The Source: The Story of the Beats and the Beat Generation (1999)

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 ... See full summary »

Director:

Chuck Workman

Writer:

Chuck Workman

Stars:

Johnny Depp, John Turturro, Dennis Hopper

3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Johnny Depp	...	Jack Kerouac
Dennis Hopper	...	William S. Burroughs
John Turturro	...	Allen Ginsberg
Allen Ginsberg	...	Himself
Philip Glass	...	Himself
Robert Creeley	...	Himself
Ann Charters	...	Herself
George Steade	...	Himself
David Amram	...	Himself
William S. Burroughs	...	Himself
Ed Sanders	...	Himself
Gregory Corso	...	Himself
Kyle Roderick	...	Himself - Corso biographer
Lawrence Ferlinghetti	...	Himself
Ken Kesey	...	Himself (archive footage)

Storyline

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.

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Plot Keywords:

kerouac | writer | public television | poet | poetry | 

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Genres:

Documentary | Biography | History

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 January 1999 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Fonte

Box Office

Gross USA:

$362,649

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$362,649

Company Credits

Production Co:

Beat Productions, Calliope Films, WNET Channel 13 New York

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Color:

Black and White Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Filmmaker Jason Rosette appears briefly in the scene at the student center during the reading of Kerouac's "On the Road".

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Connections

Features Not Necessarily the News (1982)

User Reviews

Witty, intelligent and fun.

"The Source" is witty, intelligent and fun. This is a nostalgic romp through our Cultural History that will entertain and validate anyone who has felt alien in this culture. The directive is to enjoy.