Robert De Niro as Travis Bickle wears American Optics Original Pilot sunglasses with gold frame and gray lenses in the 1976 Martin Scorsese thriller Taxi Driver.
Taxi Driver is one seriously intense movie. I don’t know how you felt about it the first time watching it, but I felt a little bit wound up. I mean, you’ve got this guy driving around New York stalking people, trying to play the hero and he’s a lunatic. De Niro’s character is so mentally combustible that he could (and does) eventually snap. By defending the “innocent” and spewing his ideas about how “filthy” New York is, the dude is a little bit perturbed to say the least.
If you mix equal parts righteous, crazy and vigilante, you get Robert De Niro’s character in Taxi Driver. The flick has action and drama as many of Scorsese’s films do, but more importantly it gets you inside the mind of one seriously messed up taxi driver. As De Niro romps around New York, his outfits aren’t too shabby for a militant taxi driver; in fact, I’d say he might be one of the best dressed drivers I’ve ever seen. With that being said, check out those glasses.
The Taxi Driver sunglasses (American Optics Original Pilot Sunglasses) give a pretty intense feel to De Niro’s get up, and the squared off frames lend themselves to the look of that era. Sure, you could get the classic aviators of the time, but these guys are a little more in the obscure. Not everyone walking down the street has them, and let’s be serious; they look damn good. So what’s next? Grab a taxi, shave your head and go fight crime? Ehh, maybe not. If you’re looking to channel that 70’s flare, though, Taxi Driver Sunglasses are a good place to start.
While the film may not make you want to be a taxi driver, it sure does get in to the gritty mind frame of some people who are out there. This psychological thriller is definitely worth the watch, and if you aren’t some vigilante deviant the American Optics Pilot sunglasses are worth a look too. Hell, let’s be honest, even if you are a vigilante deviant Taxi Driver sunglasses will get you looking cool. You might not want to emulate everything about De Niro’s character in Taxi Driver, but emulating his style can’t hurt.
Let’s take a closer look at what the sunglasses have to offer.
Complete Sunglasses Package
When these sunglasses arrive, they come in an official American Optics carrying pouch. This leather case is much like a protective carrier. It features a button press lock so that your shades do not fall off. You will be able to wipe stains on your lenses at any time since the package also comes with a American Optics cleaning cloth.
Fashionable Shades
The American Optics are the kinds of sunglasses that make a vintage fashion statement each time you wear them. They feature rectangular crystal green mirror lenses set on gold colored metal frames. The transparent temple tips help to expose the golden finish on the frames even more. For people who love wearing American Optics branded accessories, these shades feature the brand’s logo on the left lens and nose pads.
Offers Protection from UV Rays
Apart from giving you a stunning look, these shades also protect your eyes. The special protective coating on both lenses prevents the sun’s strong UV rays from harming your eyes.
Comfortable Eyewear
Unlike other sunglasses that are made of heavy metal frames, the American Optics are very light to wear. The fact that these sunglasses have been designed with nose pads means that they will not be slipping off that easily.
Olle says:
Nope they are AO Eyewear – Original Pilot Sunglass
Andrew says:
Agreed definitely AO. The writing is very screwed up. At first referring to the glasses as Ray Ban RB 3136 then Randolph Engineering. American Optical (AO) – arguably the most innovative, unappreciated and unrecognized sunglasses company of all-time. RB3136 side by side to either Randolph Engineering or American Optical – almost no-one would pick the Ray Bans – the quality; both vintage nor modern day, are comparable.
giuliano says:
You guys are wrong. In that movie DeNiro wears a pair of Bushnell Japan-601 sunglasses.
James says:
I really don’t think so. 🙂