Easy Rider (1969)

Director:

Dennis Hopper

Writers:

Peter Fonda (written by) &
Dennis Hopper (written by) ...
(more)

Release Date:

26 June 1969 (Sweden)

Genre:

Adventure | Crime | Drama

Tagline:

This Year It's Easy Rider

Plot:

Two counterculture bikers travel from Los Angeles to New Orleans in search of America.

Plot Keywords:

Biker | Mardi Gras | Jail Cell | Motorcycle | Hitchhiker

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 10 wins & 10 nominations

Cast

Peter Fonda	...	Wyatt
Dennis Hopper	...	Billy
Antonio Mendoza	...	Jesus
Phil Spector	...	Connection
Mac Mashourian	...	Bodyguard
Warren Finnerty	...	Rancher
Tita Colorado	...	Rancher's Wife
Luke Askew	...	Stranger on Highway
Luana Anders	...	Lisa
Sabrina Scharf	...	Sarah
Sandy Brown Wyeth	...	Joanne (as Sandy Wyeth)
Robert Walker Jr.	...	Jack (as Robert Walker)
Robert Ball	...	Mime #1
Carmen Phillips	...	Mime #2
Ellie Wood Walker	...	Mime #3 (as Ellie Walker)
Michael Pataki	...	Mime #4
Jack Nicholson	...	George Hanson
George Fowler Jr.	...	Guard
Keith Green	...	Sheriff
Hayward Robillard	...	Cat Man
Arnold Hess Jr.	...	Deputy
Buddy Causey Jr.	...	Customer #1
Duffy Lafont	...	Customer #2
Blase M. Dawson	...	Customer #3
Paul Guedry Jr.	...	Customer #4
Suzie Ramagos	...	Girl #1
Elida Ann Hebert	...	Girl #2
Rose LeBlanc	...	Girl #3
Mary Kaye Hebert	...	Girl #4
Cynthia Grezaffi	...	Girl #5
Colette Purpera	...	Girl #6
Toni Basil	...	Mary
Karen Black	...	Karen
Lea Marmer	...	Madame
Cathé Cozzi	...	Dancing Girl
Thea Salerno	...	Hooker #1
Anne McClain	...	Hooker #2
Beatriz Monteil	...	Hooker #3
Marcia Bowman	...	Hooker #4
David C. Billodeau	...	Pickup Truck
Johnny David	...	Pickup Truck
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Susan Brewer	...	Woman in Commune (uncredited)
Bridget Fonda	...	Child in Commune (uncredited)
Justin Fonda	...	Child in Commune (uncredited)
Virgil Frye	...	Biker (uncredited)
Dan Haggerty	...	Man in Commune (uncredited)
Randee Lynne Jensen	...	(uncredited)
Carrie Snodgress	...	Woman in Commune (uncredited)

Directed by
Dennis Hopper

Writing credits
Peter Fonda		(written by) &
Dennis Hopper		(written by) &
Terry Southern		(written by)

Produced by
Peter Fonda	....	producer
William Hayward	....	associate producer (as William L. Hayward)
Bert Schneider	....	executive producer
Bob Rafelson	....	producer (uncredited)

Cinematography by
László Kovács		(director of photography) (as Laszlo Kovacs)
Baird Bryant		(uncredited)

Film Editing by
Donn Cambern

Art Direction by
Jeremy Kay		(as Jerry Kay)

Makeup Department
Virgil Frye	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Paul Lewis	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Len Marsal	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Robert Vincent O'Neill	....	property master (as Robert O'Neil)

Sound Department
James Contrares	....	boom operator
Le Roy Robbins	....	sound mixer

Special Effects by
Steve Karkus	....	special effects

Stunts
Tex Hall	....	stunt gaffer
Gary Littlejohn	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Richmond L. Aguilar	....	gaffer (as Richmond Aguilar)
Guy Badger	....	generator operator
Foster K. Denker	....	electrician (as Foster Denker)
Peter Heiser	....	assistant camera (as Peter Heiser Jr.)
Melton Maxwell	....	best boy (as Mel Maxwell)
Tom Ramsey	....	key grip (as Thomas Ramsey)
Peter Sorel	....	still photographer
Les Blank	....	second camera operator (uncredited)
Larry Lapointe	....	electrician (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Henry Jaglom	....	editorial consultant
Marilyn Schlossberg	....	post-production
Stan Siegel	....	assistant editor (as Stanley Siegel)

Music Department
Mike Deasy	....	musician (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Lee Pierpont	....	transportation

Other crew
Joyce King	....	script supervisor
Tony Vorno	....	location manager
Dan Haggerty	....	motorcycle builder (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures Corporation
• Pando Company Inc.
• Raybert Productions

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1969) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films de Argentina (2000) (Argentina) (all media) (re-release)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1993) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD) (widescreen)
• Columbia TriStar (????) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar (????) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Falcon (????) (Czech Republic) (DVD)
• LK-TEL (1987) (Argentina) (VHS)
• LK-TEL (2000) (Argentina) (DVD)
• LK-TEL (2000) (Argentina) (VHS) (re-release)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (????) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD) (widescreen)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)

Other Companies

• Cinefx  titles
• Edit-Rite  sound effects
• Producers' Sound Services  re-recording (as Producer's Sound Service, Inc.)
• Ryder Sound Services  sound recording (as Ryder Sound Service, Inc.)
• Sunset Gower Studios  sound stages
• Synchrofilm Inc.  music editing (as Synchrofilm, Inc.)

Also Known As:

The Loners (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Colour:

Colour | Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Argentina:18 | Netherlands:12 | South Korea:15 | South Korea:18 (DVD rating) | Brazil:16 | Philippines:R-18 | Singapore:M18 | New Zealand:R16 | UK:15 (re-rating) (2009) | Australia:MA (2009 DVD rating) | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:16 | Canada:R (Nova Scotia) | Canada:PG (Manitoba) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:18+ (Quebec) (original rating) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) (re-rating) (2003)

Filming Locations:

157 Bridge Street, Las Vegas, New Mexico, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

The New Orleans cemetery is St. Louis #1, a Catholic cemetery. They didn't have permission to shoot there and Catholic audience members were shocked that the church had allowed it. Since then no other films have been allowed to shoot at St. Louis #1, unless it's a documentary and you have permission. Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994), Double Jeopardy (1999) and other films since then have all used the Lafayette Cemetery, which is Protestant.

Goofs:

Boom mic visible: In the diner scene, a shadow on the wood panel between the booths.

Quotes:

Captain America: It's grass.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Alpha to Omega: Exposing 'The Osterman Weekend' (2004) (V)

Soundtrack:

Ballad of Easy Rider

Quintessential

Still the granddaddy of all road movies. It perfectly captures the era and the angst of those living in it. It's the best because because it shows the true reality of the open road and yet still has the philosophical edge.

It shows how the open road is really an odyssey of personal discovery more than a particular destination. It also shows how one is still always trapped within the confines of the very society he wishes to escape. Above all it questions what true freedom really is, whether anyone is truly free, and whether it can even fully exist.

Fonda and Hopper are perfect. They channel the rebellious energies well. Of course it's Nicholson who steals it playing slightly nerdy lawyer named George Hanson. He exudes a certain charm here that's rarely seen in his other performances. He also sports the silliest 'riding' helmet you can imagine.

Lazlo Kovacs cinematography is outstanding. It captures the American landscape like its a travel show. The hippy commune scene is the best. You feel like you are right there. There is also the very memorable hallucinogenic drug scene in a graveyard.

Some may say it's boring, but the slow pacing is deliberate and well orchestrated. The framing and flash editing are groundbreaking in both it's vision and execution. A definite trend setter and most importantly a classic.