Restored 'Taxi Driver' plays Union Square Wednesday for film's 40th anniversary

A restored version of "Taxi Driver" returns to theaters on Wednesday in celebration of the Martin Scorsese-directed film's 40th anniversary.

Per Entertainment Weekly:

The program also includes a 10-minute excerpt from a Q&A with the cast and crew — including director Scorsese, screenwriter Paul Schrader, and star Robert De Niro — recorded at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival and not previously released.

The Taxi Driver restoration, which was overseen by Scorsese and cinematographer Michael Chapman, will also be available on Blu-ray on Nov. 8. Bonus features on the two-disc set include the full 40-minute Tribeca Q&A as well as commentaries, a making-of documentary, storyboards, and animated photo galleries.

There are two screenings on Wednesday — 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. — at the Regal Union Square. Afterwards, you can walk by 13th Street and Third Avenue to spot some "Taxi Driver" filming locations.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Revisiting: East 13th Street and 'Taxi Driver'

Surprise! 'Taxi Driver 2' isn't actually filming on St. Mark's Place now

Last Sunday we spotted those film-shoot signs for "Taxi Driver 2" on St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue.

Likely either a code name for another unrelated film or a gag. (Of course, Robert DeNiro has expressed interest in a "Taxi Driver" sequel.)

Anyway, per the above sign, crews were to be filming now. And St. Mark's Place has been film-crew free all weekend.



Meanwhile, Gothamist spotted "Annie Hall 2" film-shoot signs on the Upper East Side last week. (A source in The Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment told Gothamist that the signs were not related to any productions that have applied for filming permits.)

What next, signs for "Weekend at Bernie's II"? (Oh, right…)

Today in possibly bad ideas

Film shoot signs are so common we barely stop to look at them (Oh, Flesh & Bone again!)

This notice on St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue might give you pause.

TAXI DRIVER 2!

While the idea of a sequel to the DeNiro- Scorsese classic has been floated, this isn't it.

Actually we have no idea what this is for at the moment. A gag project name likely. Maybe we will call Chad the location manager.

H/T EVG reader Steven!

Revisiting: East 13th Street and 'Taxi Driver'

[226 E. 13th St. last week]

We've had several thousand posts of late about the Mystery Lot ... as well as on 222 E. 13th St., the long-abandoned building between Third Avenue and Second Avenue that will become the Bea Arthur Residence ... providing housing for up to 18 homeless LGBT youth.

During all that, a few people brought up the pivotal role this stretch of 13th Street played in "Taxi Driver." Well, all that has been well-covered before... but it does seem like a good time to quickly revisit the 1976 film.

Plenty has been written about the locations for the movie, most notably Scouting New York, who meticulously created now and thens for a post in October 2009.

A sampling just from East 13th Street...

Here's Iris and Travis traveling east on the street (The Jefferson Theater is on the left, where the Mystery Lot is now)...

...and Iris and Travis entering 226, where she took her clients ...

Scouting New York has a lot more on the locations here, including now-and-then photos from this neighborhood. Off the Grid has more on the East 13th Street locations here.

And here's Sport and Travis...

How was your free movie in Tompkins Square Park last night?

[via @DoubleOsme]

I didn't go to see the free screening of "Taxi Driver" last night in Tompkins Square Park. But I'm curious how the experience was for you. Anything to report, either positive or negative...?

And I did hear about "the bloody-faced crusty stumbling through the crowd."

But of course (And a look back at 110 Third Ave.)

So what's new at 110 Third Ave.? (Or, shall I say One Ten Third Ave.?)


And this branch won't haven't any of that panhandling (they spell it pan handling, meaning someone who handles pans? Or something to hold hot pots with?) or nonbanking business!



Meanwhile, a moment of silence for the old 110 Third Ave. (Sigh.)


RIP, June 2005.

[Photo courtesy of Patrick Crowley]

And, of course, 110 Third Ave.'s place in cinematic history: