Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
August 1, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
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Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Screen & Stage • Film

Taxi Driver

Taxi Driver is a 1976 American neo-noir psychological drama film directed by Martin Scorsese and written by Paul Schrader.

Updated August 1, 20261 min readCited sources

Taxi Driver is a 1976 American neo-noir psychological drama directed by Martin Scorsese. It follows Robert De Niro as Travis Bickle, a lonely Vietnam veteran whose alienation turns to violence.

What it is

Taxi Driver centres on Travis Bickle, an isolated Vietnam veteran working as a nighttime taxi driver in New York City. His insomnia and resentment deepen as he navigates a deteriorating city, driving the story toward a violent climax. The film was directed by Martin Scorsese and written by Paul Schrader.

Why it matters

The film won the Palme d'Or at the 1976 Cannes Film Festival and received four Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Actor. It was controversial on release but is now widely regarded as a classic of American cinema for its unflinching portrait of urban decay and loneliness.

Key details

Robert De Niro's performance as Travis Bickle is a defining element of the film. Jodie Foster plays Iris, a young sex worker. In Canada, Martin Scorsese's work is frequently studied and screened by film institutions and audiences.

In short

  • A landmark 1976 neo-noir psychological drama directed by Martin Scorsese.
  • Stars Robert De Niro as Travis Bickle, a lonely Vietnam vet turned violent vigilante.
  • Won the Palme d'Or at Cannes and earned four Oscar nominations.
  • Known for its controversial and influential depiction of 1970s New York City.
Canadian angle

Taxi Driver has long been part of international film studies and repertory cinema programming in Canada, where Martin Scorsese's work is frequently studied and screened by Canadian film institutions and audiences.

Quick questions

Who directed Taxi Driver?
Martin Scorsese.
Who plays Travis Bickle?
Robert De Niro.
What awards did Taxi Driver win?
It won the Palme d'Or at Cannes and received four Academy Award nominations.

Sources

  1. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/Taxi-Driver
    Supports: Director, writer, premise, significance, and characterization of the film.
  2. AllMovie — https://www.allmovie.com/movie/taxi-driver-am4401
    Supports: Genre, cast, setting, and plot overview.
  3. Simple English Wikipedia — https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxi_Driver
    Supports: Release year, cast, awards, and basic plot summary.
  4. KRCR-TV — https://krcrtv.com/news/entertainment/taxi-driver-turns-50-5-facts-didnt-know-about-the-classic-and-controversial-movie
    Supports: Release date, cast, Oscar nominations, and Palme d'Or.
  5. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075314/
    Supports: Basic film credits and synopsis.
  6. Moviefone — https://www.moviefone.com/news/taxi-driver-facts/
    Supports: Release date, prominence, Oscar recognition, and later controversy.
  7. YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jwdg3GM_wd0
    Supports: John Hinckley Jr. association and improvisation claim in commentary format.