Martin Scorsese's Gangs of New York Rescue: The Tom Cruise Effect

Martin Scorsese, a legendary filmmaker, has always faced challenges in getting his movies made, especially after some of his earlier films didn't do well at the box office. One such film, "Gangs of New York, " had been in the works for decades. It was first announced way back in 1977 by Italian producer Alberto Grimaldi. However, after the film industry took a hit due to the failure of "Heaven's Gate, " studios weren't too keen on backing Scorsese's project. Universal considered it in the early 1990s with a $30 million budget, but nothing came of it. Disney, with its family-friendly image, wasn't interested in the violent content. Finally, Miramax stepped in, hoping to win Scorsese an Oscar he'd been denied for years. They provided the financing needed to build sets for the film's 1860s New York backdrop at Cinecittà. But when Miramax started denying Scorsese's requests for more set-building funds, he turned to someone who could help: Tom Cruise, one of the biggest stars in Hollywood. With Cruise's support, Scorsese was able to secure the additional funds needed to complete his vision.