Background poster of The Source blurred
Poster of The Source

The Source

1999-1h 28min
Star icon accompanying the rating score
5.2 / 10 13

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.

Directed by Chuck Workman

Writers William S. Burroughs Chuck Workman

Stars Johnny Depp Dennis Hopper John Turturro

Videos

Thumbnail of the video: The Source: The Story of the Beats and the Beat Generation

The Source: The Story of the Beats and the Beat Generation

Cast

Johnny Depp's picture in the cast

Johnny Depp

Jack Kerouac
Dennis Hopper's picture in the cast

Dennis Hopper

William S. Burroughs
John Turturro's picture in the cast

John Turturro

Allen Ginsberg
Allen Ginsberg's picture in the cast

Allen Ginsberg

Self (archive footage)
Robert Creeley's picture in the cast

Robert Creeley

Self
Ann Charters's picture in the cast

Ann Charters

Self
George Steade's picture in the cast

George Steade

Self
Ed Sanders's picture in the cast

Ed Sanders

Self
Gregory Corso's picture in the cast

Gregory Corso

Self
Kyle Roderick's picture in the cast

Kyle Roderick

Self
Lawrence Ferlinghetti's picture in the cast

Lawrence Ferlinghetti

Self
Ken Kesey's picture in the cast

Ken Kesey

Self

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