Mean Streets

Mean Streets is Martin Scorsese's third feature film, which confirmed him as a major new talent. It is set in the bars, pool halls, tenements, and streets of Manhattan's Little Italy and tells the tale of combative friends and small-time crooks. Demetrios Matheou's insightful study considers the film's production history in the context of the New Hollywood period of American cinema, noting the key roles played by John Cassavetes and Roger Corman. He analyses the importance of Scorsese's background to the film's characters and themes, including preoccupations with guilt, redemption, and criminal subcultures, the development of the director's film-making process and signature style, the way in which he both drew upon and invigorated the crime genre, his relationship with emerging stars Robert De Niro and Harvey Keitel, and the film's reception and legacy. Matheou argues that while Taxi Driver (1976) and Raging Bull (1980) are regarded as Scorsese's greatest films of the period, Mean Streets is the more influential achievement.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 112 pages
Publication date: 05 October 2023
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Mean Streets was Martin Scorseses third feature film, and it cemented his status as a significant new talent in the industry. When the film premiered at the New York Film Festival in 1973, critic Pauline Kael praised it as a "true original of our period" and a "triumph of personal filmmaking." The story follows a group of combative friends and small-time crooks living in the bars, pool halls, tenements, and streets of Manhattan's Little Italy. Scorsese has stated that his childhood neighborhood was deeply intertwined with organized crime, which would have a significant impact on the tone and restless energy of his seminal film. Demetrios Matheou's insightful study delves into the production history of Mean Streets within the context of the New Hollywood period of American cinema. He also highlights the crucial roles played by John Cassavetes and Roger Corman. Matheou examines the importance of Scorsese's background to the film's characters and themes, including his preoccupation with guilt, redemption, and criminal subcultures. He also explores the development of the director's filmmaking process and signature style, as well as his influence on the crime genre. Matheou argues that while Taxi Driver (1976) and Raging Bull (1980) are often considered Scorsese's greatest films of the period, Mean Streets is the more influential achievement. With Mean Streets, Scorsese not only paved the way for a new kind of crime movie, but he also inspired generations of independently-minded film-makers. The film's impact can be seen in the work of many contemporary directors, who have drawn inspiration from Scorsese's gritty, realistic style and his ability to capture the essence of urban life. Mean Streets is a testament to Scorsese's talent and vision, and it remains a classic of American cinema.

Weight: 180g
Dimension: 192 x 136 x 3 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781839022951