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“Taxi Driver” shouldn’t be taken as a New York film; it’s not about a city but about the weathers of a man’s soul, and out of all New York he selects just those elements that feed and reinforce his obsessions. The man is Travis Bickle, ex-Marine, veteran of Vietnam, composer of dutiful anniversary notes to his parents, taxi driver, killer. The movie rarely strays very far from the personal, highly subjective way in which he sees the city and lets it wound him. It’s a place, first ... Lonely veteran Travis Bickle takes a job as a night-shift cabbie in New York City, where his rage and paranoia put him at odds with reality. A still from 1976’s Taxi Driver (left) compared to a still from 1983’s King of Comedy (right), both featuring Playland, formally at 1485 Broadway. The drop-off location on W 72nd Street was in front of the clearly marked Olcott Hotel, which had been in operation for most of the 20th century. Entrance to the Olcott Hotel on W 72nd Street, 1976. Read the complete plot summary of Taxi Driver (1976) with spoiler-filled details, twists, and thematic breakdowns. Discover the story’s meaning, characters’ roles, and what makes the film unforgettable.
