Easy Rider (1969)

Director:

Dennis Hopper

Writers:

Peter Fonda (written by) &
Dennis Hopper (written by) ...

Release Date:

26 June 1969 (Sweden)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

This Year It's Easy Rider

Plot:

Two counterculture bikers travel from Los Angeles to New Orleans in search of America.

Plot Keywords:

Biker | Mardi Gras | Jail Cell | Motorcycle | Hitchhiker

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 10 wins & 10 nominations

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Peter Fonda	...	Wyatt
Dennis Hopper	...	Billy
Antonio Mendoza	...	Jesus
Phil Spector	...	Connection
Mac Mashourian	...	Bodyguard
Warren Finnerty	...	Rancher
Tita Colorado	...	Rancher's Wife
Luke Askew	...	Stranger on Highway
Luana Anders	...	Lisa
Sabrina Scharf	...	Sarah
Sandy Brown Wyeth	...	Joanne (as Sandy Wyeth)
Robert Walker Jr.	...	Jack (as Robert Walker)
Robert Ball	...	Mime #1
Carmen Phillips	...	Mime #2
Ellie Wood Walker	...	Mime #3 (as Ellie Walker)

Also Known As:

The Loners (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color | Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Argentina:18 | Netherlands:12 | South Korea:15 | South Korea:18 (DVD rating) | Brazil:16 | Philippines:R-18 | Singapore:M18 | New Zealand:R16 | UK:15 (re-rating) (2009) | Australia:MA (2009 DVD rating) | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:16 | Canada:R (Nova Scotia) | Canada:PG (Manitoba) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:18+ (Quebec) (original rating) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) (re-rating) (2003)

Filming Locations:

157 Bridge Street, Las Vegas, New Mexico, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Peter Fonda was an experienced motorcycle rider and the bike he rides in the movie is seriously stretched and raked and has tall "apehanger" style handlebars. Dennis Hopper was not as experienced a rider, therefore his bike is less radically chopped.

Goofs:

Continuity: The watch shown thrown on the ground is a cheap Timex, yet Wyatt wears a Rolex.

Quotes:

George Hanson: What's "dude"? Is that like "dude ranch"?
Captain America: Dude means nice guy. Dude means a regular sort of person.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Üvegtigris 2 (2006)

Soundtrack:

Let's Turkey Trot

Quintessential

Still the granddaddy of all road movies. It perfectly captures the era and the angst of those living in it. It's the best because because it shows the true reality of the open road and yet still has the philosophical edge.

It shows how the open road is really an odyssey of personal discovery more than a particular destination. It also shows how one is still always trapped within the confines of the very society he wishes to escape. Above all it questions what true freedom really is, whether anyone is truly free, and whether it can even fully exist.

Fonda and Hopper are perfect. They channel the rebellious energies well. Of course it's Nicholson who steals it playing slightly nerdy lawyer named George Hanson. He exudes a certain charm here that's rarely seen in his other performances. He also sports the silliest 'riding' helmet you can imagine.

Lazlo Kovacs cinematography is outstanding. It captures the American landscape like its a travel show. The hippy commune scene is the best. You feel like you are right there. There is also the very memorable hallucinogenic drug scene in a graveyard.

Some may say it's boring, but the slow pacing is deliberate and well orchestrated. The framing and flash editing are groundbreaking in both it's vision and execution. A definite trend setter and most importantly a classic.