Ordered chronologically by film, with a final brief chapter on "Goodfellas" (my copy is the 1990 edition) barely released at the date of publication for the edition I have. This has the advantage of making for a less repetitious book as the interviews don't normally cover the same ground twice - but also at times a somewhat scattershot one.

My favorite sections are those on RAGING BULL (lots of concentration on how the editing of the film went) and especially on THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST (mostly dealing with how Scorsese came to the project, his feelings on the book by Kazantzakis, on the nature of Christ and on previous Hollywood portrayals - nothing on the protests surrounding the film's release) and Scorsese is uber-knowledgeable about film of course, and can usually be counted on to point out examples from many other directors whose work has influenced him - the book abounds with references to his great mentor and friend Michael Powell in particular.

Recommended for serious devotees of the director of course, but probably of some interest to the more casual film buff as well.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Book That Would Satisfy ANY Scorsese Fan, July 7, 2002

By 

Karen J. Ayers - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Scorsese on Scorsese: The Update (Directors on Directors) (Paperback)

I bought this book out of respect and deep admiration for Martin Scorsese. What I got was keen insight into a creative genius. The numerous interviews reveal a side to Scorsese that not many people see outside the camera. It's a lot more personal than that. When he talks about his movies, he ultimately parallels them to what his life was like at that time. So it's a fine blend of his personal life mixed with his professional life. There's also the obvious vibe that this man always was and always will be a student of film; his passion is infinite. Perhaps that's what makes him as influential and well-respected as he is.
You're the best there is, Marty!!