The Source

Chuck Workman
1999-01-23


5.1
88 min

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.

Cast

Name Character Team
Johnny Depp Jack Kerouac Goutbreak
Dennis Hopper William S. Burroughs Unowned
John Turturro Allen Ginsberg Goutbreak
Allen Ginsberg Self Unowned
Philip Glass Self Unowned
Robert Creeley Self Unowned
Ann Charters Self Unowned
George Steade Self Unowned
David Amram Self Unowned
William S. Burroughs Self Unowned
Ed Sanders Self Unowned
Gregory Corso Self Unowned
Kyle Roderick Self Unowned
Lawrence Ferlinghetti Self Unowned
Ken Kesey Self Unowned
Gary Snyder Self Unowned
Jerry Garcia Self Unowned
Jack Micheline Self Unowned
Michael McClure Self Unowned
Stephen Ronan Self Unowned
Philip Whalen Self Unowned
Terry Southern Self Unowned
Timothy Leary Self Unowned
Paul Krassner Self Unowned
Diane Di Prima Self Unowned
Tom Hayden Self Unowned
David Dellinger Self Unowned
John Sampas Self Unowned