Is a Taxi Driver based on a true story?
Is a Taxi Driver based on a true story? It is based on German journalist Jürgen Hinzpeter's interactions with driver Kim Sa-bok; however, as very little information on Kim was known at the time the film was made, most elements regarding his life and the events that happened to him outside of Gwangju are fictional.
What mental illness did Travis Bickle have?
Those with schizotypal personality disorder tend to feel uncomfortable and have a difficult time in social circumstances, although they may still be friendly towards others. In the film Taxi Driver, Robert De Niro's character Travis Bickle seems to be suffering from this disorder.
Who turned down the role in Taxi Driver?
In another example of constant comparison, Pacino was offered the role of Travis Bickle before De Niro in Scorsese's classic film Taxi Driver. Along with Pacino, Dustin Hoffman also rejected the role, publicly turning down the offer before De Niro was roped in to play what now seems to be an iconic character.