By Jason Apuzzo. Actor Dennis Hopper died earlier today at age 74. Hopper will be remembered for many things, but I wanted to say just a few brief words in his honor with respect to what seems to me to be his most singular achievement: his film Easy Rider. Every filmmaker today who turns to independent filmmaking to express a personal and uncompromising vision, every filmmaker who seeks to reach young people, every filmmaker who plays the role of David to Hollywood’s Goliath, owes Dennis Hopper thanks for Easy Rider. Easy Rider was genuinely the film that changed the entire landscape of Hollywood during the late 60s-early 70s, and allowed the New Hollywood generation to get its big chance. And it was Hopper – as Easy Rider‘s director, writer and star – who was primarily responsible for the film getting made. Seen today, I think Easy Rider has stood the test of time, and has become its own genuine piece of Americana – a kind of wild, bacchic ode to freedom.
Hopper will be missed. He was an extraordinary performer on-camera; one thinks in particular of his electric appearances in Apocalypse Now and Blue Velvet, among many other films. We want to wish his family and friends our condolences.
By Jason Apuzzo. • In honor of Memorial Day, Turner Classic Movies is showing three days’ worth of classic war films. Check here for specific listings. Some of my favorites today include In Harm’s Way, Battle of the Bulge, Battle of Britain and Midway. On Sunday, check out The Guns of Navarone and The Green Berets. Each of these films is available through the LFM Store below.
• If you’re in Los Angeles, The Egyptian Theatre will be screening 4 other war classics: The Dirty Dozen, Attack, The Big Red One and The Steel Helmet. Check The LA Times for further details. Each of these films is available in the LFM Store below.
• Also at the Egyptian Theatre, Pam Grier will be doing a book signing on Saturday, June 5th at 6:15 pm for her new autobiography, Foxy: My Life in Three Acts. There will also be a discussion with her prior to a screening of her films Foxy Brown and Jackie Brown. See here for more details. You can buy a copy of Foxy in the LFM Store below.
Hedy Lamarr.
• And also in Los Angeles, the Academy is putting on a wonderful-looking exhibit of Ray Harryhausen’s work, featuring many of Ray’s original models from his films. Check the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences website for further details. You can also pick up a copy of The Ray Harryhausen Collection in the LFM Store above.
• On the book front, there’s a new biography of Hedy Lamarr coming out, called Beautiful: The Life of Hedy Lamarr. The book will be released in October. The author, Stephen Michael Shearer, has previously written a biography of Patricia Neal. See here for further details. Pre-order your copy of Beautiful in the LFM Store above.
• Jean-Luc Godard’s Breathless has been re-released by Rialto Pictures, with a restored new print. Right now it’s playing at New York’s Film Forum, to be followed by a national release. Check here for screenings in your area, or pick up a copy of the newly restored Breathless in the LFM Store above.
• Movie Morlocks, the official blog for Turner Classic Movies, had a great post up by Moira Finnie on Duke Wayne’s Hondo. Check that out, and pick up a copy of Hondo in the LFM Store.
• … and don’t forget to catch Jennifer Baldwin’s LFM Classic Movie Obsession post (Memorial Day Edition) for this week: Howard Hawks’ Sergeant York.
Best wishes to everyone this Memorial Day Weekend, as we honor the men and women who’ve sacrificed everything to keep this nation free.
[Update: Actor Dennis Hopper has died at age 74, after a battle with cancer. He was, of course, one of the pivotal stars and cinema personalities of the past 40-50 years. Our condolences to his family and friends.]
By Jason Apuzzo. Actor Dennis Hopper died earlier today at age 74. Hopper will be remembered for many things, but I wanted to say just a few brief words in his honor with respect to what seems to me to be his most singular achievement: his film Easy Rider. Every filmmaker today who turns to independent filmmaking to express a personal and uncompromising vision, every filmmaker who seeks to reach young people, every filmmaker who plays the role of David to Hollywood’s Goliath, owes Dennis Hopper thanks for Easy Rider. Easy Rider was genuinely the film that changed the entire landscape of Hollywood during the late 60s-early 70s, and allowed the New Hollywood generation to get its big chance. And it was Hopper – as Easy Rider‘s director, writer and star – who was primarily responsible for the film getting made. Seen today, I think Easy Rider has stood the test of time, and has become its own genuine piece of Americana – a kind of wild, bacchic ode to freedom.
