New York City has inspired countless artists, songs, movies, and more...but few ever really nail the authenticity. Martin Scorsese is one of the few who has. Scorsese grew up in Little Italy, and his experiences have definitely had a major impact on the way he makes movies, and the movies he chooses to make. His intimate knowledge of New York has helped him not only capture the grit and distinctive personality of the city, but ironically enough, it's also helped him when filming a movie in New York that's set elsewhere (you'll see what I mean).
Mean Streets: Scorsese wrote the script to his first really major feature while driving around Little Italy with a friend and fellow writer. De Niro signed on after reading the script-- it hit home for the actor who also grew up around the same neighborhood. Key filming locations include Old St. Patrick’s Cathedral, which is a pretty blunt way to hammer home the theme of Catholic guilt.
Another key location is what was then a popular Little Italy joint, the 'Vulpe bar' (which is now The Henley Vaporium). Fun fact: Scorsese makes a cameo in the movie, as the gunman who shoots Johnny Boy and Charlie from Michael's car.
Taxi Driver: Originally, the script for this classic was set in Los Angeles, but luckily for Scorsese, it was moved to New York, where taxis are more common (duh). The movie famously opens with a distorted view of Times Square, the epitome of everything disillusioned vet Travis Bickle hates about the City.
The Taxi Dispatch HQ that Travis worked out of is still standing, although it looks a little different.
Most of the seedy theaters that the character frequented are no longer around, though, but the rally for Governor Palantine was filmed at Columbus Circle and Central Park West.
The sleazy Hotel where Sport hangs out, and where Travis rescues Iris, looks a little different but is definitely still there too.
Raging Bull: Another critcally acclaimed Scorsese film shot in New York. Starting to see a trend? The story of boxer Jake La Motta naturally takes place in multiple gyms, including Gleason's Gym, which has moved from The Bronx to Brooklyn since the movie was filmed.
Webster Hall was the site of the dance where La Motta first spies Vickie.
The open air pool he hangs out at is now called the Tony Dapolito Recreation Center.
Even though the Copacabana is closed, you can see where he rehearses the famous speech from On the Waterfront at what's now Trump Parc.
Goodfellas: Scorsese returns to the topic of gangsters in this hit film-- even though he never intended to make another movie about organized crime, the source material won him over. Start at the beginning ("As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangster") at Young Henry Hill's Home.
Then visit the Jackson Hole Diner (which was then the Air Line Diner- don't worry, they kept the iconic sign).
Here's the super-authentic Clinton Diner & Bar, where Henry finds out that Tommy has been whacked.
The movie also features shots of Coney Island and Prospect Park in Brooklyn as well.
End your tour at the New York City Supreme Court, where Henry finally goes against what he has learned and rats on Jimmy and Paulie.
Gangs of New York: Scorsese steps further back in time (but stays in New York) for this historical crime epic. While most of it was filmed on a massive set in Rome (they painstakingly rebuilt over a mile of sets to look just as New York would have looked back then) you can at least visit the real-life Five Points, the neighborhood where the movie takes place.
Modern landmarks like the Brooklyn Bridge and The Empire State Building also make appearances at the end as time slowly forgets the gangs.
