Martin Scorsese Reveals the Movie That Reminds Him of His Childhood

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Martin Scorsese, a director with a strong appreciation for film history, drew inspiration from classic movies when making his 2023 film about the Osage Nation. He’s often talked about how westerns he watched as a child shaped his work, and one film, in particular, holds a special place for him. Scorsese considers the 1946 film Canyon Passage to be a beautiful and unusual movie—a rare example of a “noir western.”

Director Jacques Tourneur’s film is a favorite of Martin Scorsese because it breaks from the traditional western aesthetic. Unlike the usual dry deserts and wide-open plains often associated with the genre, this movie takes place in the green mountains of Oregon. Scorsese has highlighted the film’s use of rain and mud, specifically recalling an early scene where heavy rainfall turns the streets of Portland into a muddy swamp.

The director also commended the film’s realistic atmosphere, achieved through its clever use of space. Instead of sweeping landscapes typical of the genre, the film focuses on smaller, more intimate settings like small clearings in the mountains and narrow town streets. This approach makes the town feel authentic, like a real place where settlers lived, rather than a constructed movie set. Scorsese believes these subtle details are key to the film’s exquisite and mysterious quality.

Scorsese particularly remembers the music in the film, especially a song by Hoagy Carmichael. He says hearing it immediately brings back childhood memories and perfectly reflects the subtle beauty of the story. It’s clear that the atmosphere of Canyon Passage had a lasting impact on him as he developed his own films, showing that even experienced filmmakers continue to find inspiration in classic movies.

Martin Scorsese on Jacques Tourneur’s Canyon Passage:

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

Martin Scorsese, despite his age, is still incredibly active in Hollywood. He’s gearing up to start filming his next movie, What Happens at Night, later this month. The film is a psychological thriller and will be his seventh collaboration with Leonardo DiCaprio. Jennifer Lawrence joins the cast as part of a couple traveling to Europe to adopt a child.

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2026-02-05 16:45