Ranking De Niro's Performances In Scorsese Films

Before De Niro, there was Harvey Keitel. As the director’s proto-muse, he appeared in Scorsese’s feature debut, before going on to star in Mean Streets, where Bobby got in on the action. This is his first film with his long time collaborator, and it’s a real statement of intent. Though known for his intensity, De Niro has never since been so electric, so hungry, as he is playing Mean Streets’ Johnny Boy.

From his entrance, scored by Scorsese favourites The Rolling Stones, to his unresolved exit, De Niro is on a mission to steal every scene. It’s the kind of role Joe Pesci would play for the director down the line - he’s a loose canon, pure trouble, acting out and taking great joy in doing so. Keitel shoulders the film’s weighty Catholic themes, but De Niro gets the show role, and makes it his own.

His status as a leading man means he didn’t often take on these flashy supporting parts, but here De Niro shows just how much he can do with relatively little screen time. The very next year he would put in an Oscar winning performance as Vito Corleone, but this will have been many folks’ introduction to the actor - and what an introduction it is.