S12.E1

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The Life and Times of Allen Ginsberg

Episode aired Sep 17, 1997
TV-14TV-14
1h 22m

IMDb RATING

7.2/10

282

YOUR RATING

The Life and Times of Allen Ginsberg (1994)

Documentary Biography Music

The life and work of Allen Ginsberg, the greatest of the Beat Generation poets is put in focus in this filmThe life and work of Allen Ginsberg, the greatest of the Beat Generation poets is put in focus in this filmThe life and work of Allen Ginsberg, the greatest of the Beat Generation poets is put in focus in this film

IMDb RATING

7.2/10

282

YOUR RATING

Director
- Jerry Aronson
Stars

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Awards
- 1 win & 1 nomination

Photos7

Top cast

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Joan Baez

Self

William F. Buckley

Self

William S. Burroughs

Self

Allen Ginsberg

Self

Abbie Hoffman

Self
(archive footage)

Jack Kerouac

Self
(archive footage)

Ken Kesey

Self

Timothy Leary

Self

Norman Mailer

Self

Storyline

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Did you know

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Alternate versions
In 1997 an abbreviated (55 min.) version was produced by WNET for PBS.

Soundtracks
Letter to Allen
Written and Performed by Patti Smith

User reviews1

Review

Featured review

7/10

...he will wear his hair long until everyone else does, then he will cut it short.

One of America's greatest poets, and a leader of the Beat Generation; this is the story of Allen Ginsberg, and his close friendships with William S. Burroughs and Jack Kerouac.

We see his search for love, and his coming out as gay, with support from those around him, who were mainly hetero, but supportive.

Ginsberg challenged the conformity of the 50s, which allowed the protests of the 60s to develop. He and his group joined with Timothy Leary and transformed him.

Ginsberg's role in the infamous protests at the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago shows him as brave face of calm in a violent time.

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