By Kristin Long
Daily Arts Writer
Perhaps it is not so much what happens in front of the camera that makes some movies a great success. Rather, maybe it is what the camera does not show that constitutes an achievement.
Take Martin Scorsese, for instance. This man has contributed to all realms of the motion picture industry. His list of films have brought him numerous Academy Award nominations, along with great fame and recognition.
Scorsese's unlimited talents have enhanced his reputation. It would be impossible to designate this man into one specialty, for he can do it all. He edited, produced, wrote, directed and even acted in numerous films that have hit the big screen. Classic Films like "Mean Streets" (1973), "Taxi Driver"(1976) and "Raging Bull"(1980) lead his repertoire of over 15 films.
Scorsese's career began after he graduated from New York University film school and made his first feature, "Who's That Knocking at My Door?" (1968), starring then-unknown actor Harvey Keitel. He caught the eye of producer Roger Corman, who wanted the up-and-coming filmmaker to direct the 1972 film "Boxcar Bertha." This started a wave of successes for Scorsese. In 1973 he acted, directed, and wrote the popular "Mean Streets," for which he garnered wide acclaim.
His vast array of themes makes Scorsese one of the foremost directors in the industry. He directed the 1974 flick "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore," for which Ellen Burstyn won a Best Actress Oscar. He directed and acted in "Taxi Driver"(1976), working with his frequent colleague, Robert De Niro, as well as child star Jodie Foster. He joined forces with De Niro again in the Academy Award-nominated "Raging Bull" (1980); the actor won an Oscar, while Scorsese went home empty-handed.
Many of his films have displayed Oscar-winning talents. In 1986, Paul Newman won his first Oscar in the Scorsese-directed "The Color of Money" -- a sequel to Newman's earlier film, "The Hustler" (1961). Then, in 1990, Joe Pesci received a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award for Scorsese's "GoodFellas." He also directed the critically-acclaimed, yet theologically-questionable "The Last Temptation of Christ" (1988).
In 1992, Scorsese captivated audiences with the modern version of the thriller "Cape Fear." He also directed and wrote "The Age of Innocence" (1993), starring Michelle Pfieffer and Daniel Day-Lewis. And, if directing isn't enough, he has acted in numerous films (directed by others) such as "`Round Midnight" (1986), "Akira Kurosawa's Dreams" (1990), "Guilty By Suspicion" (1991) and the critically-acclaimed "Quiz Show" (1994).
This year, Scorsese has created two films that have had audiences talking endlessly about his talents. He produced director Spike Lee's "Clockers," a story about a cop who must solve a complicated homicide case involving two brothers with opposite personalities. He also directed and co-wrote the gambling flick "Casino," starring Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci and Sharon Stone. Here, he brings Nicholas Pileggi's story of the deceit and savagery of the Las Vegas lifestyle to the silver screen.
In addition, he almost single-handedly brought forth the return of director Luis Bunuel's classic romantic fairy tale, "Belle De Jour" (1967), by funding its big screen release this year after an almost 30-year absence.
Scorsese is undoubtedly a movie-making machine. His talents are revered by the entertainment world; he has been nominated for eight Academy Awards: three for directing, three for producing, and two for screen writing. He has produced numerous films like "The Grifters" (1990) and "Mad Dog and Glory" (1993) in order to boost the careers of younger and lesser-known talents. He also developed a company, Martin Scorsese Presents, devoted to preserving classic films (the first being "Belle De Jour"). His future directing endeavors include another film due out in 1997 entitled, "Kundun."
Once married to actress Isabella Rossellini, much of his private life is now left to our imagination. While most of us probably don't have a clue what he looks like, there is no doubt that he has enchanted us all. We are familiar with him because of his fine work on the big screen -- perhaps that's all we need to know.