Scorsese's Scottish Terrier Devours Screenwriter's Thumb at Dinner
A casual dinner between legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese and screenwriter Paul Schrader took a bizarre turn when the director's Scottish Terrier attacked and consumed part of Schrader's thumb, requiring immediate medical attention from an on-site nurse.
The creative partnership between Martin Scorsese and Paul Schrader spans five decades, weathering professional storms and personal tensions. But nothing prepared either man for the night a Scottish Terrier turned dinner into a medical emergency.
Schrader arrived at Scorsese's home expecting a routine meal. He left missing part of his thumb. The incident sounds like dark comedy, but the bandaged screenwriter confirmed every grotesque detail to reporters.
When Friendship Gets Complicated
Their collaboration produced cinema gold. Taxi Driver launched Schrader's screenwriting career and cemented Scorsese's reputation. Raging Bull followed, then The Last Temptation of Christ sparked nationwide controversy. By 1999's Bringing Out the Dead, both men recognized the inevitable: "there were now two directors in the room, and with Marty, there could only be one."
The split wasn't acrimonious. Schrader carved out his directing niche with Blue Collar, First Reformed, and The Card Counter. Some projects flopped spectacularly. Dying of the Light, The Canyons, and Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist reminded everyone that filmmaking remains brutal.
The Dinner That Went Wrong
"So, on Tuesday night, I had dinner with Marty at his place," Schrader explained, sporting a blood-stained bandage. "He has these dogs. They were very cute. Two of them were bichon frisé. They're very beautiful."
The Scorsese household harbors a third canine resident. "He has a Scottie, which is a problematic dog," Schrader continued. "It was his daughter's dog. He doesn't like the dog, but they have to keep him and blah, blah, blah."
Schrader attempted to pet the troublesome terrier. Bad choice. "The Scottie not only took out part of my thumb, he ate it," he declared matter-of-factly.
Emergency Care at Home
Most people would rush to the emergency room. Not when you're dining with Martin Scorsese. "Marty has an in-house nurse" who immediately treated the wounded screenwriter's sudden digit deficiency.
The incident adds another chapter to their complicated friendship. After decades of creative battles, contract disputes, and artistic differences, a dog bite seems almost mundane. Almost.
Dinner invitations carry unexpected risks. Sometimes staying home beats socializing, especially when Scottish Terriers guard the premises.