‘If I had directed Schindler’s List, it wouldn’t have been the success it was’: Scorsese explains why he turned down the film

Among these films that marked the history of cinema, Schindler’s List undoubtedly takes the place of choice; It even appears in the top 100 movies of all time, according to the Hollywood Bible, which is The Hollywood Reporter.

In 1982, Steven Spielberg won the worldwide box office with ET. It was in that year that he discovered a book by the Australian author Thomas Kennelly: Schindler’s listIt was translated into France in 1984.

The story of Oskar Schindler, convinced by a Nazi industrialist who ultimately saves some 1,300 Jews from deportation by swallowing his fortune. a story that excites him and that he wants to adapt to cinema; But “I’m not emotionally ready” – as he himself says – for a long time he tried to entrust the film project to other directors, before he changed his mind.

Polanski’s first novel that refuses: this story is very close to the story of him who escaped from the terrible ghetto of Krakow as a child, and his family was exterminated in Auschwitz. Spielberg is also thinking of handing over the filming to Billy Wilder, who will make his last film there. Or Martin Scorsese, who was initially interested before turning down the offer: “This movie should be directed by a Jewish director” he told her.

“I admit I had my doubts…”

In a river interview given on the spot Deadline Ahead of the Cannes premiere of his much-anticipated film, Assassins of Flowers Moon, Scorsese talks about the genesis of Spielberg’s film, which he helped inspire with the help of (brilliant) screenwriter Steven Zailian, who owes us a lot. Gangs of New York scenario.

“For Schindler’s List, I hired Stephen Zailian and we’re both working on the script. I was ready to shoot it. But I admit I was skeptical. It was 1990, I had just shot it. The last temptation of Christ.

I remember Spielberg telling me about the book over the years. He showed it to me when we were on the plane to Cannes and said, “This is my next big movie, and I’m going to direct it.” And I said, “Well, I’ve got the last temptation of Christ on my side, and I’ll be there.”

At that time I kept saying, “I’m not Jewish!” I meant that the story should be told by a Jew, and I think Spielberg agreed. He told me that there were only 200 Jews in Phoenix, where he grew up. I couldn’t believe it. I’m from the Upper East Side myself and grew up with this community. I was not altruistic, it was logical that he took this project into his hands. I was afraid that I would not be in this matter.

“When you saw the final result, how did you feel?” asks the journalist. Scorsese answers: “If I had made the film, it wouldn’t have been the success it was. It could have been good. I had ideas, most of which ended up in the film. . I had a different ending. I am very impressed with his film.”