... Easy Rider is one of the most complex and unlikely film hits of all time; it takes the role of an event rather than a film, it is in fact a moment in history perfectly captured. It is a relic, a symbol of the 1960’s attitudes and a benchmark for the Hollywood new wave. After the new wave ... Read review
Originally released in 1969 Easy Rider is widely regarded as the original "road movie" ... more
and based on the cult following it developed it was soon copied by other Hollywood studios. Written by Dennis Hopper Peter Fonda and Terry Southern (Dr Strangel...
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Originally released in 1969, Easy Rider is widely regarded as the original 'road movie' ... more
and based, on the cult following it developed, it was soon copied by other Hollywood studios. Written by dennis Hopper, Peter Fonda and terry Southern (Dr. Strangel...
Production Year: 1964 - Action/Adventure - Director: Cyril Endfield - Original Language: English - Classification: Parental Guidance - Starring:Stanley Baker, Jack Hawkins, Ulla Jacobsson, James Booth, Michael Caine, Nigel Green
Production Year: 2002 - Action/Adventure - Director: Vincenzo Natali - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring:Lucy Liu, David Hewlett, Anne Marie Scheffler, Joseph Scoren, Matthew Sharp, Jeremy Northam
Advantages: One of the greatest all round movies produced Disadvantages: Elements of the story get slightly lost
...remarks in film history. Easy Rider is one of the most complex and unlikely film hits of all time; it takes the role of an event rather than a film, it is in fact a moment in history perfectly captured. It is a relic, a symbol of the 1960’s attitudes and a benchmark for the Hollywood new wave. After the new wave got it’s legs in 1967 with The Graduate and Bonnie and Clyde, Easy Rider was the defining picture that got the ball well and truly rolling. ... .../>
At the time of Easy Rider Hollywood was buried under crippling debts; something which it looked like could pull down the entire infrastructure of the system. Hollywood had become hopelessly out of touch still employing the old guard, John Ford Westerns were still circulating and high cost musical flops were financially crippling studios. It got to a stage where they simply couldn’t afford a flop, but this gave rise to independent filmmakers being ... more
“We blew it” one of the most confusing but ultimately one of the most accurate remarks in film history. Easy Rider is one of the most complex and unlikely film hits of all time; it takes the role of an event rather than a film, it is in fact a moment in history perfectly captured. It is a relic, a symbol of the 1960’s attitudes and a benchmark for the Hollywood new wave. After the new wave got it’s legs in 1967 with The Graduate and Bonnie and Clyde, Easy Rider was the defining picture that got the ball well and truly rolling. It had done away with all the old Hollywood conventions and was a combative production set to upset the powers that be and galvanise a nation of baby boom products. It achieved all that it wanted to but did far more, so much more in fact that it took all that were associated with the film and the entire industry by complete surprise.
The project was expected to be nothing than a low budget failure, which might hopefully bury the career aspirations of those involved. It was based on the near defunct genre of the motorbike road movie, and starred the fading 1950’s star Dennis Hopper and the hugely unpopular son of Henry Fonda, Peter. Its only saving grace was it’s minimal budget around $350,000 supposedly. The story was clever but flew in the face of everything that had gone before, it dealt with relevant issues that people just weren’t ready to deal with, drug trafficking, drug taking and prostitution. It didn’t bother writer Terry Southern who wrote a story about two motorcyclists Wyatt (Fonda) and Billy (Hopper) who trafficked drugs from Mexico to a rich mysterious man (a rare screen appearance by producer Phil Spector). They then decide to undertake a road trip across America to New Orleans for the Mardi Gras; along the way they would have large sessions of drug taking, stop in a hippy commune, pick up drunk lawyer George Hanson (played by Jack Nicholson), they get confronted by some southern rednecks in a café, they catch up with them and kill George, then they get to Mardi Gras they go to a brothel recommended by George, pick up two ladies (one of which is Toni Basil who would later find fame as the singer of Mickey) enjoy Mardi Gras, then as they look to return are both shot and killed by unfriendly duck hunters, phew. That’s only half the story; the real meat to it comes in the depth and characterisation.
The stories complexities are washed away almost by the simplicities of the on screen action and the beauty of the background American countryside. To attempt to categorise this film is to completely ignore what it is and what it was attempting to achieve. It is not just a simple biker movie; it is more a cultural map work for the American counter culture during the anti-Vietnam movement. The hippy commune is a place that is so far removed from the rest of society that is portrayed in the movie, and is a world away from the lives we lead today. It was not only a shot in the arm for America but was a rejuvenating ray of sunshine for the dying Hollywood film factory.
At the time of Easy Rider Hollywood was buried under crippling debts; something which it looked like could pull down the entire infrastructure of the system. Hollywood had become hopelessly out of touch still employing the old guard, John Ford Westerns were still circulating and high cost musical flops were financially crippling studios. It got to a stage where they simply couldn’t afford a flop, but this gave rise to independent filmmakers being given a chance. Although the old film studio owners were deeply against it, low budget films were the only way forward, until it could stabilise. The Graduate had shown just two years previously that low budget films could make a lot of money, so the risks seemed far smaller with these types of films, and the potential gains were increasingly become more and more astronomic. Easy Rider limped in with people desperately trying to sell it to unhappy vendors, nobody wanted to employ Dennis Hopper he was a violent and uncompromising washed up actor, so he was one of the major drawbacks. The budget of $350,000 meant that it was affordable and if it flopped thee would be no serious repercussions for the studio. So it got the green light.
Hopper and Fonda were an incendiary mix, jack Nicholson was thrown in as a compromise a middle ground which would hopefully stop Hopper ruining the film. They took on different roles; Hopper wanted to be an avant-garde filmmaker in the style of Jean Luc Godard, and Peter Fonda just wanted to have some sense of importance so took the vacant role of producer. Hopper took immediate control and looked as though he would kill the production before it had the time to even get started, becoming violent and obsessive, refusing to allow creative control to be passed. Fonda and Hopper grew a dislike for each other and were becoming increasingly competitive; people around them could see that the project could be going horribly wrong. But from the fire rose something good and something positive, an on screen tension that bound the film and created the effect that we see today. Unfortunately the victim was script writer Terry Southern, (written also in my Dr Strangelove review) he wrote the original manuscript, but Hopper had improvised some scenes and altered some which meant that southern was written out all together. Fonda took equal writing credits with Hopper and originally left Southern with none, although now he has been acknowledged he was refuse when he needed it most. This feud destroyed Southern but did help create a cinematic landmark that would activate the minds of its generation and those to follow.
Hopper originally took sole editing duties, unfortunately he had very little idea of how to formulate a rounded production, he edited for weeks and what he produced was an unrecognisable mess. Almost 3 hours long the story was dull and seemingly very pointless, once again the film was in jeopardy. Bert Schneider the executive producer forcibly emplaced a new editor and removed Hopper before he went completely mad.
The film was nominated for it’s originality at every top award ceremony, and would eventually make a staggering $60 million worldwide. This huge profit for such a small blew the Hollywood doors wide open for up and coming personal film makers like Francis Ford Coppola, Peter Bogdanovich as well as the unfortunate pairing of Steven Spielberg and George Lucas (a gripe a will come back to another day). The film had caused a sensation and is still doing so to this day, it reinvigorated the careers of Dennis Hopper (who would later sink further into a drug induced madness but starred in films like Apocalypse Now and Blue Velvet) and Peter Fonda, whilst launching the young Jack Nicholson into the Hollywood limelight.
It was a new dawn for cinema and a new start for Hollywood, it defined an entire movement and destroyed 40 years of Hollywood tradition. Everything was new, even the soundtrack with inputs by The Byrds, Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix, they gave it the sound that projected what the images were implying. These were heady days where you could get stoned on camera and show the effects so blatantly, the soundtrack was not only the background to a film it was a representation of everything and everybody that Easy Rider appealed to. No film has impacted an entire system quite as much as Easy Rider. Whilst it borrowed heavily from the French New wave it showed that the American new wave could too become a force to be reckoned with and so it proved. The film is an ode to the American landscape but also serves as a criticism of the old order and their stranglehold over future developments. It is still relevant because the story is strong enough to hold the amazing cinematography (László Kovács work), and the myths that enshroud it are as interesting as the film itself. Buy the DVD and enjoy this film over and over again.
Advantages: A cult classic that's strong today as it was over 35 years ago Disadvantages: Sometimes you have the "have I missed something?" feeling with the plot
This film was made just as the 60's were imploding on itself and was filmed in the same year as the assassinations of Kennedy and Luther King and the build up to the Vietnam war, so the subject was controversial. Many have called this the ultimate road movie but I feel it is more a reflection of a man trying to escape from something or himself but yet he doesn't know where to start looking, so what better place that the seat of a Harley?
The film ... ...(Peter Fonda) and Billy (Dennis Hopper) conducting a drug deal in the wastelands of an operating airport.
Once the deal is done and they have the cash you get the first glimpse of the 'horses' that are going to take the two of them across the land. It is a metaphorical western which is why the bikes are the steeds and why the two main actors are name after famous western outlaws, Wyatt Earp and Billy the Kid.
Wyatt is seen stuffing rolled up dollar ...
Paid.Ark.Man 26.07.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Easy Rider (DVD)
Advantages: seminal road movie. Disadvantages: not really sure...
Easy Rider. Whoa. It took me twenty-five years to see it, but I finally did it. And it’s exactly like I thought it would be. Man, I really feel for those counterculture hippies now. I really wanna grab a bike and find… whatever the hell it is they’re trying to find…
I think that perhaps I didn’t get it. Maybe it’s a generational thing, but as far as I could figure, Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper (who also directs,) ... ...Phil Spector, and then ride about a bit, have a trip with some prostitutes and then… the end.
That’ll be it. I’m just too young to appreciate the undertones of just how dangerous this movie is, man. It’s making a statement about dropping out: Don’t do it in the South. Like Deliverance, this does for Louisiana tourism what goths with shotguns do for the ‘Stay In School’ campaign. I think it’s saying ...
revere 05.12.2001 (06.12.2001)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Easy Rider (DVD)
Advantages: A cult film with cult status, superb performance by all of the cast, good soundtrack Disadvantages: Plot? Well I guess it is a road movie
Easy Rider - the 1969 classic is the latest entry to my (rather small) video collection. After seeing Easy Rider a few days ago I can now see what all the fuss was about…
Two motorcyclists set off on a coast-to-coast road trip in hope of discovering and experiencing the real America. Along the way they pick up hitchhikers, smoke a joint here and there, get pissed every now and then and even visit a hippie commune.
The two "hippie" motorcyclists ... ...The other famous star of Easy Rider is Jack Nicholson whose magnificent performance won him worldwide attention. Remember, Easy Rider was the film that made Jack Nicholson.
Easy Rider is a significant film that reflected the feelings and attitudes of the youth of the 60's, that is why Easy Rider was such a cult film. Easy Rider represented the hippie culture of the 60's, it was made in the heart of the hippie era and even its director/actor Dennis ...
Disillusioned 14.10.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Easy Rider (DVD)
Advantages: Too many to say! Disadvantages: Not for prudes.
...a film that was cutting edge in its time and whose quality still shines through then find it and watch it.
I’ve got the video, will almost certainly buy the remastered DVD, and have watched it many times. Easy Rider is a landmark in the history of cinema. ...
jillmurphy 22.07.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Easy Rider (DVD)
A few things about this before the actual review. I don't think Peter Fonda was a very experienced rider at all. He wobbles & jerks a lot on the chopper. He looks like he could have done with a lot more practice riding it. Hopper looks the more natural biker of the two. I didn't fancy staying up to watch this so I taped it. And as is always the way the damn thing started early so I missed a little of the start, Fonda & Hopper were already in the ... ...about the what's and why's of the start. The film is a very psychedelic look at late 60's America, It's almost like someone read some Jack Kerouac and decided to make it into a film. The film makes a very definite statement from the moment Fonda drops his watch before they set out on the road. They have no need to measure time or to know anything exact. They trip happily along having small things happen, A flat tire, picking up a hike-hiker (I almost ...
atytyut2434 09.04.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Easy Rider (DVD)
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Advantages: Brilliant soundtrack. Disadvantages: Not for the faint hearted.
pointless drugged up rubbish. But the reason why i still watch this film, and am a fan of it, is the atmosphere: the great soundtrack with "Born to be Wild", the great bikes and great open scenery that is cross-country america.
To finish off i will talk about this particular DVD. The film itself had 65 minutes documentary, director's commentary and filmographies. The box contains the "EasyRiders. Raging Bulls" DVD based on the book by Peter Biskind. I have that book and the DVD, basically summerises it with interviews and clips. Its a good backround for the film and interesting to see it in it's context of the time. It talks of other directors such as Martin Scorsese and how EasyRider opened the door for them. The DVD also contains deleted scenes and extra footage.
The box also contains a book analyzing the circumstances surrounding ...
Featurette, Filmographies, Directors Commentary, Commentary with Dennis Hopper , Featurette
Aspect Ratio
1.85 Wide Screen, 16:9 Wide Screen
Sound
Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital Mono, Dolby Digital
Dubbing Sound
Dolby Digital 5.1 English Dolby Digital Mono French German Italian Spanish
Professional reviews
Review
"...There's nothing safe about Hopper's directorial debut....A pointedly bad trip..." (Entertainment Weekly, pp.56-7, 05/08/1994)
"...Marvelous outdoor photography..." -- 3 1/2 out of 4 stars..." (USA Today, p.4D, 24/11/1995)
DVD Description
A landmark in film history, EASY RIDER blew the studio doors open for more young directors than any film before or since, helping to create the wide-open climate that would lead to the production of many outstanding films in the 1970s. As its director, Dennis Hopper is usually given the lion's share of credit for the film's success, but the revelations of time suggest that the contributions of the late Terry Southern and, to some degree, Jack Nicholson have endowed the film with much of its residual power. Starring Peter Fonda as Wyatt (alias Captain America) and Hopper as Billy, it traces the hippie duo's adventures as they mount their seriously chopped hogs on a journey to find the real America en route to Mardi Gras. In Arizona, they visit a commune whose members seem to be having a tough time, and in a small Texas town they're jailed for joining a parade. But they're quickly sprung by an ACLU lawyer, the quirky, hard-drinking George Hanson (Jack Nicholson), who accepts their offer to join them on the trip to New Orleans, eager to visit the best whorehouse in the South. Although parts of the film now seem dated and some of the language seems quaint, the tensions and hostilities of the period are accurately reflected, Laszlo Kovacs's photography is superb, and Nicholson is exceptional in his breakthrough role.
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