EASY RIDER -- Dennis Hopper, dir

©1969
studio: Sony Pictures
production company: Columbia Pictures Corporation, Pando Company Inc., Raybert Productions
dir: Dennis Hopper
cast: Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper, Jack Nicholson, Antonio Mendoza, Phil Spector, Mac Mashourian, Warren Finnerty, Tita Colorado, Luke Askew, Luana Anders, Sabrina Scharf, Robert Walker, Jr., Sandy Brown Wyeth, Robert Ball
screenplay: Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper, Terry Southern

Two long-haired bikers from Los Angeles take off on a cross-country trip to New Orleans for Mardi Gras. On the way they meet several unusual characters.

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I thought I knew this film, and/or had watched it before, but I don't believe so, now that I've seen it through in one sitting. All I can say is, "Geez, that sucked."

I understand its relevence to the era in which it was made, and I can appreciate how it was done on such a low budget (duh ... that's rather obvious) and how it perhaps broke some new ground for its style, but for a neophyte such as myself, I had trouble enjoying this.

I didn't understand the drug connection at the beginning of the film and what it had to do with the rest of the motorcycle journey. I never bought Fonda as a "hippie," but could see how he might be manipulative as a drug dealer by not looking hippie-like.

Fonda seemed stiff and wooden throughout. Hopper was a joy to watch. Nicholson was fun to watch and i liked the character -- a lawyer struggling with his identity, but I didn't get the beating in the woods.

I'm glad that I finally watched this film, but I sure can't recommend it.