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

Opening Weekend USA:

$16,821, 29 August 1999, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$360,895, 21 May 2000

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

Broadcast in the UK in 2001 as part of the BBC's prestigious Arena (1975) series.

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Connections

Features Funny Face (1957)

User Reviews

If you like them....You'll love this

The Source was the first documentary I have ever seen on the big screen beside those huge IMax films. The Source was very enjoyable film. I have always read Kerouac and Burroughs w/ much enthusiasm and this film helped me to fall in love w/ their work all over again and some more. The Beats were an aquired taste, but if you are searching for yourself (and I believe most people are) these guys can help you start. They don't show you the way but they give you a good start. This film was very insightful into the lives of these life searching nomads. See this if you enjoy their work. Even if you never read any of their stuff, see it anyway.