Martin Scorsese Reveals the Movie That Reminds Him of His Childhood

Martin Scorsese is widely known for his deep respect for film history, and as he prepared to tell the tragic story of the Osage Nation in his 2023 epic, he looked to the past for inspiration.

The legendary director has often shared how his work is influenced by the classic westerns he grew up watching, but there is one film in particular that stands out as a personal favorite. Scorsese has described the 1946 picture Canyon Passage as a truly unique and beautiful piece of cinema that fits into the rare category of a “noir western.”

This film, directed by Jacques Tourneur, holds a special place in Scorsese’s heart because of how it subverts the typical look of a western. While most people imagine a western as being full of dry deserts and massive open plains, this movie is set in the lush, green mountains of Oregon.

Scorsese pointed out that the film is filled with rain and mud, noting that one of the earliest scenes actually shows the streets of Portland turned into a muddy bog by a heavy downpour.

The director also praised the way the film uses space to create a sense of realism. He explained that Tourneur avoids the wide-open vistas common in the genre, choosing instead to focus on small mountain clearings and tight town streets.

This specific style of filming gives the viewer the feeling that they are looking at a real settler’s town rather than a movie set. For Scorsese, these technical details are what make the movie feel so exquisite and mysterious.

One of the most memorable parts of the film for Scorsese is the music, specifically a song performed by Hoagy Carmichael. He noted that hearing the tune instantly takes him back to his childhood and perfectly captures the understated beauty of the entire story. It is clear that the atmosphere of Canyon Passage stayed with him as he crafted his own cinematic worlds, proving that even a master filmmaker never stops learning from the classics.

Martin Scorsese on Jacques Tourneur's Canyon Passage: pic.twitter.com/NX47WO5YBU

— Westerns & the Old West (@DavidLambertArt) July 11, 2023

As of February, Martin Scorsese is proving that age is just a number as he remains one of the busiest figures in Hollywood. He is currently moving into production for his next highly anticipated feature, What Happens at Night, which is scheduled to begin filming this month.

This new project is a psychological thriller that reunites him with Leonardo DiCaprio for their seventh film together, and it also stars Jennifer Lawrence as a couple traveling to Europe to adopt a child.

Beyond the big screen, Scorsese is also making waves in the world of television. He is serving as an executive producer for a new Cape Fear limited series coming to Apple TV on June 5.

This reimagined version of the classic story features a star-studded cast including Javier Bardem, Amy Adams, and Patrick Wilson. Bardem will be taking on the role of the menacing Max Cady, a character famously played by Robert De Niro in Scorsese’s own 1991 film version.

He recently mentioned that he still has more films to make and is constantly looking for unique ways to tell thought-provoking stories. Between his new directorial efforts and his work as a champion for emerging filmmakers at festivals, his influence on the industry continues to grow every year.

Do you think Martin Scorsese’s decision to move into psychological thrillers and streaming series is a sign that he is looking to reinvent his style for the 2020s? Share your thoughts in the comments.