Easy Rider (1969)
"Easy Rider" is a 1969 road movie directed by Dennis Hopper and written by Hopper, Peter Fonda, and Terry Southern. The film stars Fonda, Hopper, and Jack Nicholson, and it was one of the first successful independent films of the New Hollywood era.
"Easy Rider" is widely considered a landmark film of the counterculture of the 1960s. The film tells the story of two bikers, Wyatt (played by Fonda) and Billy (played by Hopper), as they travel across the country on their motorcycles. Along the way, they encounter a series of adventures and encounters with various characters, including a drug-dealing hippie and a drunken lawyer played by Nicholson. The film is known for its iconic imagery, including its shots of the open road and its depiction of the counterculture lifestyle of the time.
The film was a commercial and critical success, grossing more than $60 million at the box office and earning a positive reception from critics. It was nominated for two Academy Awards, including Best Original Screenplay. In the decades since its release, "Easy Rider" has become a cult classic and is widely regarded as one of the defining films of the 1960s and 1970s.
Interesting facts about the film include:
- Hopper and Fonda used the film to explore the themes of freedom and individuality, as well as to critique the values of mainstream America.
- "Easy Rider" was one of the first films to feature rock music on its soundtrack, which was a major departure from the traditional Hollywood film score. The film's soundtrack, which included songs by The Jimi Hendrix Experience, The Byrds, and Steppenwolf, was a major factor in the film's popularity and helped to establish the film as a cultural touchstone of the 1960s.
- The film's production was plagued by problems, including disagreements between Hopper and the film's producers, drug use on set, and problems with the weather. Despite these difficulties, the film was completed and released to great success.
- "Easy Rider" inspired a wave of similar road movies and biker films, as well as a revival of interest in motorcycle culture in the United States. The film is also credited with helping to establish the New Hollywood movement, which sought to challenge the traditional Hollywood studio system and encourage more independent and experimental filmmaking.
