IMDb > Heart Beat (1980)

Heart Beat (1980) More at IMDbPro »


Overview

User Rating:
5.7/10   231 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 7% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Carolyn Cassady (autobiography)
John Byrum (writer)
Contact:
View company contact information for Heart Beat on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
24 September 1980 (France) more
Genre:
Plot Keywords:
User Comments:
A take on a subject strangely lacking in coverage more (6 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Nick Nolte ... Neal Cassady

Sissy Spacek ... Carolyn Cassady

John Heard ... Jack Kerouac
Ray Sharkey ... Ira
Ann Dusenberry ... Stevie
Margaret Fairchild ... Mrs. Kerouac
Tony Bill ... Dick
Mary Margaret Amato ... Waitress
Kent Williams ... Ogden
Susan Niven ... Ogden's Secretary
Marcia Nasatir ... First Receptionist
Mickey Kelly ... Second Receptionist
Luis Contreras ... Mexican Junkie
Sharon Lee ... Blonde in Car
Stephen Davies ... Bob Bendix
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Additional Details

Runtime:
110 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Iceland:12 (video rating) | Iceland:L | USA:R | UK:18

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Jack Kerouac's only child, Jan Kerouac, was an extra. more
Soundtrack:
I LOVE HER TOO more

FAQ

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6 out of 8 people found the following comment useful.
A take on a subject strangely lacking in coverage, 6 January 2002
7/10
Author: occupant-1

Considering all the comment about the "beat generation" US literary movement of the 1950's and 60's, it seems there's not much film examination of it. The only book of Kerouac's to be filmed so far was the confusing "The Subterraneans" in 1960, not an obvious candidate. This 1980 film is the only biopic of which I'm aware that follows the Kerouac/Neal & Carolyn Cassady saga. It's spotty and doesn't communicate a great deal of what "beat" literature claimed to have accomplished (if indeed anything WAS accomplished), but Nolte was born to play the role of Neal C., which performance alone seals the value of this film. The Cassadys were muses that helped generate Kerouac's impetus to write, and the rest is history.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Heart Beat (1980)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Terrible movie, and even worse casting. nuitscliche
DVD release??? neil57
DVD now available directly from Warner's webpage! simonhowson
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Related Links

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