Check out these rare photos from the making of… | Little White Lies

Check out these rare photos from the making of Raging Bull

26 Mar 2021

Words by Jay Glennie

Two men, one with a cigarette, conversing in black and white.
Two men, one with a cigarette, conversing in black and white.
A new book collects a wealth of archive material from Martin Scorsese’s 1980 masterpiece.

The idea for writing a book on the making of Raging Bull came when I met up with Robert De Niro in December 2019 to present him with his copy of Coattail’s previous publication, ​‘One Shot: The Making of The Deer Hunter’, which he had kindly contributed to. Bob asked me what was next, and I wasn’t going to waste that opportunity. I immediately replied that a book on Raging Bull would be a dream.

With the UK entering lockdown in March 2020, I emailed Bob and asked if it would be okay to begin work on telling the story of the making of Raging Bull. Receiving the green light, I started to approach the film’s cast and crew to share their memories to add to the research I was accumulating. Our book was underway.

Get more Little White Lies

Two men, one holding a clapperboard, seated with a young child in a domestic setting.
A black and white image of a man with curly hair shouting, his mouth open in an expression of anger or intense emotion.
Two men in a heated confrontation, one wearing a patterned shirt, the other with a serious expression.
Two men, one with a muscular build, facing each other in a boxing ring, expressions of intensity.
Two well-dressed men walking down a dimly lit hallway, their silhouettes visible against the shadows.
A man with curly hair in a boxing stance, clenching his fists and preparing to strike.
Two men in suits gesturing excitedly, black and white image.
Four men standing in a boxing ring, conversing and smiling.

Initially directing a movie about boxing did not appeal to Martin Scorsese. ​“The idea of, ​‘Let’s get two guys into the ring and let them hit each other,’ was something I didn’t – couldn’t – grasp,” he has said. In fact, any form of sport was of little interest, with the director stating ​‘if there was a ball involved then forget it.’

Scorsese’s passion outside of film was music, not sport. But De Niro felt there was something within the life of former champ Jake LaMotta that had real cinematic possibilities and began a war of attrition on Scorsese, which ultimately saw the director acquiesce.

Interviewing Bob, Marty, Joe Pesci, Cathy Moriarty, John Turturro, producer Irwin Winkler, editor Thelma Schoonmaker, screenwriter Paul Schrader, and many others, revealed how they dissected a seemingly self-destructive man, whose primary form of communication was through violence, and gave us unquestionably one of the greatest films of all-time.

Raging Bull marked Scorsese’s fourth collaboration with De Niro, and in the four decades since its release it has lost none of its ability to astonish. Writing the book, and choosing the images and ephemera to adorn it, has been a rare privilege and honour.

‘Raging Bull – The Making Of’ by Jay Glennie is available to pre-order from coat​tail​-pub​li​ca​tions​.com

You might like

Two blue animated characters with white hats, one with long blonde hair, standing on rocky ground with dappled sunlight.
Review

Smurfs review – a drab exercise in IP filler material

by David Jenkins

Another animated incarnation of Peyo’s beloved, blue Belgian beauties; unfortunately Chris Miller’s film absolutely sucks.

2
Anticipation
1
Enjoyment
1
In Retrospect
Two men in conversation outdoors, one in beige puffer jacket holding white cup with red straw, other in red and blue jacket eating.
Review

Friendship review – The Wario to I Love You Man's Mario

by Hannah Strong

Tim Robinson attempts to befriend Paul Rudd in Andrew DeYoung’s offbeat comedy.

5
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Woman with blonde hair holding cocktail and tablet device showing video call, with another woman visible on right holding drink.
Festivals

A report from the bleeding edge of non-fiction film

by Rafael Fonseca

We document the exhilarating comings and goings on the ground at London’s second Creative Nonfiction Film Weekend.
Coloured pencil portrait of woman with grey hat, pink collar, and white cardigan on wooden surface beside black, beige, and red pencils.
Interviews

Athina Rachel Tsangari: 'It’s about how easily the narcissism of artists can turn into a tool in the hands of power'

by David Jenkins

The industrious and passionate Greek filmmaker on her subtly apocalyptic new work, Harvest.
Smaller pool image with person sitting at edge superimposed over bright turquoise water with rippling light patterns.
Long Read

Long Hot Summer: The mythos of the pool on screen

by Eleanor Brady

From surreal odysseys to sexual awakenings, the swimming pool has long been depicted as a site of transformation, nostalgia and fluid identity.
Person in dark hat, blue top, and red fabric wrap standing in golden grassland with birds flying overhead against pale sky.
Review

Harvest review – remarkably compelling work

by Hannah Strong

Athina Rachel Tsangari’s solemn adaptation of Jim Crace’s historical novel concentrates on the changing face of a Scottish farming village as the agricultural revolution begins.

4
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect