How Martin Scorsese Turned Down One of the Biggest Hits of the '80s
The story of how Martin Scorsese rejected the opportunity to direct an 80s film staple and the impact of his decision.
Martin Scorsese: A Vanguard of Cinema Entertainment
Martin Scorsese, a multi-talented vanguard of cinema entertainment, has maintained a distinguished record of filmography that dates back to the 50s. His history on big and small screens is characterized by an identifiable, signature style and the tendency to garner incredible acclaim that holds true through the decades.
Clint Eastwood's Coogan from Coogan's Bluff and Eddie Murphy's Axel in Beverly Hills Cop-1
His place in the entertainment industry is so prominent, it begs the question of how big-name movies Scorsese almost directed or produced would have turned out had he taken a chance on them.
Movies like 2019's widely-acclaimed Joker and Steven Spielberg's phenomenal Schindler's List almost got the Scorsese touch before they were turned away for varying reasons.
Martin Scorsese Turned Down Beverly Hills Cop
Of the many scripts that fell on Scorsese's lap in the 80s was the script for Beverly Hills Cop, but it failed to impress him enough to take it on. Despite its exciting, California-based premise, its sharp dialogue, and its cheeky, complementing humor, Beverly Hills Cop was rejected by Scorsese for being too similar to Don Siegal's 1968 crime thriller starring Clint Eastwood, Coogan's Bluff.
Paul Hackett looking up at Marcy in Scorsese's After Hours
Per Martin Scorsese: A Biography by Vincent LoBrutto, Scorsese was actually bewildered by Beverly Hills Cop; when he was told it was 'a fish out of water' story about an out-of-town cop who ventures to another state, Scorsese couldn't understand how it differed from Coogan's Bluff.
The rejection of Beverly Hills Cop is eye-opening, not only because it turned out to be a massive hit, but because Scorsese ended up making another fish-out-of-water comedy anyway.
Scorsese Made Another Fish-Out-Of-Water Comedy Instead
About a year after Beverly Hills Cop's $15 million debut, Scorsese released the Griffin Dune-fronted comedy thriller, After Hours. While After Hours did not follow the exploits of lawmen like Coogan's Bluff or Beverly Hills Cop, it did tell the story of data processor Paul Hackett, who became a fish out of water after getting lost in New York City's Soho district.
Comparatively, After Hours turned out to be way less of a moneymaker than Beverly Hills Cop, which marks a major misfire for the lauded director. Raking in just $10 million, After Hours could be regarded by some to be a considerable film fail for Scorsese.
For others, After Hours is considered vastly underrated and a good move on Martin Scorsese's behalf, which is an indicator that the experienced director may have known what he was doing all along.
