Martin Scorsese stands as a legendary American filmmaker. Widely celebrated for his exceptional storytelling and cinematic craftsmanship, he has helmed timeless movies like Goodfellas, Taxi Driver, and The Departed. Scorsese’s impact on the film industry has been profound, garnering him a multitude of awards and honors.
But not many know that Father John Principe, a young and worldly priest, served as a significant source of inspiration for Martin Scorsese. He not only exposed Scorsese and his friends to fresh music and cinema but also provided them with moral guidance during their formative years.
Martin Scorsese Tried Becoming A Priest But Failed
In an attempt to follow in Principe’s footsteps, Martin Scorsese enrolled in seminary school during his teenage years. However, his stay was short-lived, as he was expelled after just one year due to his penchant for rough play and habitual lateness.
Scorsese expressed his early aspirations to emulate the influence of a priest, believing that becoming one himself would afford him a similar level of impact. Yet, he came to understand that a vocation transcends mere emulation; it represents a genuine and profound calling, far surpassing the desire to imitate someone else.
Scorsese told The Hollywood Reporter:
“I tried to what I was asked to leave after one-year. Preparatory was terrible, I was only 15 years old, I realized when I got in there this is a big commitment. No one said it’s not about yourself as this idea of how you give to other people what you can be to other people. I was too young, I didn’t understand.”
Martin Scorsese even made a film called Silence that presents the persecution of two Jesuit priests who embark on a quest to find their mentor, unearthing intricate themes of belief, cultural collision, and ethical quandaries.
Even Tom Cruise Tried Becoming a Monk Once
During a candid interview with Playboy Magazine in 1993, Mimi Rogers, Tom Cruise’s inaugural spouse, openly shared insights into their union and Cruise’s aspiration to pursue a monastic life. Their matrimony spanned from 1976 to 1980.
Rogers revealed (via Today):
“Tom was seriously thinking of becoming a monk. At least for that period of time, it looked as though the marriage wouldn’t fit into his overall spiritual need. And he thought he had to be celibate to maintain the purity of his instrument. My instrument needed tuning.”
Speculation arose that Cruise’s desire to embrace monastic life played a role in their separation. Nevertheless, it’s evident that the actor did not pursue such a path. Instead, he embarked on relationships and marriages with notable individuals like Nicole Kidman and Katie Holmes. Additionally, former Scientologist Brendan Tighe asserted that various women auditioned for the role of Cruise’s girlfriend, including a claim that Scarlett Johansson was among them.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter, Today
