The Source (1999)
The Source: The Story of the Beats and the Beat Generation
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.
- Release date
- January 23, 1999
- Country of origin
- United States
- Box office
- $360,895
Trailer
Cast
- Johnny Depp as Jack Kerouac
- John Turturro as Allen Ginsberg
- Dennis Hopper as William S. Burroughs
- Philip Glass as Self
- Robert Creeley as Self
- Ann Charters as Self
- George Steade as Self
- David Amram as Self
Crew
- Allen Ginsberg · Archive footage
- William S. Burroughs · Archive footage
- Chuck Workman · Director
- Chuck Workman · Writer
- Chuck Workman · Producer
- David Amram · Composer
- Philip Glass · Composer
- Andrew Dintenfass · Cinematographer
- Tom Hurwitz · Cinematographer
- Don Lenzer · Cinematographer
- José Louis Mignone · Cinematographer
- Chuck Workman · Editor
- Marc Greville-Masson · Production designer