Looking Back: Mean Streets (1973)

Warning: This post contains spoilers for the film. If you have not seen the film, do not go further. 

While not Martin Scorsese’s directorial debut, this the film that put him on the map for future films like “Taxi Driver”, “Raging Bull” and “Goodfellas”. The film tells the story of four Italian American friends who are involved in organized crime. Two of the friends are Charlie and Johnny Boy played respectively by Harvey Keitel and Robert De Niro. Charlie is a devout Roman Catholic who wants to move up in the business to impress his uncle while at the same time trying to protect Johnny Boy from getting into trouble. De Niro’s performance as Johnny lights up the screen, even stealing the scene from Keitel who is the lead. Johnny Boy is a small time gambler who owes money to a local loan shark. In the opening credits, he blows up a mailbox with a firecracker. Without words and his style of clothing, it tells us everything we need to know about him. Charlie is also romantically involved with Johnny Boy's cousin, Teresa. (My apologies in advance for the second and third videos since I could not uploaded them like the first one.)

I first saw this film while taking a class at my university. Prior to seeing it, it was a film I wanted to watch being a fan of Scorsese. Watching it for the first time was fun for me since it contained some of the director’s trademarks. It is pure cinema at it's finest in my opinion. A scene I would like to share is when Johnny Boy enters the bar with a girl in each arm. Prior to this scene, Charlie is aware of Johnny Boy’s debts and seems to be both worried and angry at him. Plus, “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” by The Rolling Stones is the icing in this scene. In a way, Scorsese is telling us everything we need to know visually. Johnny Boy lives his life without solving his problems. Fun fact even though it is not shown, De Niro improvised his dialogue in this scene.  

Another scene I would like to take a look at is the bar brawl scene. Charlie is collecting debt from clients and everything seems to be going well until Johnny Boy starts to insult some customers followed by the owner. The direction Scorsese goes for is frantic and chaos. Pay attention to the way Johnny Boy fights.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtAl0bXSmzI

At this point in the film, Charlie is able to convince Johnny Boy to pay off some of his debt. The loan shark arrives at the bar waiting for him to collect. Then he shows up not only late but only pays ten dollars which the loan shark rejects. Then Johnny Boy starts to insult him and threatens him with a gun. What I like about this is the intensity De Niro calls him a jerk off. The scene speaks for itself.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p92CKGAeQUY

If you are fan of Scorsese or any kind of gangster film, put this on your list.