Easy Rider (film)
"Easy Rider" is a landmark 1969 film that follows two countercultural figures, Wyatt (also known as "Captain America," portrayed by Peter Fonda) and Billy (played by Dennis Hopper), as they embark on a motorcycle journey from California to New Orleans. Their quest for freedom unfolds after a lucrative drug deal in Mexico, leading them to encounter a range of characters, including a southern lawyer named George Hanson, played by Jack Nicholson, whose involvement dramatically impacts their journey. The film explores themes of alienation, societal prejudice, and the pursuit of freedom in the face of violence and bigotry, reflective of the tumultuous 1960s era.
"Easy Rider" is notable for its low-budget production and its ability to resonate with young audiences, who were drawn to its depiction of discontent and the complexities of achieving true freedom. The film's vivid portrayal of the social landscape is complemented by a dynamic rock-and-roll soundtrack, enhancing its cultural significance. Ultimately, the narrative concludes on a tragic note, questioning the reality of freedom as Wyatt and Billy confront a violent end. This influential work not only shaped the youth-oriented cinema of the 1970s but also left a lasting legacy in American film history, prompting discussions about the nature of freedom and societal acceptance.
Easy Rider (film)
Released 1969
Director Dennis Hopper
A trendsetter in American filmmaking. It used the social context of the period to express the dissatisfaction of youth with the status quo.
Key Figures
Dennis Hopper (1936- ), film director and actor
The Work
Easy Rider is the story of Wyatt (or “Captain America,” played by Peter Fonda) and Billy (Dennis Hopper), two freewheeling, long-haired, social dropouts/hippies. After making the drug deal of their lives with a dealer in Mexico (Antonio Mendoza) and their U.S. connection (Phil Spector, the famous rock-and-roll producer in a cameo role), the two men decide to ride their motorcycles from California to New Orleans, the promised land of the Mardi Gras. On the way, they meet a number of unusual characters: a rancher and his family, a hitchhiker who lives in a hippie commune, hookers, rednecks, and most notably alcoholic southern lawyer George Hanson (Jack Nicholson, in a role that propelled him to stardom). Wyatt and Billy meet George in a southern jail, where George assures them that they can get out of jail with his connections if they “haven’t killed anybody. Least nobody white.” George, intrigued by their apparent freedom, decides to join them on their trip. After being harassed by locals at a Louisiana café, George is murdered in his sleep. When Wyatt and Billy reach New Orleans, to honor George, they visit a brothel, which the lawyer had wanted to do. They and two prostitutes take LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide, or acid) in a cemetery, but the acid trip is a bad one (the drug-taking experience is unpleasant). Although Billy feels they have been successful in their quest for freedom, Wyatt tells him, “We blew it.” Outside of town, the two men are shot to death by a tobacco-chewing hillbilly.
Impact
Easy Rider, basically a road film, captured the spirit of the 1960’s with its tale of a search for freedom in a conformist society, despite paranoia, bigotry, and violence. The film commented on the prejudices of a nation that was supposed to provide freedom for everyone and exposed the underside of a southern society that was seething with hatred for anyone who was different. The extremely successful, low-budget, countercultural film illustrated the discontent and alienation of 1960’s youth and featured sex, drugs, and a pulsating rock-and-roll soundtrack reinforcing or commenting on the film’s themes. A ritualistic experience, the film was viewed repeatedly by youthful audiences who were intrigued by the film’s central tenet: the question of whether people have really achieved freedom or are simply living an illusion. The film was followed by a series of youth-oriented films in the 1970’s such as The Strawberry Statement (1970), and its use of music to capture an era can be seen in films such as American Graffiti (1973).
Related Work
The film Electra Glide in Blue (1973), directed by James W. Guerico, covers many of the same issues as does Easy Rider and has been called “Easy Rider with cops.”
Additional Information
A more complete discussion of Easy Rider can be found in Movies of the Sixties (1983), edited by Ann Lloyd. Complete information about the film’s casting is also provided.