The Wolf Of Wall Street – Introduction

Martin Scorsese initially turned down The Wolf Of Wall Street because of its similarities to Goodfellas. The way to avoid those issues? Make a film of excess.

That excess, inspired by Caligula, gave the film a shock value for many when first released, perhaps because of it’s matter-of-fact, unjudgmental style. All part of Scorsese’s look at the amoral nature of the characters.

I look into these views that formed the film in my introduction for the it, which was given before a screening at The Little Theatre in Bath in July 2026, as part of Picturehouse’s year-long Scorsese season.