The Departed: key scene that Scorsese loved but didn't make it into the final cut
The director believes the scene adds an entirely new level to Mark Rolston's Delahunt character
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.One of Martin Scorsese's favourite scenes from The Departed never actually made the final cut.
The scene occurs after Delahunt (Mark Rolston) has been shot; in which he calls Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) over to confess he'd given him the wrong address, meaning the fact he still turned up to the right one proves he's the rat.
Though the final part of the scene, and this confession, remain; a longer cut exists in which Delahunt talks about Costello (Jack Nicholson) and the life he's so far led.
It's at this moment he comes to the realisation that, though he promised Costello he'd kill the rat if he ever discovered his identity, he seems no longer capable of such an act.
It's a scene that the director believes brings an entirely new level of humanity to Delahunt's character and to his own role in the narrative.
It also offers further complexity to the theories over whether Delahunt was indeed a undercover police offer, or whether it was simply his own morality which prevented him from exposing Costigan as the rat.
Scorsese's 2006 critically acclaimed crime drama nabbed four Academy Awards for its efforts, including landing Scorsese the Best Director award after a run of six losses.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments