How did the golden team of Scorsese, De Niro and Joe Pesci take the first step in ' Raging Bull'?

Why was it made into a black and white movie?

On the other hand, the most eye-catching thing about Raging Bull is its color. How did the idea of ​​making a black and white film in the 1980s come about? I was curious and looked at three books, but they all had slightly different things written in them, so I would like to introduce them side by side here.

First of all, according to ` `This is how Scorsese has made movies '' (Bungei Shunju/1996), he wanted to make something that was different from the boxing movies released at the time, which were all in color. . The aim was also to express the atmosphere of the good old days (like a tabloid newspaper). What's more, Scorsese at the time was concerned about the fading of color film over time, and thought it best to shoot this film in black and white in order to make it a work that would last for a long time.

Also, in `` Scorsese on Scorsese '' (Film Art Publishing / 1992), there is a story about how during the preparation for this movie, he screened 8mm test footage of De Niro training at the gym at home. It's dark. British master Michael Powell, who was also present, voiced his discomfort with the ``red color of the gloves,'' and cinematographer Michael Chapman also stated that ``the color spoils the image.'' Scorsese himself thought, ``That's why it would be unnatural to shoot in black and white,'' but then he started thinking, ``Wait, if color is going to fade anyway, then shooting in black and white might be the best option.'' It seems like it happened.

"Raging Bull" (c)Photofest / Getty Images

`` Robert De Niro: Challenge is My Life '' (Kyodo Press, 1997) cites a passage from the book on which this film is based as its basis.

“Sometimes at night, when I look back on my past, my life becomes an old black-and-white movie that comes to mind. I don't know why it's black and white, but it is what it is. Of course, the movie is not an A-grade movie; A series of dimly lit scenes with no opening or ending.'' (*1)

Scorsese felt that everything about this film was symbolized here, and decided to make the film exactly like that.

In any case, it is certain that the decision was not made with half-hearted feelings. The images of this work, colored by light and shadow, are simply intense and deep.

At the time, Scorsese was dealing with a divorce, poor health, and extreme depression, and he worked his way up from rock bottom by dubbing himself with the main character. poured into it. Even looking at it now, you can feel Scorsese's tremendous spirit in every fist that La Motta cuts through the black and white world.

His obsession with filmmaking has not waned at all, whether it was 40 years ago or later. This makes us even more in awe of Scorsese.

*1) The quotation is not from the original book itself, but from the book "Robert De Niro" mentioned above.



References

・"This is how Scorsese made movies.” by Mary Pat Kelly, translated by Atsuko Saito (Bungei Shunju/1996)

・"Scorsese on Scorsese” edited by David Thompson and Ian Christie/translated by Takaharu Miyamoto (Film Art Co., Ltd./1992)

・"Robert De Niro Challenge is my life” by John Parker, translated by Yukiko Nakagami (Kyodo Press/1997)

Text: USHIZU ATSUNOBU

Born in Nagasaki in 1977. When he was 3 years old, he saw ``Superman II'' with his father and became fascinated with movies. After The Graduate from Meiji University, he worked for a movie broadcasting channel and then became a movie writer. Currently, in addition to writing for Eiga.com, EYESCREAM, Real Sound Movie Club, etc., he also contributes to media press and theater programs.

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