Backdrop

The Source

Traces the Beats from Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac's meeting in 1944 at Columbia University to the deaths of Ginsberg and William S. Burroughs in 1997. Three actors provide dramatic interpretations of the work of these three writers, and the film chronicles their friendships, their arrival into American consciousness, their travels, frequent parodies, Kerouac's death, and Ginsberg's politicization. Their movement connects with bebop, John Cage's music, abstract expressionism, and living theater. In recent interviews, Ginsberg, Burroughs, Kesey, Ferlinghetti, Mailer, Jerry Garcia, Tom Hayden, Gary Snyder, Ed Sanders, and others measure the Beats' meaning and impact.

1999 |1h 28m |  Documentary, History

Videos

Cast

cast

Johnny Depp

Jack Kerouac

cast

Dennis Hopper

William S. Burroughs

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John Turturro

Allen Ginsberg

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Allen Ginsberg

Self

cast

Ken Kesey

Self

cast

Gary Snyder

Self

cast

Jerry Garcia

Self

cast

Timothy Leary

Self

cast

Paul Krassner

Self

cast

Tom Hayden

Self

cast

David Dellinger

Self

More Details

Status

Released

Language

English

Budget

-

Revenue

$360,895.00