In 1992, Hopper sued Fonda for full writing credit and claimed Fonda cheated him out of the film's earnings. I made that f*cking movie, period."įonda said Hopper wanted him to sign a statement claiming he took no part in writing the script. Only the title Easy Rider came from him," noted Hopper. "Terry Southern never wrote one f*cking word of Easy Rider. I actually did it out of a sense of camaraderie."Įventually, however, Hopper and Fonda began fighting over who deserved credit for the film. Southern conceded, later saying, "We were great friends at the time, so I went along with it without much thought. The final film credited Southern for the screenplay due to Writers Guild rules, but Southern claimed Hopper and Fonda also demanded writing credit. In 1967, writer Terry Southern signed on to help write Easy Rider at the behest of Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper, the film's instigators. ![]() Like the tragic end of Billy and Wyatt, the men behind the film nearly took their classic masterpiece down in flames. Conflicts between actors grew so large, irreparable rifts formed in tandem with several lawsuits. While the substance usage on screen occasionally caused problems off screen, things like accidents, inflated egos, and flaring tempers also caused turmoil. They smoked, wore their hair long, and sought to beat the system to finally live life on their own terms. Making the film Easy Rider called for a lot of traveling, as its leads - two hippies affectionately named after Billy the Kid and Wyatt Earp - cowboy their way across the country on motorcycles. Thought to be the very first American independent film, Easy Rider certainly earned its place in film history - what went on behind the scenes, though, makes its creation a truly amazing feat. The film launched Jack Nicholson's career, aided Peter Fonda's, and brought artistic credit to Dennis Hopper, who's always good for a wild story. Often credited as one of the forerunners to the American counterculture film movement that began in the late 1960s, the movie made history by including contemporary songs on the soundtrack and displaying real substance use on screen. Behind the scenes of Easy Rider, however, heated feuds ruined relationships and created a dark backstory for one of the best movies of all time. We sometimes spot bike reproductions along Route 66.Many film fans remember Easy Rider for its extravagant use of choppers, illicit substances, and rock 'n' roll. Captain America's proud Harley, covered in the star-spangled banner, became a timeless icon. On the other hand, it helped boost "Harley Davidson" sales, which were faltering at the time. The movie is a legendary reference for any self-respecting biker. ![]() It was filmed along Route 66, especially in Santa Monica, California and Flagstaff, Arizona. The movie addresses with unprecedented frankness topics such as drug dealing, politics, sexuality (which was not without its problems to its creators, especially during its first television broadcasts). What a scandal! As a snub to those who take offense at the release of the subversive film, Captain America, the philosopher of the team, wonders if the US, so attached to the values of freedom, is actually scared by those living it out to its full, uncompromising extent.īearer of a new cinematic style at the turn of the 1970s, "Easy Rider" is one of the first independent, low budget movies to enjoy such a roaring success, quickly crossing the ocean to become a generational icon. Symbolic but even more so controversial since the bikers hide drugs in their bike tanks, fully covered by proud star-spangled flags. Murder, prostitution, marijuana joints, LSD pills and cocaine are shown on a religious and American flag background, an omnipresent icon painted on their bikes and worn on their helmets and jackets. In the background, a series of postcard-like settings, from the Pacific coast to the historic streets of New Orleans.Ī true ode to freedom, "Easy Rider" highlights the sociological changes our Western societies underwent at the time, by presenting opposing characters with contrasting mindsets groups of naked hippies in the desert and homophobic racists, but also by comparing the protagonists themselves one open to new encounters and experiences, the other closed in himself and uncommitted. ![]() On their road, they run into a gallery of portraits sometimes extreme, sometimes typical of the US at that time - including the delusional, alcoholic lawyer George Hanson, played by the excellent Jack Nicholson. The cult road movie "Easy Rider" takes us on a Harley-Davidson ride with two "biker-hippies", namely Wyatt "Captain America" (played by Peter Fonda) and Billy (Dennis Hopper), crossing the west and southern United States to reach New Orleans. Above: Harley Davidson motorcycles in front of the Bagdad Cafe (Newberry Springs, CA).
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