The official class blog for FILM 301/319: American Film 1967-1980, in the Film Department at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
On Easy Rider
After re-watching the scene (below) from Easy Rider and, keeping in mind today's class discussion, what do you think that Wyatt (Peter Fonda) means when he says, "we blew it"?
55 comments:
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I couldn’t help to notice Peter Fonda’s words when he was at the ranch house. During the scene where he was sitting and having dinner with Hopper, the farmer, and the farmer’s family, Fonda complimented on the farmer’s piece of land that he owned, and continued admiring the fact that the man could work when he needed to on his own terms. Both the scene where Hopper says they “Blew it”, and the scene where they are eating dinner at the ranch, are the two scenes that stuck out the most. The two scenes are connected. I believe deep down Fonda wanted that ranch, wanted that land. When Hopper tells Fonda at the end that they did it, that they achieved the American Dream by touring America on a bike ride, Fonda doesn’t share his friend’s view on the matter. I’m willing to bet Fonda would have used the money he received to buy a piece of land for himself. That is what America is really about. From the earlier Colonial days, it was about obtaining a piece of land and living off it (Maybe the view has changed today I don’t know). And it’s tragic because of course we don’t get to see Fonda achieve that goal, because he is killed.
Easy Riders, Raging Bulls talks about Bert Schneider and Bob Rafelson, two heads of a movie production company. Their goal was to enfranchise directors. As the book says, “The idea behind Raybert, after all, was to enfranchise directors. Later, even when Bert disagreed with the casting of his movies, he backed down, saying, “What makes us right?” This is important because those two men are opening the flood gates for a director’s vision and not the vision of a major cooperate operative at a big studio. Now, small, independent films could be made by filmmakers with little money, but in the end they could produce a popular, iconic film, that resonated with the generation of the times. Hopper and Fonda were part of that generation, and Bert and Bob let it be.
I think the acid trip scene was the most innovative. I’m sure it was the strangest scene, if viewed by the elders of the day, but one that made sense to a drug induced audience. 2001: A Space Odyssey and Easy Rider are the first films that invited audiences to dig deep in their minds and ask questions about our universal existence. Or should I say Kubrick and Hopper did it with a more obscure style. They’re having the audience exorcise their minds, which is good.
When Wyatt says, “ we blew it” it could have multiple meanings. Wyatt may be regretting not using the money from their sale of cocaine more wisely. Wyatt seems more level headed than Billy and might be foreseeing his future. Billy wants to use the money for more drugs and wild parties while it seems Wyatt may be the one who wants to settle down and walk away from that crazy lifestyle. He seemed most at home with the rancher and his family. I agree with Jordan’s assessment of Wyatt and his comments to the farmer. He could very well be thinking that this might be the life for him or something similar in nature. Easy Rider is incredibly noteworthy to New Hollywood. As discussed in the Cook book the production company put in very little money in the making of this film yet it grossed huge profits from the box office. What made this movie so appealing? This movie is attractive because it spoke to the youth of the late sixties, it also built on the art film kind of movie making that we saw in Bonnie and Clyde. Easy Rider gave a glimpse into the world of sixties. The film had scenes in a hippy camp, it had the small town, the the hookers in New Orleans and many more people. This gave the movie great social texture and a fascinating commentary on the times. Easy Rider gives you a flavor of the people of the sixties. The new style of filming on location, quick edits, and back and forth between scenes was widely copied by other filmmaker and producers into the seventies. The most innovate and interesting thing in the movie was the drug scene in New Orleans. The scene was so disorienting, and strange. Old Hollywood would never have done a scene like this. The montage of shots was incredible and disturbing. That scene was certainly the most groundbreaking filming of the movie.
One thing to notice right away is the context of this conversation. At this point in the film, the two friends have experienced all the pleasures of freedom and all its dangers, and thus find themselves with little to do next. Billy, feeling accomplished and satisfied from his beloved Mardi Gras, remarks "we did it," and utters Wyatt's name for the first time. No longer Captain America...that title isn't necessary anymore. From this point on, everything is easy; nothing more to do but be free.
Wyatt sees it differently. To him, his attempt to be free has made him a prisoner to the road. He discovers that the freedom he dreamt of (closely connected with youth counterculture of the time) can never truly exist, as the prejudice and ruthlessness of humanity will oppress it (think back to the conversation Wyatt only listened to the night George was murdered). None of Wyatt nor Billy's actions have made progress for the dream of utopian freedom, rather their actions seemed mostly self-absorbed. They failed themselves...they blew it.
Easy Rider's technical style is still striking to watch, partly because of its innovative use of the available technology in 1969. Lightning-fast zooms mixed with clever editing make the scene where Wyatt throws his watch a peculiar choice for the introduction to the rest of story. The amount of road camera work is also astonishing, especially when one considers the care with which the landscapes were given. The motorcycles themselves could only be driving around 20 mph during shooting, a testament to the patience involved with its production.
In addition to new technology, the film's style was innovative for the late 60s. The film is laden with quick edits as transitions, a technique rarely (if ever) used in Hollywood cinema. One of the most compelling shots in the film, however, is the 360 degree pan in the commune sequence. In near silence, the camera reveals one by one the members of this community as individuals. As the pan rests where it began, there is a prayer. This method of constructing space and community is a remarkable detour from Hollywood convention, and was even used again by Hopper in a later film "The Trip."
I cannot pretend to know exactly what Wyatt meant when he said, “We blew it,” as I was never completely sure what it was they meant to do at Mardi Gras. I simply have nothing I can give here with any confidence. However, from what I know of the characters, their values, and their experiences, I’m going to speculate that what they wanted was to do something meaningful. Not something to change the world; something that meant something to them. They’d gained their fortunes, they’d made their objective, and they were on their way to a carefree life. And yet Wyatt didn’t find what he was looking for, and he doubts Billy did either. Well, that’s the best I got.
Now, again, with little authority on the subject, I find it interesting that at the most innovative time in cinema for decades before or after, Hollywood was having money troubles. Looking at Cook’s description of all this in Lost Illusions, I have to say it was probably for the best. What else could drive movie producers to invest in a cheaply made, cheaply advertised, and mostly experimental film like Easy Rider? Someone considered it a gamble worth taking.
When Peter Fonda whispered the words "we blew it" to Dennis Hopper during this nighttime fire-side scene, it could have meant many things. While most people will interpret that quote's importance to the film up to that point, I will interpret it in context of the ENTIRE film. That said, I believe it could mean that either Fonda is having some setbacks of the life he and Hopper are leading, that they didn't make the most out of their lives, or it could mean, like a former commentator noted, that maybe they should have used their cocaine profits more wisely.
EASY RIDER is vastly important to the Hollywood film industry of the 1960s/1970s because it "convinced producers that inexpensive films could be made specifically for the youth market and become hits overnight," (Cook, 71). The majority of the sound-era films prior to the 1960s had been guided by the staggering success of 1939's GONE WITH THE WIND (1939, Fleming). Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, film studios were unable to match that success, at least until 1965 when THE SOUND OF MUSIC (1965, Wise) was released, after which, studios again tried to mock its success with such films as STAR! (1968, Wise), HELLO, DOLLY! (1969, Wyler), and PAINT YOUR WAGON (1969, Logan), but to little success. So, when EASY RIDER came along, the whole notion that successful films ONLY involve big productions with big names was shattered. After the success of EASY RIDER, "guerilla" filmmakers like Arthur Penn (BONNIE AND CLYDE), Robert Altman (MASH), and Bob Rafelson (FIVE EASY PIECES), whose production company produced EASY RIDER, continued to produce good films relatively cheaply.
A few things in EASY RIDER that really stood out to me are as follows:
1) the opening title sequence - how many films can boast a trully memorable credit sequence without making it boring?
2) the 360 degree turn at the hippy farm. I understand how it was made, but even that notion is trully remarkable for the 1960s
3) After listening to the audio commentary on the Special Anniversary DVD, it is calming to a wannabe filmmaker like myself that even good filmmakers can lose inspiration/motivation for periods of time (they had to hire satirist Terry Southern to rework their outline-out-of-a script).
Looking back on Easy Rider in connection to Wyatt's dissatisfied phrase, I think about how the film highlights both Billy and Wyatt's ideas of freedom. Wyatt's enchantment at the ranch house and the hippie commune are at one end of the spectrum, while Billy's hedonistic love for Mardi Gras and "retired in Florida" mentality are at the other. Nothing was stopping Wyatt from staying or returning to the hippie commune or just going off on his own but Billy. I think Wyatt was sold on this life on the road idea of freedom and ultimately had regrets about it. Billy, on the other hand, accepted this lifestyle because he was oblivious to the other options or even his own idea of freedom. What I think Wyatt meant by,"we blew it," is that it was too late to be free. America was changing, had changed, and did not support any kind of freedom, at least not his. It's hard to form an opinion of what Wyatt meant after hearing what the filmmakers themselves thought it meant, Dennis Hopper interprets the line by saying that even the outsiders have lost their way, they blew it. Considering the state of the box office and the films released prior to Easy Rider, studios were struggling to turn bigger profits. They knew that films like Bonnie and Clyde and The Graduate struck a chord with younger audiences, but it was Easy Rider, "whose $19.2 million rental return on a $375,000 investment made all Hollywood take note." By taking note, Hollywood saw an opprotunity to build the sub-genre of "youth-cult or counterculture film". A typical response from a business that never seems to understand that using one films success to be their guide to more success doesn't always work (The Sound of Music spawning flops Dr. Doolittle and Hello Dolly). This doesn't mean that Easy Rider was not beneficial to cinema as a whole and not just the box office. It opened the door and allowed many films to be produced that would have more than likely not been made or not get as big of a response. These films including, Zabriskie Point, MASH, Five Easy Pieces, JOE and Catch 22 were laced with the social themes and cultural referances that made Easy Rider a success in their advertising (Borrowing from the poster concept of Easy Rider, it's rock soundtrack and drug references). So we have these films aimed at the youth/counterculture, using auteurism, as Jon Lewis pointed out,"another way to market the product, not far removed from the time honored industry practice of contracting talent." Easy Rider was a always a favorite film of mine for the same reasons that sold the picture. It boasted an all rock soundtrack which was not part of the package with most movies as it is now. I think it should be said that the jump cuts in the film are part of the European art cinema influence and the drugs Dennis Hopper was on. Others have already mentioned the acid trip in the cemetary, which I could see standing on it's own as an experimental college film, with it's fast cuts, the spectrum of colors filtered throughout and eerie shots (Peter Fonda staring at the man holding the bible). I have to mention this, one shot I found very interesting and innovative depending on how you look at it, is when at the commune Wyatt picks up a knife and we see a first person perspective as he holds it up and turns it as a girl in the background is getting dressed, I think. It looks like it is from a horror movie, and could have been borrowed or inspired some aspects to that genre. In the context of the film however, I have no idea why that shot is there.
I think that this was a hard movie to pick apart. With all the drugs that are being used, we can't get a real in depth view of who these characters really are. I mean, we know that there is a difference in thought between Wyatt and Billy. Billy seems like he lives by the day and doesn't care what happens, while Wyatt seems to look at the future. The line "We blew it" as others have already stated was Wyatt's way of saying "we could have made something of our lives instead of wasting them by the way we are living." I love the foreshadowing when Wyatt dreams about his bike on fire, and the line really early in the movie, "I think I'm gonna crash."
This movie was really popular because it told the story of something that Hollywood in that time probably didn't bring up too much: the story of the drug using rebels that goes where life takes them. As the book said, this movie had many movies made after it trying to copy it, but none had the luck that Easy Rider had. Heck, even now in the present, Easy Rider still has a hand in movies by the 2007 release of the movie Wild Hogs.
Even though I don't believe in the message this movie is saying, that doesn't make it less of the revolutionary film that it is.
Peter Fonda's utterance "We blew it" might be the most ambiguous dialog in EASY RIDER. He could be wishing that Billy and he had spent the money more wisely - perhaps on a farm/commune where they could work the land (referencing a more simple time when freedom might have been attainable). However, could the corrupt money ever provide them this "freedom?" It seems contradictory in itself. Billy is still on top of the world after his trip to New Orleans (despite the lawyer being killed). Wyatt sees life for what it is - futile. After spending their corrupt money on drugs and women while traveling the open road, the two men had nothing to show for it. Instead, they have been subjected to discrimination time and time again. Maybe "we blew it" means precisely that - they had a significant amount of money and all they have and a dead friend.
Biskind quotes Spielberg saying "The 70s was the first time that a kind of age restriction was lifted, and young people were allowed to come rushing in with all their naivete and their wisdom and all the privileges of youth. It was just an avalanche of brave new ideas, which is why the 70s was such a watershed." Clearly EASY RIDER is a reflection of the youth counterculture occurring in the late 60s and early 70s. To my knowledge, very few films before the 70s (certainly before the 60s) were bold enough to question and criticize government and society. When young directors of the counterculture were given the opportunity to produce films, the subject matter changed. Films were being produced that youth could directly relate to.
Whoops...I hate enter trying to get a line break and it submitted...
The soundtrack caught my attention immediately when watching the film. The music chosen was all a product of the counterculture. I think this was one of the tools used to connect with America's youth of the time. During the road scene where "The Weight" was playing, I even felt a connection to the characters. The music engaged audiences in scenes where they might otherwise be disengaged. When "Don't Bogart Me" was played, I couldn't help but chuckle to myself. A better song could not have been chosen for that scene in the film.
The acid trip scene was by far the most evocative and innovative scene of the film. It reminded me of Hiroshima's opening credits with the flashes of bare skin. The loosening of MPAA regulations regarding nudity were utilized during this scene for sure. The fact that the scene took play in a grave yard was particularly evocative - raising questions of religion and sanctity.
I do agreed with what Joe Evrard commented on top about how this film is hard to pick apart because it so simple that there was really nothing more than the characters, who are pot heads that are just trying to get to New Orleans in time for Mardi Gras. The drugs, I thought, was just used to portray a more counterculture with all the rebellions that are going on with at this time of history. When Peter Fonda said “We blew it,” it could have meant a lot of things. I thought that it meant that they wanted to be free after being rich but in the end they ended back to were they started. I didn’t quite understand what he meant by that but he probably felt the disappointment of getting nowhere in life and wasting all their money away. And after seeing the film, it seems to me like a foreshadowed of how they are going to end up. Like how they blew off all their money on drugs and girls in New Orleans, they end up blown up because of how they look and portray the new American way of thinking.
When we first watched EASY RIDERS I didn’t understand what Wyatt (Peter Fonda) meant when he said “We blew it.” They had plenty of money and freedom to do whatever and to go wherever at the pace they felt like. But after taking a second look at the scene once I had watched the rest of the movie made me see how he was feeling from a different perspective. Jordan, Kelly, and Victor also seemed to see things the way I did. When they were on that farm Wyatt appeared to really admire all that the man had. His land, wife, and kids were the life that I think he really wanted and wishes he could have some day. All the money that he had made with Billy (Dennis Hopper) was being used foolishly instead of investing and saving it for something bigger and better. Rather then settling down and raising a family they were living life on the wild side with no responsibilities or cares.
In Lost Illusions, Cook talks about youth-cult or counterculture films. These were films that were focused mainly to the youth or younger crowd at low budgets. The money that was put into making EASY RIDER was pretty much doubled from the response that it received from the audience. When this film was made I don’t think that anyone expected the success and popularity that it received. The use of sex and drugs attracted the college kids and brought on a whole new side of American Cinema that would just continue to grow as time progressed and technology improved. If a film like EASY RIDERS could be made with such little money and was able to be so successful then any other film of its kind had the same chance. Not only did this film attract the viewers it did because of the content, but also the message that it sent as well. Going into the 70’s after watching a movie like this had many seeing life in a whole new way.
Earlier in the film Wyatt and Billy pull their bikes into a small farm where a kind family greets them. They allow them to stay until their bikes are fixed and for some lunch. While they are sitting around the picnic table Wyatt compliments the owner on his farm saying how it’s a real privilege to work on your own terms and for yourself. If that’s the American dream then it greatly contrasts with how Wyatt and Billy spent their freedom. Maybe Wyatt saw that after all of the drugs, hitchhikers and sex they were involved in, he asked himself, “Was any of that permanent? Did we gain anything from this trip?” They finally get a big break, a chance to even make a difference for themselves, change their lives, just as he saw the young commune and farmer’s family doing for themselves but instead, the duo gets wasted and waste the opportunity. Its still heartbreaking to me to see their mistake is met with the consequences of a random act of violence. The crane shot back into the sky is especially vivid, spiritual and serves toward the daring camera style found throughout the film. I especially liked the pulsating back and forth edits in between scenes. Can’t remember if I’ve seen that in anything else. Great soundtrack too, love the dead and the band.
Most everyone can interpret Wyatt's expression of "We blew it" differently. As much as the two men had wanted to go to Mardi Gras in the beginning of the movie, many different things happened that seemed to influence what Wyatt wanted to do. Wyatt seemed content to stay at the hippie village where they went swimming with the girls. The man who they gave the ride to told them they had a place there. Hopper, on the other hand, wanted to beat feet for New Orleans. Another place that caught Wyatt's eye was the farm where they fix his bike. He seemed very content and happy about the thought of having HIS own land that HE could maintain and that could provide him with all he needs. I don't believe that there was any one single aspect of the movie that made it different and changed the way movies are made. First off, I really enjoyed the camera work and the surreal scenery in the picture. Another great and innovative part of the movie was the fact that they used such great and modern music throughout the entire movie. I am guessing, although not 100% sure, that this was the first or one of the first to use this kind of music for a Hollywood film. The last, but not certainly not least part of the movie that changed the way movies are made was the excessive use of drugs. All movie long these men are snorting lines, smoking pot and taking acid. I am sure that many 40+ year olds weren't too fond of or realized what was going on. It was perfect for the time and the audience it was trying to relate to. Chris Krombach
The only way I think I can put this, is that when Wyatt, Peter Fonda, said “we blew it”, he meant that they hadn’t failed at getting rich quick, but they failed in life so to speak. He didn’t seem to happy even though they were rich, and I think that he had a lot of guilt in him about letting Jack Nicholson’s character to die. It just felt like to me, that he wasn’t satisfied with what he had done or become, because he didn’t seem to be free, which is what I think he was after, not just getting rich quick.
I believe that Easy Rider was such a big success, because it was a different kind of movie, from the other biker movies made back then, plus the content of the movie was very graphic from the time. It says in the Cook book, the production company put in very little money in the making of this film yet it grossed huge profits from the box office. I think this helped the movie a lot, because in Easy, Rider, Raging Bull, that most of the important people behind the movie thought it was crap. I think one of the reasons that they actually released the movie was because it was so cheap, which may have been from shooting in at different locations, rather than all just in Hollywood. I think the most innovative part of the movie, as most people would say is the acid trip in the cemetery, just because you didn’t really see that kind of things in movies previously made to that. It brought the real world into movies, and I think that helped change movies for the better.
I feel the characters in “Easy Rider” were far more important to the story than what they did throughout the picture. They essentially wanted to go to Mardi Gras, and that’s it. I feel that their interpretation of freedom and their lifestyle was more important looking in retrospect. As for Wyatt’s gloomy phrase “we blew it” I am not exactly sure what he meant by it. By reading many of these blog responses some ideas come to mind but personally I am stuck for my own opinion. The only thing I can think of is that his expectations of the trip were different, and that somehow he “blew it.” Hopper’s character seemed to have enjoyed his drug-induced journey and came to terms with it. I think the movie did much for the movie industry in 1969. Showing of the counterculture of these two individuals really spoke out to many young people at the time. The culture that was rarely seen before this and it brought many things to light. Drugs for example became very ‘normal’ in this movie, whereas before this drugs had bad connotations. All of these things collaborated and became a staple of a generation, for those that didn’t feel the need to become white collar (or even blue collar) Americans. I think one stat that all encompasses this is from the book which states the movie “returned an astonishing $19.2 million in rentals on a $375,000 investment” (Cook 162). This movie did not have special affects, dramatic acting, a steamy sex scene, a riveting story line or anything that would cost an average film millions to produce. This movie reflected a subculture that so many could relate to that it was an instant classic. Innovated camera angles and a solid soundtrack added to its success; also the edits that cut back and forth to me was innovation. I don’t think I have seen that anywhere else and it gives me a sense of blending and how memories sort of overlap and work with each other. I feel this editing technique was a success in this movie.
When Peter Fonda says "we blew it" he is referring to opportunity in several efferent possibilities. He could be content with his self and his current economic status, being at the ranch and other stops along the way up until that point he is very humbled and quite almost as tho he feels bad for the people he meets. He has the opportunity to give the money away, he also struggles with the fact that it is his money and he could buy land or he could buy a large house. Either or he has blown his opportunity to put his money into the right pockets. instead he was greedy and simply kept the money to himself and Dennis Hoppers character.
"The runaway success of the generationally savvy road film Easy Rider...convinced producers that inexpensive films could be made specifically for the youth market and become hits overnight." Easy Riders is a film that is successful because of when it was released. The story of drugs and violence was probably magnified to a greater extent than much of us realize because of its 1969 release. This is important because it gave viewers something to relate to. Whether we want to admit it or not the 60's was the pinnacle of drug us in our country. With this viewers are able to make connections with the film and was able to attract new audiences like never before.
As far as interesting or innovative two parts come to mind. First off the transitions that are placed throughout the film in which it flashes back and forth for a few seconds. This helps to set the mood for the scene such as create a somewhat awkward feeling for the viewer. Another example of this is the scene in which everyone is high, it is not only supposed to depict what its like when the are high, but also to somewhat disturb the audience. It makes people very uncomfortable and creates a sense of distance between the viewer and the actors.
“We blew it.” Figuring out how exactly is debatable and offers a plethora of explanations. Was their goal to score big and live easy or possibly find freedom and tolerance within society? If so, they failed to reach those goals. Instead of finding freedom and enlightenment, they found intolerance and an oppressive society which had turned against them. Wyatt could also be referring to the 60’s and counterculture movement in general. The 60’s started out with idealism and ended in disappointing fashion. Their deaths can be seen as a metaphor for the end of the 60’s, the death of innocence and that way of life. Easy Rider was very significant to the Hollywood film industry. Its low budget was ideal for the flailing Hollywood film industry, it appealed to an audience previously untapped, and most importantly, paved the way for other low budget movies/unaccomplished directors due to the movie’s success and great profit. After the great success of Easy Rider, studios splurged wildly in low-budget movies intended for the youth market attempting to replicate Easy Rider’s success. “By early 1970, virtually every major studio had youth-cult films in development or production that bore the influence of Easy Rider in their themes of youthful rebellion and their documentary-like intention” (Cook p.163). There were a few aspects of the film that stood out to me. The subject matter in general was pretty innovative. I don’t think that audiences were quite used to seeing the ideals of Easy Rider and its habitual drug use on the movie screen yet. This was a big step for movies in general. The soundtrack was awesome and unlike that of many previous films. It contained some really rockin’ songs from that generation and might have been one of the first movies to do that. One technical aspect of the film that caught my eye was the use of editing. During certain transitions, the next scene would briefly flash over the existing scene, sort of fading in and out. When you are on a long road trip like the one the protagonists were on, one day sort of fades into the next. This editing technique sort of shows us that and goes along perfectly with the story told.
When Wyatt uses the words "we blew it" responding to Billy's statement "we've done it we're rich" i believe he is thinking about their whole trip and their stop at the ranch where he said the owner should be proud, because he himself wants something more for himself besides just a memory.
Easy rider was significant to the film industry in 1969 because it proved to the film industry that a low budget film such as this could impact the audience just as much. As stated by cook " ...convinced producers that inexpensive films could be made specifically for the youth market and become a hit overnight" Cook 71
in this film certain aspects stood out from the rest. One of them was the acid trip scene which stood out to the drug induced culture of the 1970's. Another scene that stood out was the 360 around the hippy farm because it was a relatively new shot for film making in the 1970's. The transitions between each scene when the next scene would flash over the previous scene which gives the audience a feeling of moving on i guess.
When Wyatt says, "we blew it" i think that shows what type of character he is compared to Billy. Billy is the big party guy and Wyatt is the more laid back quiet guy. When he states that, i think it shows that he is finally realizing that their ways of living are over and its time to settle down. All they are doing is driving across the country just having a good time and doing drugs. Billy hasnt realized that yet but i think Wyatt has.
The reason that the Easy Rider film was so significant to the Hollywood film industry in my mind would have to be the content of the two characters. Wyatt and Billy were just two ordinary guys out to enjoy the open country. They just get on their bikes and ride all day and then come nightfall they find a place to park, whether its in the woods, or with a family who takes them in. A quote from David Cook states "History suggests that pictureswith big budgets had the best chance of succeeding in a volatile market." Also according to Cook they the film Easy Rider return "19.2 million in domestic rentals."(Cook) This fact shows that this film was a hit in the early 1970's and despite the film, was still able to make money. Thus far with our conversations about the 1970s characteristics of the American cinema the part that stood out the most in the film Easy Rider was the ending. Im still a little uncertain about why film makers do this, but it always seems that the main characters get shot at the very end of the film. Maybe that is something that film makers did during that time but it just caught my eye about how both movies that we have watched so far have ended with the main characters dieing. Jordan Robbins
Like other students have said Peter Fonda's statement could mean a many number of things. It could have meant that they used their money not as wisely as they could have. They could have experienced Mardi Gras a different way. However I took it as if he took what Jack Nichloson's character said to heart. Fonda and Hopper took this road trip to experience America as a free country and opprotunity. However the average ordinary citizens could not accept them as their own. They were looked at as a virus that was threating their very own existence. They were not able to eat in a restaurant without being stared at and laughed at. They were not able to even stay at a hotel. These freedoms they believed to be enjoying were looked at like a threat to everyday life. That's why I believe he said they blew it because they took their roadtrip as outsiders to a very non-conforming or accepting country. As Cook has said this movie opened up the flood gates for filmmakers to live out their visions and gave independent film companies a chance to get on the map. The movie was made for dirt cheap and made huge profit from it. Filmmakers could make movies that the audience especially the younger idealistic audience could relate to. In the 60's this is what was happening people were refusing to conform, they were doing drugs and they were having premarital sex with many different partners. This movie spun the way for more filmmakers to make movies based on their opinions and beliefs. More people could honestly relate to this movie then they could relate to the sound of music.
When Peter Fonda whispers “we blew it” to his friend Hopper around fire, I believe this could mean many things. But what I could conclude from the context of the movie would be that he is upset about the way his life is going. On the road Fonda comes in contact with a lot of different people and lifestyles. He sees all the things they have such as the farms these people own, the families they have, and the house their living in. I think he feels like he is missing out on the bigger and better things he could have and be doing instead of all the drugs he does and spends his money away on.
In Lost illusions it talks about Easy Rider being a low-budget youth culture movie. This movie was so significant to the Hollywood Film industry in 1969 because it was a low budget film that became very successful. I don’t think they were expecting this movie to make it as big as it was and make as much money as it did. I think its success was due to the fact that a lot of the younger people during this time could relate to the events that had happened throughout the movie. Kelly Grzybowski
I think Peter Fonda’s character in Easy Rider says, “We blew it” to Dennis Hopper because he realizes that they spent their money and time in waste. Throughout the film you can tell there is something on Peter Fonda’s mind. He seems detached from everyone else. “Captain America” realized that the life he was living was not the life for him. I think he envisioned himself living off the land as the farmer did who let Peter Fonda fix his flat tire. He complimented him so seriously about how not every man could live of the land and how it was a nice place. After seeing the commune of the hitchhiker, I think this furthered “Captain America’s” need for a change in his life. The scene where he explains that they blew it is excellent. Peter Fonda’s character is deep in thought with this idea while Dennis Hopper is confused. I think it was a great way to express even their difference between characters. Peter Fonda couldn’t live his life the way it was going but Dennis Hopper was fine with the way things were going. This movie was a success. It was a low-budget movie that made lots of money. The movie caught the younger generation at the time and was able to connect with them all. Easy Rider had everything to grab the attention of this younger audience. The road trip had the stunning scenes on the frontier and wilderness with hot rod bikes and adventure. They were living the dream and at the end of it was Mardi Gras. This movie reflected the younger generation of the sixties perfectly and that’s why it was such a box office hit.
In regard to Wyatt's final words, "we blew it", I only see one thematic meaning. One could assume that Wyatt did not acquire what he originally set out to find, which seemed to be a solid understanding of personal values and freedom in a world and time that would not necessarily be accepting. Billy's idea of freedom and seemed to be doing drugs and partying with women. This lifestyle may be full of freedom and success, but it seemed as though Wyatt was looking for a more spiritual experience. He seemed to have a more meaningful purpose for selling drugs, living freely, and having sex with women. His words, "we blew it", most likely meant that he did not find his ideal place in the world with regard to what he was doing. In the film Wyatt and Billy essentially represent the thoughts and ideas of their generation, but the words, "we blew it", is a microcosmic statement that implies that their generation is in for a rough future, with little hope of bringing understanding to others.
I beleive the main idea of this movie was to put the viewer and the two main characters in search for a definable term for the word and experience of freedom. The definition of freedom to me always seemed more or less simplistic until after viewing this movie when I realised that this term can have many different definitions. As the movie progressed the idea of freedom became more obscure and distant. For example when the lawyer [Nicholson] talks about when certain people acheive their freedom other people become afraid and how that fear can create violence. For example, while in the south the characters were persecuted,judged,locked up, and even killed for just the ideals their appearence represented.
When Wyatt says, "We blew it", I think he is saying that this journey he and Hopper took didint have any clear cut results like he might have expected and maybe the answers he sought to find became even more complex at the end of his adventure.
During the entire movie Wyatt's character is calm and contemplative while Hopper plays the more comedic role. During the "we blew it" scene Hopper refers to the journey having something to do with making money.Maybe meaning happiness and liberty is obtained through the means of weatlh. Maybethis perception was a general one of the "common man" which I felt Hoppers character m iht have represented.
I thought the most interesting thing about this film was all of the symbolic characters and visuals they added to the movie. The first is at the very beggining of the movie and shows the character Wyatt being the only one not bothered by the airplanes flying over head, imediately establishing his chracter as the calm and resevered one. The airplane is also a great symbol for escape and journey which acts as a nice entryway into the chracters quest. I thought another great symbolic momement happened about mid way through the movie when Fonda and Hopper were having dinner with the farmer and his family. At the table every persons facial expression revealed great sadness and uncertainly which to me not only forshadowed the uncertainty of what was ahead in the journey but also of the mans failed attempt of a similar journey he set out to do when he was younger. I think Wyatt thought that his freedom was there on the farm while the famer felt trapped and wanted to be in Wyatts posistion. Perhaps the greatest symbolic moment of the film was when Wyatts bike [perceived vessel of freedom]gets murdered and explodes establishing the idea that the search for meaning on this earth not only might not have any answers but will always be profoundly destroyed and corrupted by other humans who are trying to stop the exploration who only want stagnace and the lack of progress.
I think “We blew it” refers to the American dream that these characters are longing for. Like as Jordan Strand had mentioned, I think there is a longing throughout the movie for Wyatt (Fonda) to stay in one place and settle down, to be a part of something more than “Captain America”. Billy was the anti-Wyatt, that man without a plan. Captain America was just a front, he wasn’t living what he considered the American dream and he knew it.
The reason this movie was so important was because it could basically say nothing and be effective in that, not only effective but profitable. When you have everyone in Hollywood losing money on movies by bringing in big stars, having your typical run of the mill storylines, and not really marketing to a specific group, you are going to have an eye opening experience in seeing how a movie like this becomes successful. Cook talks about studios putting millions into movies and having their returns always come back negative. Easy Rider gets made dirt cheap, becomes popular and rides away with more than most studios would turn using their greatest story and greatest talent.
One thing that stands out to me in this movie is that there are at times these departures from the “Classical Hollywood”. For instance, how silence is acceptable, dialogue just plays out. This reminds me of Ozu’s Late Spring, where things at times are just there to be taken in, in real time in a real world. It isn’t innovative in the fact that it has been done before, but I think the way it is being used is showing how lost these characters are, how far off they are from that American dream they are seeking.
Like many of my classmates I feel that when Wyatt says “we blew it” to Billy he feels that maybe their adventure was a waste. Both want to experience freedom and through portions of the film you believe that their idea of freedom is the same. However during the scenes with the rancher and his family it seems that Wyatt’s idea of freedom is different than Billy’s idea of sex, drugs, the open road, etc … It seemed he had other things on his mind. I think he might have been wondering what it would be like to own his own land, which he could have done with the money, how he would have done things differently. He seems to be moving on and wanting a future, actually thinking there is a future instead of living in the now.
I think Easy Rider paved the way for other studios to produce similar movies. Producers saw that people, particularly youth, could relate to the themes in the film Easy Rider. “By early 1970, virtually every major studio had youth-cult films in development or production that bore the influence of Easy Rider in their themes of youthful rebellion and their documentary-like intention” (Cook 163). The film was a success because people could related to it. There were themes and metaphors that fit with society during the 1960’s. Also, the investment on the film was $375,000 and made 19.2 million (Cook 162). There was also things done technically in the film that were new and not seen much or at all in Classic Hollywood, such as the quick edits used for the transitions.
When Billy explains that they had made it because they made so much money in a cocaine deal, Wyatt quickly shuns this notion because he is a firm believer in the idea that money isn't everything. Sure they are having a great time going on wild adventures and such, but there is no point to where they are going; there is no “end of the road” for them so to speak. Therefore, their deaths at the end of the movie were not an incredible shock. I believe this is a cold hard statement to the “counterculture” at the time that their lifestyle was borderline meaningless. Which, according to Cook, was apparently opposite of how the public interpreted it and it marked the rise in what was called “counterculture cinema.” Cook also explains that Hollywood, at the time, plummeted into a recession due to the attempt to capture the effect of the box-office smash “The Sound of Music.” This meant that the production values were at an all-time high, and therefore so were the movies' budgets. However, the money invested did not reciprocate and it was refreshing to see a movie such as Easy Rider come about because of its “cinema verite” style, complete with mostly handheld camera, footage shot on location with the public unaware, plot structure that was more fluid and montage-filled as opposed to formulaic, and minimalist acting that reflected the character's mood and reaction to their surroundings as opposed to furthering a plotline. This style also meant a significantly smaller budget, which was reciprocated many times over in its run. Hollywood then began to adopt these sort of ideas and techniques into it's model and quickly attempted to bank on this style instead.
When Wyatt tells Billy that they "blew it," I think what he's talking about is in many ways simply The American Dream. From Billy's prospective he and Wyatt really had it made. They were rich, and didn't have to answer to anyone, they were free. But to Wyatt that freedom was tainted by the money they had, and the fact that they were both so hung up in the world of drugs and escaping the law. The first commenter to this blog, gets it right when he says that the scene at the farmhouse is of major importance. The family at the farmhouse has a freedom that, even with their motorcycles and money, Wyatt and Billy could never have. Wyatt sees this kind of freedom again at the hippie commune later in the film, and while it seems that those people are struggling at a futile existence in the wilderness, its clear that Wyatt empathizes with them. In the end, looking back over what they had done, Wyatt feels as though they wasted their shot at true freedom.
In the late 1960s the Hollywood studios were still attempting to hold on to many of their old ways, and were releasing expensive flop after expensive flop. The profound success then, of EASY RIDER, produced by a small independent film company, forced the Hollywood majors to change their efforts and support younger film-school trained auteur directors such as Martin Scorsese and Stanley Kubrick. According to Cook, the overnight success of EASY RIDER, "led to a spate of low-budget youth culture, or "youth-cult" movies and the founding of many short-lived independent companies..." This change would forever alter the way that films were made in Hollywood, opening the door for the new film schooled generation of directors to put out their films both inside and outside the Hollywood system.
Along with these new directors came new ideas regarding the formal aspects of film making. Ideas about lighting, or editing for example were being taken from the European art film model, or from ideas found within more experimental sources of the time. In EASY RIDER deviations from the traditional style of film making are very stark. At points the cuts between scenes jump back and forth. The first time this happens it seems very jarring, and that was clearly a bold choice to make in the process. Also, the entire acid trip scene really stands out as being quite different from other films of the era. Its bizarre editing, almost surreal abstract use of color and motion, and the use of voice over, make it very effective in portraying the drugged out characters and their strange environment inside the cemetery.
When Wyatt said "we blew it" i think he was referring to the American Dream in a way. Which was something they were chasing the whole movie. The dream of being rich and successful. While Billy wanted to use all the money to get high and party all the time. Maybe even using some of the drugs, to get more drugs, and make more money off of it. While Wyatt finally sees the life of crime isnt the way to go anymore. He also wants to start and settle down and finally start enjoying life. But when he said "we blew it" he was referring to how they blew, what they used the money, and they could have spent it on something better. Easy rider is just like the hollywood style of the late 60's and early 70s because like most of the movies in that era, they grossed insane amounts of income while hardly putting anything into it. While they dont seem like they made much in todays age, but back then they made a lot. One of the clever things about filming it, was how they shot all of the outdoor scenes, without lighting, just like bonnie and clyde. These scenes would have to be hard to make, just from the fact that you have to wait for the perfect time for filming, the slightest wrong angle with the sun could mess up the filming.
Easy Rider is an anti-establish movie much like Bonnie and Clyde both are fighting the authority figures and mores of their times. Easy Rider was made during a time of great unrest in the United States and the world. In 1968, both Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr. were assassinated. The United States had become more involved in the Viet Nam war. The civil rights movement was working to get equality for African-Americans. This was also the time of the sexual revolution and the introduction of the birth control pill. The youth of America were at a crossroad. They had to decide whether to follow the mores of their parents’ generation or join the counter-culture movement.
Wyatt and Billy were looking for “the American Dream”. They started out their journey in an unusual manner by making a drug deal to get their money. However, they wanted to find the freedom, independence, and security that most Americans long for. They were going to journey across the country from Los Angeles to Florida. In Florida they would be able to settle down and find the freedom, independence, and security they wanted by using the money they got from the drug deal. On their journey across the country they were going to stop in New Orleans for Mardi Gras.
I believe what Wyatt meant when he said, “we blew it”, was that Wyatt and Billy had the chance along the way to find what they were looking for whether it was at the commune or living like the farmer but they choose to go on. They were accepted at both places but choose to go on looking for “the American Dream” in a world that was threatened by their appearance. They were the representatives of the counter-culture to the rest of the society.
It is George Hanson (Jack Nicholson), the alcoholic lawyer, who saves Wyatt and Billy from the establishment (the Police). He is connected to the establishment. He is the son of a man of power, a lawyer, and former college football player. However, he is the first to be killed by the “rednecks”. This shows us that if we join or associate ourselves with the counter-culture we will be punished by society. I think that Wyatt, in his “we blew it” comment is also having remorse for having brought George into the counter-culture and feels responsible for George’s death.
Through out the film, Wyatt and Billy are attempting to live the American Dream. They believe they are free but I think by the end of it, Wyatt suddenly realizes that this is not the case. As they camp outside for the last time, Wyatt seems agitated and Billy tries to lighten the mood only to be shot down by Wyatt's exclamation, "We blew it." At this point they've been through a lot together: No hotels were taking them in, the locals glared at them, George had been killed, and they both suffered from a bad LCD trip. It seems that Wyatt is putting this all into perspective and no longer feels that the trip was worth it. In an earlier scene, it is mentioned by George how people are afraid of freedom, hence the reason Wyatt and Billy get strange looks from the locals and are constantly made to feel like outcasts. It's possible that Wyatt is also letting what George said, affect him. I think that Wyatt feels like the party is over. Perhaps part of him wants to settle down. As mentioned earlier in the film, Wyatt makes a polite comment to a farmer about how he has nice place and he should be proud. In a way, I think Wyatt would have been happy owning his very own peice of land instead of living as an outcast.
In the movie “Easy Rider,” when I first heard Captain American, Peter Fonda’s character, tell Dennis Hopper’s character, “We blew it,” I actually wasn’t sure what he meant the first time. The rest of the day I thought about it. My first reaction was that Fonda’s character realized they wasted their time going to Mardi gras. Their goal in life was to go to Mardi gras, and perhaps it was a waste. They could have done better things instead of heading to New Orleans. When they were at the farm in the beginning of the movie, Fonda’s character really seemed to take to that life. When he said “We blew it,” maybe the passion for New Orleans that he once shared with Hopper was replaced with a yearning for a life where he can settle down. He gave up that life for a festival.
In Cook’s book, “Easy Rider” is described as a ‘youth-cult movie.’ It had a rebellious feel to it, very anti-authority. And young people always take to the movies with the rebellious nature. In the movie, Fonda and Hopper were outsiders when they got to Louisiana because of their look. People who are “different” are always judged by those who consider themselves “normal,” so a movie where that is a point in it will really attract the youth of America. What really stood out for me was the soundtrack. The music really kept my attention. The lyrics were so different and creative. I enjoyed them. And music in a movie can really make it. A good soundtrack is always a plus. After I got home, I talked to my mom about the movie, and the first thing she brought up was the music, telling me how much she loved it when she first saw the film.
Something else that stood out to me was the acid trip scene. The quick shots during the scene kept my focus. I thought they were very creative. I’ve seen drugs seen in quite a few movies, but nothing that really made me think that this one.
I will quickly say what has already been said 30 times over. Originally, when Peter Fonda dropped "We blew it" I was interpretting it as "We could have done better". I immeadiately thought back to the other farms and how he always admired their ability to survive on their own, especially the hippies. He liked how hope was not issue, but belief in the self continued to drive the community. The community have a sense of accomplishment and are proud of every achievement they make. I think that was something Wyatt admired and felt he lacked in his life. Now that I think back to the film and the line, I think Fonda was just refering to living the life. Hopper has no drive and motivation. He is free and just wants to be free. Fonda's character appears to be searching for something better. That is why he picks up the hitchhiker and invites Nicholson to come along. There was hope that something new, something important, anything that would make life more meaningful might appear in his life. When he says "we blew it" he is refering to his own search. Hitting the free road was supposed to bring meaning to his life. All they found was the exact opposite, discrimination and cluelessness. Being a drifter was not Fonda's goal. He always knew where he was going next. As for the movie as a whole, I think it was trying to explain the generation in terms of Fonda. That although drugs and freedom were huge, the main goal was purpose. I know the film was giving a glimpse of the world but I feel that it was more explaining or rationalizing the actions people were taking in the world. either way, the film was a trip into finding meaning in self and how the world is what you make you it. The soundtrack did represent the era, as fantastic as it was, but the lyrics were also used as storyline. Each song has it's own meaning, and that meaning is stretched onto the images. The music adds more dialogue to each scene.
I know this is after everyone else has posted their take on the three words "We blew it" but I think that this film speaks volumes for the time. Though the film was a little slow and kind of uses sterotypical characters, with some cliches I think the director wanted that, I think he wanted the film to parralel westerns, even their names whyatt "herb" and billy "the kid" are derived. I also feel that this was an attempt to establish a new generation of "old". everyone says that this film as did bonnie and clyde, brought teens to the theatres but both use old film concepts the films our parents love and grandparents enjoy...they are just modernized with the times. The " we blew it" comment i think reflects on the idea of freedom. Here are two young men looking for america and looking for this great country that everyones thinks it is, hell the idea of new orleans is that its parties on the street woman every where, drugs and alochol given out like candy. So in his mention of failing not just them selves but dreamers and onlookers alike (nicholson) or the girls in the resturant, or the farmers and hippies, they went out and found that america is repressive and conformists, so the didnt find "America" but instead found what they ran away from. Its an exceptional film for its budget, the acid scene does terrorize as it should, and the ending is crucial, it parallels their adventure, there once was a free country but somewhere it died, so the ones that run against it die as well. i hope im not just babbleing and spelling everything wrong. I aslo think that the term easy rider means that a woman that is with a man and supports him with money. so the woman inturn is a prostitute.
The statement “We blew it” seems to reveal that Wyatt’s motivation for this trip wasn’t for money, but rather he had a different reason for embarking on this travel. It appears Wyatt was more interested in a spiritual journey rather than financial success. This may be why Wyatt believes that this trip was a failure because of the way in which the trip was conducted. It seems that Wyatt as a character admires and values a form of hard work more than easy living. For instance, when the travelers encounter their first family on the road, Wyatt compliments the man for living off the land. He also respects the community they come across. Despite the fact that these people have to struggle to even gain access to food, Wyatt embraces their way of life and even contemplates staying there. This reveals that Wyatt has more aspirations than simply gaining quick access to money, sex, and drugs. So when Wyatt realizes that this entire trip only amounted to easy access rather than the spiritual enlightenment and freedom he seemed to be searching for, he becomes severely disappointed and states the entire trip was a failure.
In David A. Cook’s chapter on Genres in American cinema, describes the concept of the “Youth Cult Film” and how this concept applied to the film Easy Rider. Some of the credit for this genre is the fact that movies began to see the profit in targeting younger audiences. Because of this, movie theaters began to promote and support movies that would attract younger audience members. Cook also reveals the relationship between younger audience members and experimentation in films. Younger audiences, that seemed more accepting of radical films, allowed for unconventional techniques in film making. These explanations seem to describe the subject matter as well as the innovative editing in Easy Rider. These new techniques, especially in terms of camera film making, contributed to Easy Rider’s reputation as an innovative cult film.
It seems that when Wyatt said that they "blew it" he was referring to what they hadn't done. Like many have stated this goes back to the farmer and even the hippie camp. In both of these places they were given a glimpse into what made these people happy and this is what Wyatt was looking for. They had all this money and they accomplished their dream of making it to mardi gras, but they didn't find happiness there. Even after all of their partying they were back on the road searching to be happy.
This was a period of change in the movie industry and the country in general. This film was important because it was cheaply made and turned a huge profit. According to Cook this time was full of tax shelters, marketing and merchandising. There were huge economic problems in the movie industry. The goal was to relate to the masses of the time,but make the movie with as little cost as possible to turn a profit. This movie did that.
I feel that the comment "We blew it" refers to a number of failures that the two main characters, Wyatt and Billy, had encountered. First of all, I feel that this comment refers to the failure of living a free life. Although Wyatt and Billy are told and commended for living free lives, it comes to the point where they realize that in fact, they aren't living free lives. They are forced to camp out every night. This leads to a number of problems. For example, being robbed and George's death. I also feel that another failure was George's death alone. Wyatt and Billy had invited George along to Mardi Gras, however this was, it turned out, a risk to take. The last failure, so to say, was Wyatt's and Billy's use of money. They spent this money primarily on prostitutes and drugs. After their experience at Mardi Gras, it was realized that they didn't succeed in what they had initially intended: to live free. -Allison Waller
Because his words 'we blew it' stood out so much in the film and considering you've made it the question this week, I feel like that quote should stand for the whole film, but I think it really only sums up Fonda's character. In the beginning of the film when they have dinner at the family's house he tells the man how much he admires him for living off the land and making it rich not through money but intangible things like his family life and work and so on.
The film reminded me of 'Mice and Men', which I'm sure they had some sort of intention to reference that book, because the two of them are just travelling and are saving this money to be 'rich' (and in Fonda's case we all knew he wanted to 'live off of the land' like George and Lennie). But Hopper's character wanted something different. What, I'm not exactly sure. I do know he wanted to live in the moment, and there goal the whole movie was to get to Mardi Gras, and they got there, and lived it, and to him, they did it.
As for Fonda, I don't think he knew what he really wanted to do once they got to Mardi Gras. And like 'Of Mice and Men' the audience and the characters secretly knew that his/their real dream was to just be successful in life, not neccessarily be rich with money.
So the ending of this film is almost bittersweet. Hopper's character got what he wanted, he considered them rich, and Fonda's knew he could never achieve what he really wanted. So although almost shocking in its abruptness, their deaths was perfect timing (that came out a little insensitive sounding).
The ‘we blew it’ scene refers back to the scene earlier when Fonda talks about freedom. In short, he is saying that, by investing their money and deciding to live up the rich lifestyle, they’ve blown every chance they have of being ‘free’. The director tells us this not only through the words of Fonda, but also through the images he gives us. While there’s no real conflict or plot to the film, there still is a ‘thesis’ in a way: freedom lies within, and that freedom cannot be found until one is left with nothing but what’s within. This is most prevalent in the scenes where the main characters visit people whom they consider to be free: the family of the first guy they drop off, the family that lives on the farm, etc. This is why the talking in these scenes is minimal compared to the rest, because the screenwriter does not wish us to dwell on what’s happening, but rather on what these people are like- as we see them struggle for food or money, we ask how free they really are. In a way, it’s quite creative that the director stages the scene that has Fonda talking about freedom, and the ‘we blew it scene’ almost completely identical. The framing is also practically the same- most general conversation is done in a medium shot including the fire in the shot, while anything serious that is said is done with a close up of the characters. This identical style of editing should practically give away what Fonda means by ‘we blew it,’ and yet it’s still hard for some people to make that connection. Cook is quoted by saying “…there was little other action on the youth market front until the revelatory success of Easy Rider” (pp 162), which is why the film was such a big impact on the US film market at the time. It seemed that while adults had demolished what Jay Presson Allen referred to as the ‘Delayed Fuck’ films (Doris Day/Rock Hudson films that had no sex until after marriage), teens were still left with either watching an artistic film like ‘Blow-Up’, or were forced to watch a slapstick family comedy that Disney put out. There was no middle ground for teens to lean on and relate to in film. However, Easy Rider changed all that. A new set demographic was formed in the blockbuster books, and it had to be fulfilled, which is why at this point all genres bump up their films to make them appeal more towards teens- comedies begin to get raunchy, as seen in MASH or Harper Valley PTA, horror films such as The Omen or The Exorcist have a new sense of gore to them, action films are now more violent, soundtracks now have more needle drops in them, all of this done to appeal to this new demographic, and by the time 1980 rolls around, where films like Fame or Ordinary People come out, the main audience being triggered is the teenager.
The general feel of failure at the end of this film sort of exemplifies the notion about a cinema about losers and outsiders who never quite accomplish what they set out for. Billy is so content with the big score and has the general malaise of the counter culture that he fails to see anything else. Wyatt is much deeper, looking for a way to save his soul and make meaning in his life, that he reflects on what they’ve done and is not happy with what they accomplished. The end of the sixties seemed to show this idea of “I was not born to follow” as represented in end of the in the only song that is played twice in the film. Wyatt sees that what they have done is just buy in to the greed of the popular culture and have not learned one thing from the different people they met along the way about making it on their own terms. The farmer and his family and the commune gave Wyatt hope for coming out of this drug deal unscathed, but Billy was always there, bringing him down or shooting his mouth off. Wyatt knows they had a chance to create their own path but instead chose to just basically to be on a joyride and haven’t come close to what he considers is the American dream.
Fonda and Hopper's characters in EASY RIDER wanted to achieve the American dream, but Fonda didn't realize what that meant until everything was over and done with. In the old days, the dream was to live off the land and have the freedom to do what you want; in the 1950s, perhaps, that ideal changed to a cut-throat race for wealth... which maybe is what EASY RIDER is about. Fonda and Hopper's characters may have been richer, but at the expense of others--they themselves won't touch cocaine, but they have no problem selling it for their own profit. Seems like witnessing a man being beaten to death and freaking out in New Orleans wasn't worth it, or much fun at all, and the most meaningful part of their experience came early on at the commune.
EASY RIDER was cheaply produced and made a large profit, so studios were eager to make other counterculture films for the youth market.
Getting rich and living the easy life is somewhat of a common quest these days, as it has been for a long time. My interpretation from the beginning of the movie is that Wyatt and Billy had been smuggling drugs for quite sometime. Both men were relaxed, knew exactly whom to buy and sell from, and the fact that Wyatt spoke Spanish all contribute to that idea. As Billy proclaims in the movie, their goal was to get rich, retire in Florida, and live the easy life; but not before they experienced Mardi Gras and all the craziness that comes along with it, I suppose sort of their ‘last ride’. Of the two, Billy is more of the simple-minded/carefree type while Wyatt is obviously the more astute, calm and collective one, often leading Billy with his decisions on their quest. After all the torment they had been through, being ridiculed a number of times for their hair and clothes style, beaten up while camping outside and their new lawyer friend that got them out of jail being beaten to death only because he was with them, I believe all weighed heavily on Wyatt. The simple pleasures of Mardi Gras, the sex, drugs, and alcohol eventually wore off and they were left facing the same facts of life as before, they were only socially accepted among people like themselves,like back on the ranchers farm. It was obvious Wyatt enjoyed that life, they had the basic food, shelter, and entertainment, that truly was the easy life that they were searching for. Remaining there cost no one their lives, torment for being different, nor any other sort of displeasure. While the drug money they accumulated would eventually run out, they would have to live with the terrible events that occurred for the rest of their lives; the end didn’t justify the means. This is why I think Wyatt told Billy that they blew it.
I believe this film to be innovative for a few reasons. As discussed in class this time period saw a new generation of film style from that of before, when movies were (generally speaking) good-hearted. I wouldn’t call this movie a comedy, but it did have a few funny moments where the class would laugh out loud, but Hopper knew exactly what demographic he was trying to capture. This wasn’t for your parents crowd of Abbott and Costello fans, it was for the young adults whom were desperate for something new and exciting to talk about. In that sense, this movie’s success helped continued steering other films trying something new to enter the fray, and because of that was very innovative.
The campfire scene in which Fonda's character says "We blew it" can have endless meaning. It can mean something new and unique for every viewer who watches it. Depending on where they are in there lives or simply how they feel at the moment. However, I feel that the writers meaning could possibly have been that we through away 'our" lifestyle. The whole movie Fonda and Hopper are rebellous free spirits who don't care what people think of them and actually enjoy the reaction they get. This is clearly shown in the small town diner scene. The are nomadic with short term goals, truelly living by the seat of their pants. I feel that Fonda's character feels that they sold out on the counterculture lifestyle. The fact that they may be sell outs is shown when Hopper says we piece about getting a big house and pool or something to that effect. Fonda feels they didn't spend there whole lives being who they are to end up like there parents and the normal American. Therefore, they "blew it."
When Wyatt says “we blew it” it changes the way the movie was headed in a way. At first it seemed like they were having such a good time but him saying that makes it seem like he was not enjoying the trip as much as Billy and in some sense regrets what they did. On the other hand Billy is ecstatic and is so happy they are doing this. He says “ it’s what it’s all about, you go for the big money then your free.” Billy wants to be retired in Florida with their money. Conversely Wyatt seems to be searching for something more. When they are at the ranchers’ house there is a parallel between the ranchers changing the shoes on the horse and the boys changing a flat tire on their motorcycle- aka the new horse. Then while at dinner Wyatt is talking about how he really likes it at the ranch; they live off their own land, are with their family, and seem to have a good (hard earned) life. Also the saying “we blew it” could have a different meaning on a dissimilar level. It could literally mean that they blew it all- referencing the cocaine. Drugs made up a big part of New Hollywood and this movie was the first to have people doing the drugs on camera. These sorts of scenes changed the way movies were made; people were not used to seeing the drug use and so ignored it. However it was happening in the country and people needed to see it first hand and stop turning their heads the other way- so to speak.
I think Jordan Strand’s original post about Wyatt’s “We blew it” comment grasped its meaning perfectly. In the beginning of the film Wyatt was sincerely impressed with the ranch owner’s life and expressed his appreciation for it more than once. I think that scene contained the most sentiment that we got to see out of Wyatt. When he said, “We blew it,” I took it as the expression of the idea that all they had done amounted to nothing in his eyes. Their whole adventure, all the money they had worked to accumulate, was spent in one week and they had nothing long-term to show for it. Chilling at a hippy compound, wandering New Orleans with prostitutes, and tripping on acid comprised some of the better moments of that week. Being refused a room, being refused service at a restaurant, being beaten in the night, and having a friend murdered beside you were just some of the negatives of the week. I think with it all weighed up Wyatt was discontent with the trip. I’m sure he would have more so appreciated using that money to buy his own land; which is pretty much as free as you can get in America. Even in history the only ones who could typically vote were land owners. Recalling his affection for the farmer’s life, I feel I can justly say Wyatt would have been happier trying to emulate that life than blowing all his money on a trip to New Orleans, which proved not to grant him much freedom at all.
I think the most innovative quality this movie had was the way it appealed to its targeted audience. It didn’t so much rely on expensive and flashy actors or effects to market it, but a storyline perfectly designed to fill a niche in Hollywood film; the niche of youth. It was based primarily on young adults which was both interesting for young adults at the time and youths nearing adulthood, interested in what their near future could contain. On the grandest scale, the movie taught us a bit about freedom in general, but I think it was primarily geared towards youths. Young adults and youths all over the nation could watch this film and foresee the prejudices they would get if they chose to lead the “easy rider” lifestyle like Wyatt and Billy. It was a very popular and appealing lifestyle, to be a drug-using and freedom-loving hippy, at the time; and this movie does well in dissecting it and showing the pros and cons. In essence, this was a relatively inexpensive and efficiently made movie that proved “inexpensive films could be made specifically for the youth market and become hits overnight.” It found a lifestyle the youth of America were interested in and could become engaged in, wrote a fantastic storyline in that setting, showed all the aspects of the life, and formed it into a uniquely shot film for America and its young to enjoy. Dylan Statz (301-004)
In the campfire scene where Peter Fonda tells Dennis Hopper “We blew it” it has multiple meanings. The most obvious choice is that the character Wyatt is regretting spending their savings on women and drugs. Dennis Hopper’s character, Billy, did not seem to care that the money had disappeared. He was only concerned with scoring more drugs. This is ironic because earlier in the film Billy was concerned that the hippie that they picked up on the road would notice their cash in the fuel tank. His laid back attitude during this scene is attributed to him being under the influence of drugs.
“We blew it” could also be referring to their life and how they are living it. They are constantly on the move and constantly being pushed around. Neither one has a place to call home, a woman to call a girlfriend or wife, or a piece of land to call their own. They were representative of the youth during the time period, trying to avoid responsibilities and have a good time. Wyatt seemed comfortable when they settled down with the hippie group and when they visited with the farmer. He seemed to be a bit envious of both groups because they were content with life and settled down.
“We blew it” was also Wyatt’s way of saying that they screwed themselves over. Their lifestyle was going nowhere, as were they. Wyatt was starting to realize that, but Billy had no idea. He was content with his situation and place in life. I think after Jack Nicholson is killed that they both start to look at their life in a new light. They knew that their life would end in a bad way and decided to live up every moment.
When watching the film Easy Rider there were many conversations that I noticed, because of the strange awkwardness that seemed to highlight them. When Fonda said “We blew it,” this was such a conversation, but this was not the only one. Near the beginning of the film, shortly after picking up the hitchhiker the three men decided to stop for the night in what seemed to be some kind of ruins in the desert. When huddled around the campfire and “high” out of their minds, Fonda said “I think I’m going to crash.” These two scenes had a strong parallelism to each other, which I think was on purpose to create some type of rotation in the plot. They left the discussion about the crash fast, only to return to it near the end of the film for the conclusion of the story. From the scene in the desert I couldn’t help but notice that Fonda seemed to be depressed, and/or running from something. His character was not typical of the counterculture which seemed to be more apparent in Hopper. Fonda seemed to predict his own death, and it didn’t seem to mind as if he was welcoming it. Maybe he was disappointed of his past or he was looking for something else to do in life such as settle down and work on his time much like the farmer that he admired. Either way I think that the ride to New Orleans was supposed to be the death of Fonda and when it didn’t happen he was mad and said those three infamous words. “We blew it.”
I think that Wyatt was referring to the fact that they had not really changed anything in their acts of rebellion; maybe he felt a lack of fulfillment in their trip to New Orleans. The characters in depict the lifestyle of most youth at the time; therefore the film also reflects their political views in the wake of the Vietnam War. Their nonconformist lifestyle and rebellious attitudes towards sex, drugs, and the war was invoked in the production of this film. I found the lack of continuity most interesting in this film, in the triple cut between scenes. It was meant to be noticed and therefore is in a sense rebelling against the Hollywood style used in film editing at the time.
Easy Rider was a hit at that time supplely because it contains “themes of youthful rebellion”. Up until Easy Rider, almost all of the film fails to produce any profit. Easy Rider in a way was like the silver bullet, it brought back the youth as well as giving Hollywood new look at their audience, thus similar film were made. Easy Rider was interesting in that it was “hip, with it, relevant, and now”. It was about hippies, drugs, sex, and freedom. “we blew it” simply stating that with all the money that they processed, they’ve travel across the country and gain nothing of value. They smoked the money away instead of buying something useful such as land/property etc.
Brian Cooney 9/19/07 When Peter Fonda says "we blew it" to Dennis Hopper by the fire, he knows he could have started the life he wanted to have with that cocaine money, but decided to go along with Hopper to Mardi Gras instead. The scene where the two of them were eating dinner at the farmhouse really expressed an envy that Fonda had of the farmer. Even though they didn't have much money, they had their own land that they were farming on and trying to make successful. Fonda realized that that is the real american dream, not travelling across the country to party it up at Mardi Gras. The fact that Fonda is murdered before he even gets a chance to try and make his american dream reemphasizes that they should have spent the money elsewhere, not putting themselves in those situations. The Cook book says the production company put very little money into this film. It obviously made a lot more money than its budget. This film was so successful because it was made by people who were really living the sixties lifestyle, which allowed the audience of this period to connect in a way no other movie previously allowed. This movie reached out to the people of the sixties by such techniques as filming on location. This films innovative techniques (especially the acid trip scene) made it a classic that will never be forgotten.
"We blew it." We never achieved freedom. On this cross country drug enduced, motorcycle driven voyage, not once did we find the keys to the shackles. Work is our occupational prison, keeping us locked within the boarders of towns, the invisible lines that divide us all. No we never found this freedom which the hippie commune felt they had discovered, which the rednecks, blinded by their own bars, refused to allow freedom's liberation. The only man in which has obtained a sense of freedom, as Wyatt notes, is the farmer, free to tend his land as he pleases. Wyatt blew it on the trip, but I think he had ideas. I think if it weren't for his unfortunate demise, he would have bought up some land for himself. But the most unfortunate thing, is that I know he would eventually discover that farming is just as much a prison, chained to the land you tend.
Stylisticly this film incorporated elements nearly unseen in american filmmaking prior to that time. The lush montages, revealing the beauty of the Arizona desert, was painstakingly and well shot. The LSD trip scene offered great almost slippy shots, making the audience almost trip with the characters.
I think that Timothy W. Hansen has a good point about how we all could predict that the tank of gas, which contained all the money, would go up in flames. A big point in the counterculture movement was the push away from consumerism and society. The destruction of the bikes can be used to symbolize that movement
The scene shone on the blog tells a lot about the characters in Easy Rider. Peter Fonda tells an excited Dennis Hopper that they "blew it" much to his surprise. This statement may mean several things. It could have been a reference to the ending of the movie much like the split second flash forward in the church- like brothel. It could also be the fact that they used the LSD (or similar drug) with a couple of prostitutes rather than those who they were supposed to use it with as the farmer who gave them the substance told them about.
If we look a little more into context, it may have been a metaphor for the youth of the time. Many things were changing at the time and almost all of that was done because of teenage rebellion and the new drug culture. Just like the book written by Cook said, the movie industry itself was being revolutionized by younger film makers and focused more on the topics they care about. (Probably because they turned into the major audience of motion pictures.
The unique thing I noticed about Easy Rider was many of the transitions. One scene would flash into another for one or two seconds and repeat several times before moving to the other scene. I have not seen that in any other movies, even modern ones. And again I have to talk about the very brief flash forward to "Captain America's" Burning bike. This was a device that intrigued me yet, I have little understanding of its bearing in the film.
When Wyatt says 'We blew it' there could be numerous meanings behind it, however I consider two to be most clear. Firstly, he could be referring to the money they made from drug dealing. I think that at this point in the film, Wyatt is thinking through what they are doing and possibly considers it not to be the best plan but to still go through with it. I also consider it to be a premonition of their fate, as if he knows that because they are a part of the counterculture, something is bound to happen to them eventually.
In Lost Illusions, Cook notes that even though the film was made on a low budget ($375,000) it still managed to make a highly profitable $19.2 million. I think this is what makes it so significant in 1969, as it showed studios that there is another way of doing things, and it does work. Although there had been many low budget European films which had done well, Easy Rider was the first American film to gain so much.
The one aspect of Easy Rider which stood out to me the most is the use of music. Not only because at the time it was unusual for there to be a rock music soundtrack, but the choice of songs and where they were placed in the film seemed different. I felt that on occasion music was used as a replacement for dialogue, that in most Hollywood films there would have been a short music clip then dialogue. However in Easy Rider there were whole songs and no need for the dialogue as the song spoke for the characters.
55 comments:
I couldn’t help to notice Peter Fonda’s words when he was at the ranch house. During the scene where he was sitting and having dinner with Hopper, the farmer, and the farmer’s family, Fonda complimented on the farmer’s piece of land that he owned, and continued admiring the fact that the man could work when he needed to on his own terms. Both the scene where Hopper says they “Blew it”, and the scene where they are eating dinner at the ranch, are the two scenes that stuck out the most. The two scenes are connected. I believe deep down Fonda wanted that ranch, wanted that land. When Hopper tells Fonda at the end that they did it, that they achieved the American Dream by touring America on a bike ride, Fonda doesn’t share his friend’s view on the matter. I’m willing to bet Fonda would have used the money he received to buy a piece of land for himself. That is what America is really about. From the earlier Colonial days, it was about obtaining a piece of land and living off it (Maybe the view has changed today I don’t know). And it’s tragic because of course we don’t get to see Fonda achieve that goal, because he is killed.
Easy Riders, Raging Bulls talks about Bert Schneider and Bob Rafelson, two heads of a movie production company. Their goal was to enfranchise directors. As the book says, “The idea behind Raybert, after all, was to enfranchise directors. Later, even when Bert disagreed with the casting of his movies, he backed down, saying, “What makes us right?” This is important because those two men are opening the flood gates for a director’s vision and not the vision of a major cooperate operative at a big studio. Now, small, independent films could be made by filmmakers with little money, but in the end they could produce a popular, iconic film, that resonated with the generation of the times. Hopper and Fonda were part of that generation, and Bert and Bob let it be.
I think the acid trip scene was the most innovative. I’m sure it was the strangest scene, if viewed by the elders of the day, but one that made sense to a drug induced audience. 2001: A Space Odyssey and Easy Rider are the first films that invited audiences to dig deep in their minds and ask questions about our universal existence. Or should I say Kubrick and Hopper did it with a more obscure style. They’re having the audience exorcise their minds, which is good.
Nicholas Naber
9.13.07
When Wyatt says, “ we blew it” it could have multiple meanings. Wyatt may be regretting not using the money from their sale of cocaine more wisely. Wyatt seems more level headed than Billy and might be foreseeing his future. Billy wants to use the money for more drugs and wild parties while it seems Wyatt may be the one who wants to settle down and walk away from that crazy lifestyle. He seemed most at home with the rancher and his family. I agree with Jordan’s assessment of Wyatt and his comments to the farmer. He could very well be thinking that this might be the life for him or something similar in nature.
Easy Rider is incredibly noteworthy to New Hollywood. As discussed in the Cook book the production company put in very little money in the making of this film yet it grossed huge profits from the box office. What made this movie so appealing? This movie is attractive because it spoke to the youth of the late sixties, it also built on the art film kind of movie making that we saw in Bonnie and Clyde. Easy Rider gave a glimpse into the world of sixties. The film had scenes in a hippy camp, it had the small town, the the hookers in New Orleans and many more people. This gave the movie great social texture and a fascinating commentary on the times. Easy Rider gives you a flavor of the people of the sixties. The new style of filming on location, quick edits, and back and forth between scenes was widely copied by other filmmaker and producers into the seventies.
The most innovate and interesting thing in the movie was the drug scene in New Orleans. The scene was so disorienting, and strange. Old Hollywood would never have done a scene like this. The montage of shots was incredible and disturbing. That scene was certainly the most groundbreaking filming of the movie.
One thing to notice right away is the context of this conversation. At this point in the film, the two friends have experienced all the pleasures of freedom and all its dangers, and thus find themselves with little to do next. Billy, feeling accomplished and satisfied from his beloved Mardi Gras, remarks "we did it," and utters Wyatt's name for the first time. No longer Captain America...that title isn't necessary anymore. From this point on, everything is easy; nothing more to do but be free.
Wyatt sees it differently. To him, his attempt to be free has made him a prisoner to the road. He discovers that the freedom he dreamt of (closely connected with youth counterculture of the time) can never truly exist, as the prejudice and ruthlessness of humanity will oppress it (think back to the conversation Wyatt only listened to the night George was murdered). None of Wyatt nor Billy's actions have made progress for the dream of utopian freedom, rather their actions seemed mostly self-absorbed. They failed themselves...they blew it.
Easy Rider's technical style is still striking to watch, partly because of its innovative use of the available technology in 1969. Lightning-fast zooms mixed with clever editing make the scene where Wyatt throws his watch a peculiar choice for the introduction to the rest of story. The amount of road camera work is also astonishing, especially when one considers the care with which the landscapes were given. The motorcycles themselves could only be driving around 20 mph during shooting, a testament to the patience involved with its production.
In addition to new technology, the film's style was innovative for the late 60s. The film is laden with quick edits as transitions, a technique rarely (if ever) used in Hollywood cinema. One of the most compelling shots in the film, however, is the 360 degree pan in the commune sequence. In near silence, the camera reveals one by one the members of this community as individuals. As the pan rests where it began, there is a prayer. This method of constructing space and community is a remarkable detour from Hollywood convention, and was even used again by Hopper in a later film "The Trip."
I cannot pretend to know exactly what Wyatt meant when he said, “We blew it,” as I was never completely sure what it was they meant to do at Mardi Gras. I simply have nothing I can give here with any confidence. However, from what I know of the characters, their values, and their experiences, I’m going to speculate that what they wanted was to do something meaningful. Not something to change the world; something that meant something to them. They’d gained their fortunes, they’d made their objective, and they were on their way to a carefree life. And yet Wyatt didn’t find what he was looking for, and he doubts Billy did either. Well, that’s the best I got.
Now, again, with little authority on the subject, I find it interesting that at the most innovative time in cinema for decades before or after, Hollywood was having money troubles. Looking at Cook’s description of all this in Lost Illusions, I have to say it was probably for the best. What else could drive movie producers to invest in a cheaply made, cheaply advertised, and mostly experimental film like Easy Rider? Someone considered it a gamble worth taking.
When Peter Fonda whispered the words "we blew it" to Dennis Hopper during this nighttime fire-side scene, it could have meant many things. While most people will interpret that quote's importance to the film up to that point, I will interpret it in context of the ENTIRE film. That said, I believe it could mean that either Fonda is having some setbacks of the life he and Hopper are leading, that they didn't make the most out of their lives, or it could mean, like a former commentator noted, that maybe they should have used their cocaine profits more wisely.
EASY RIDER is vastly important to the Hollywood film industry of the 1960s/1970s because it "convinced producers that inexpensive films could be made specifically for the youth market and become hits overnight," (Cook, 71). The majority of the sound-era films prior to the 1960s had been guided by the staggering success of 1939's GONE WITH THE WIND (1939, Fleming). Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, film studios were unable to match that success, at least until 1965 when THE SOUND OF MUSIC (1965, Wise) was released, after which, studios again tried to mock its success with such films as STAR! (1968, Wise), HELLO, DOLLY! (1969, Wyler), and PAINT YOUR WAGON (1969, Logan), but to little success. So, when EASY RIDER came along, the whole notion that successful films ONLY involve big productions with big names was shattered. After the success of EASY RIDER, "guerilla" filmmakers like Arthur Penn (BONNIE AND CLYDE), Robert Altman (MASH), and Bob Rafelson (FIVE EASY PIECES), whose production company produced EASY RIDER, continued to produce good films relatively cheaply.
A few things in EASY RIDER that really stood out to me are as follows:
1) the opening title sequence - how many films can boast a trully memorable credit sequence without making it boring?
2) the 360 degree turn at the hippy farm. I understand how it was made, but even that notion is trully remarkable for the 1960s
3) After listening to the audio commentary on the Special Anniversary DVD, it is calming to a wannabe filmmaker like myself that even good filmmakers can lose inspiration/motivation for periods of time (they had to hire satirist Terry Southern to rework their outline-out-of-a script).
Looking back on Easy Rider in connection to Wyatt's dissatisfied phrase, I think about how the film highlights both Billy and Wyatt's ideas of freedom. Wyatt's enchantment at the ranch house and the hippie commune are at one end of the spectrum, while Billy's hedonistic love for Mardi Gras and "retired in Florida" mentality are at the other. Nothing was stopping Wyatt from staying or returning to the hippie commune or just going off on his own but Billy. I think Wyatt was sold on this life on the road idea of freedom and ultimately had regrets about it. Billy, on the other hand, accepted this lifestyle because he was oblivious to the other options or even his own idea of freedom. What I think Wyatt meant by,"we blew it," is that it was too late to be free. America was changing, had changed, and did not support any kind of freedom, at least not his. It's hard to form an opinion of what Wyatt meant after hearing what the filmmakers themselves thought it meant, Dennis Hopper interprets the line by saying that even the outsiders have lost their way, they blew it.
Considering the state of the box office and the films released prior to Easy Rider, studios were struggling to turn bigger profits. They knew that films like Bonnie and Clyde and The Graduate struck a chord with younger audiences, but it was Easy Rider, "whose $19.2 million rental return on a $375,000 investment made all Hollywood take note." By taking note, Hollywood saw an opprotunity to build the sub-genre of "youth-cult or counterculture film". A typical response from a business that never seems to understand that using one films success to be their guide to more success doesn't always work (The Sound of Music spawning flops Dr. Doolittle and Hello Dolly). This doesn't mean that Easy Rider was not beneficial to cinema as a whole and not just the box office. It opened the door and allowed many films to be produced that would have more than likely not been made or not get as big of a response. These films including, Zabriskie Point, MASH, Five Easy Pieces, JOE and Catch 22 were laced with the social themes and cultural referances that made Easy Rider a success in their advertising (Borrowing from the poster concept of Easy Rider, it's rock soundtrack and drug references). So we have these films aimed at the youth/counterculture, using auteurism, as Jon Lewis pointed out,"another way to market the product, not far removed from the time honored industry practice of contracting talent."
Easy Rider was a always a favorite film of mine for the same reasons that sold the picture. It boasted an all rock soundtrack which was not part of the package with most movies as it is now. I think it should be said that the jump cuts in the film are part of the European art cinema influence and the drugs Dennis Hopper was on. Others have already mentioned the acid trip in the cemetary, which I could see standing on it's own as an experimental college film, with it's fast cuts, the spectrum of colors filtered throughout and eerie shots (Peter Fonda staring at the man holding the bible). I have to mention this, one shot I found very interesting and innovative depending on how you look at it, is when at the commune Wyatt picks up a knife and we see a first person perspective as he holds it up and turns it as a girl in the background is getting dressed, I think. It looks like it is from a horror movie, and could have been borrowed or inspired some aspects to that genre. In the context of the film however, I have no idea why that shot is there.
I think that this was a hard movie to pick apart. With all the drugs that are being used, we can't get a real in depth view of who these characters really are. I mean, we know that there is a difference in thought between Wyatt and Billy. Billy seems like he lives by the day and doesn't care what happens, while Wyatt seems to look at the future. The line "We blew it" as others have already stated was Wyatt's way of saying "we could have made something of our lives instead of wasting them by the way we are living." I love the foreshadowing when Wyatt dreams about his bike on fire, and the line really early in the movie, "I think I'm gonna crash."
This movie was really popular because it told the story of something that Hollywood in that time probably didn't bring up too much: the story of the drug using rebels that goes where life takes them. As the book said, this movie had many movies made after it trying to copy it, but none had the luck that Easy Rider had. Heck, even now in the present, Easy Rider still has a hand in movies by the 2007 release of the movie Wild Hogs.
Even though I don't believe in the message this movie is saying, that doesn't make it less of the revolutionary film that it is.
Peter Fonda's utterance "We blew it" might be the most ambiguous dialog in EASY RIDER. He could be wishing that Billy and he had spent the money more wisely - perhaps on a farm/commune where they could work the land (referencing a more simple time when freedom might have been attainable). However, could the corrupt money ever provide them this "freedom?" It seems contradictory in itself. Billy is still on top of the world after his trip to New Orleans (despite the lawyer being killed). Wyatt sees life for what it is - futile. After spending their corrupt money on drugs and women while traveling the open road, the two men had nothing to show for it. Instead, they have been subjected to discrimination time and time again. Maybe "we blew it" means precisely that - they had a significant amount of money and all they have and a dead friend.
Biskind quotes Spielberg saying "The 70s was the first time that a kind of age restriction was lifted, and young people were allowed to come rushing in with all their naivete and their wisdom and all the privileges of youth. It was just an avalanche of brave new ideas, which is why the 70s was such a watershed." Clearly EASY RIDER is a reflection of the youth counterculture occurring in the late 60s and early 70s. To my knowledge, very few films before the 70s (certainly before the 60s) were bold enough to question and criticize government and society. When young directors of the counterculture were given the opportunity to produce films, the subject matter changed. Films were being produced that youth could directly relate to.
Whoops...I hate enter trying to get a line break and it submitted...
The soundtrack caught my attention immediately when watching the film. The music chosen was all a product of the counterculture. I think this was one of the tools used to connect with America's youth of the time. During the road scene where "The Weight" was playing, I even felt a connection to the characters. The music engaged audiences in scenes where they might otherwise be disengaged. When "Don't Bogart Me" was played, I couldn't help but chuckle to myself. A better song could not have been chosen for that scene in the film.
The acid trip scene was by far the most evocative and innovative scene of the film. It reminded me of Hiroshima's opening credits with the flashes of bare skin. The loosening of MPAA regulations regarding nudity were utilized during this scene for sure. The fact that the scene took play in a grave yard was particularly evocative - raising questions of religion and sanctity.
I do agreed with what Joe Evrard commented on top about how this film is hard to pick apart because it so simple that there was really nothing more than the characters, who are pot heads that are just trying to get to New Orleans in time for Mardi Gras. The drugs, I thought, was just used to portray a more counterculture with all the rebellions that are going on with at this time of history. When Peter Fonda said “We blew it,” it could have meant a lot of things. I thought that it meant that they wanted to be free after being rich but in the end they ended back to were they started. I didn’t quite understand what he meant by that but he probably felt the disappointment of getting nowhere in life and wasting all their money away. And after seeing the film, it seems to me like a foreshadowed of how they are going to end up. Like how they blew off all their money on drugs and girls in New Orleans, they end up blown up because of how they look and portray the new American way of thinking.
When we first watched EASY RIDERS I didn’t understand what Wyatt (Peter Fonda) meant when he said “We blew it.” They had plenty of money and freedom to do whatever and to go wherever at the pace they felt like. But after taking a second look at the scene once I had watched the rest of the movie made me see how he was feeling from a different perspective. Jordan, Kelly, and Victor also seemed to see things the way I did. When they were on that farm Wyatt appeared to really admire all that the man had. His land, wife, and kids were the life that I think he really wanted and wishes he could have some day. All the money that he had made with Billy (Dennis Hopper) was being used foolishly instead of investing and saving it for something bigger and better. Rather then settling down and raising a family they were living life on the wild side with no responsibilities or cares.
In Lost Illusions, Cook talks about youth-cult or counterculture films. These were films that were focused mainly to the youth or younger crowd at low budgets. The money that was put into making EASY RIDER was pretty much doubled from the response that it received from the audience. When this film was made I don’t think that anyone expected the success and popularity that it received. The use of sex and drugs attracted the college kids and brought on a whole new side of American Cinema that would just continue to grow as time progressed and technology improved. If a film like EASY RIDERS could be made with such little money and was able to be so successful then any other film of its kind had the same chance. Not only did this film attract the viewers it did because of the content, but also the message that it sent as well. Going into the 70’s after watching a movie like this had many seeing life in a whole new way.
Earlier in the film Wyatt and Billy pull their bikes into a small farm where a kind family greets them. They allow them to stay until their bikes are fixed and for some lunch. While they are sitting around the picnic table Wyatt compliments the owner on his farm saying how it’s a real privilege to work on your own terms and for yourself. If that’s the American dream then it greatly contrasts with how Wyatt and Billy spent their freedom. Maybe Wyatt saw that after all of the drugs, hitchhikers and sex they were involved in, he asked himself, “Was any of that permanent? Did we gain anything from this trip?” They finally get a big break, a chance to even make a difference for themselves, change their lives, just as he saw the young commune and farmer’s family doing for themselves but instead, the duo gets wasted and waste the opportunity. Its still heartbreaking to me to see their mistake is met with the consequences of a random act of violence. The crane shot back into the sky is especially vivid, spiritual and serves toward the daring camera style found throughout the film. I especially liked the pulsating back and forth edits in between scenes. Can’t remember if I’ve seen that in anything else. Great soundtrack too, love the dead and the band.
Most everyone can interpret Wyatt's expression of "We blew it" differently. As much as the two men had wanted to go to Mardi Gras in the beginning of the movie, many different things happened that seemed to influence what Wyatt wanted to do. Wyatt seemed content to stay at the hippie village where they went swimming with the girls. The man who they gave the ride to told them they had a place there. Hopper, on the other hand, wanted to beat feet for New Orleans. Another place that caught Wyatt's eye was the farm where they fix his bike. He seemed very content and happy about the thought of having HIS own land that HE could maintain and that could provide him with all he needs. I don't believe that there was any one single aspect of the movie that made it different and changed the way movies are made. First off, I really enjoyed the camera work and the surreal scenery in the picture. Another great and innovative part of the movie was the fact that they used such great and modern music throughout the entire movie. I am guessing, although not 100% sure, that this was the first or one of the first to use this kind of music for a Hollywood film. The last, but not certainly not least part of the movie that changed the way movies are made was the excessive use of drugs. All movie long these men are snorting lines, smoking pot and taking acid. I am sure that many 40+ year olds weren't too fond of or realized what was going on. It was perfect for the time and the audience it was trying to relate to. Chris Krombach
Christian Turckes
The only way I think I can put this, is that when Wyatt, Peter Fonda, said “we blew it”, he meant that they hadn’t failed at getting rich quick, but they failed in life so to speak. He didn’t seem to happy even though they were rich, and I think that he had a lot of guilt in him about letting Jack Nicholson’s character to die.
It just felt like to me, that he wasn’t satisfied with what he had done or become, because he didn’t seem to be free, which is what I think he was after, not just getting rich quick.
I believe that Easy Rider was such a big success, because it was a different kind of movie, from the other biker movies made back then, plus the content of the movie was very graphic from the time. It says in the Cook book, the production company put in very little money in the making of this film yet it grossed huge profits from the box office. I think this helped the movie a lot, because in Easy, Rider, Raging Bull, that most of the important people behind the movie thought it was crap. I think one of the reasons that they actually released the movie was because it was so cheap, which may have been from shooting in at different locations, rather than all just in Hollywood. I think the most innovative part of the movie, as most people would say is the acid trip in the cemetery, just because you didn’t really see that kind of things in movies previously made to that. It brought the real world into movies, and I think that helped change movies for the better.
I feel the characters in “Easy Rider” were far more important to the story than what they did throughout the picture. They essentially wanted to go to Mardi Gras, and that’s it. I feel that their interpretation of freedom and their lifestyle was more important looking in retrospect. As for Wyatt’s gloomy phrase “we blew it” I am not exactly sure what he meant by it. By reading many of these blog responses some ideas come to mind but personally I am stuck for my own opinion. The only thing I can think of is that his expectations of the trip were different, and that somehow he “blew it.” Hopper’s character seemed to have enjoyed his drug-induced journey and came to terms with it.
I think the movie did much for the movie industry in 1969. Showing of the counterculture of these two individuals really spoke out to many young people at the time. The culture that was rarely seen before this and it brought many things to light. Drugs for example became very ‘normal’ in this movie, whereas before this drugs had bad connotations. All of these things collaborated and became a staple of a generation, for those that didn’t feel the need to become white collar (or even blue collar) Americans. I think one stat that all encompasses this is from the book which states the movie “returned an astonishing $19.2 million in rentals on a $375,000 investment” (Cook 162). This movie did not have special affects, dramatic acting, a steamy sex scene, a riveting story line or anything that would cost an average film millions to produce. This movie reflected a subculture that so many could relate to that it was an instant classic. Innovated camera angles and a solid soundtrack added to its success; also the edits that cut back and forth to me was innovation. I don’t think I have seen that anywhere else and it gives me a sense of blending and how memories sort of overlap and work with each other. I feel this editing technique was a success in this movie.
When Peter Fonda says "we blew it" he is referring to opportunity in several efferent possibilities. He could be content with his self and his current economic status, being at the ranch and other stops along the way up until that point he is very humbled and quite almost as tho he feels bad for the people he meets. He has the opportunity to give the money away, he also struggles with the fact that it is his money and he could buy land or he could buy a large house. Either or he has blown his opportunity to put his money into the right pockets. instead he was greedy and simply kept the money to himself and Dennis Hoppers character.
"The runaway success of the generationally savvy road film Easy Rider...convinced producers that inexpensive films could be made specifically for the youth market and become hits overnight." Easy Riders is a film that is successful because of when it was released. The story of drugs and violence was probably magnified to a greater extent than much of us realize because of its 1969 release. This is important because it gave viewers something to relate to. Whether we want to admit it or not the 60's was the pinnacle of drug us in our country. With this viewers are able to make connections with the film and was able to attract new audiences like never before.
As far as interesting or innovative two parts come to mind. First off the transitions that are placed throughout the film in which it flashes back and forth for a few seconds. This helps to set the mood for the scene such as create a somewhat awkward feeling for the viewer. Another example of this is the scene in which everyone is high, it is not only supposed to depict what its like when the are high, but also to somewhat disturb the audience. It makes people very uncomfortable and creates a sense of distance between the viewer and the actors.
“We blew it.” Figuring out how exactly is debatable and offers a plethora of explanations. Was their goal to score big and live easy or possibly find freedom and tolerance within society? If so, they failed to reach those goals. Instead of finding freedom and enlightenment, they found intolerance and an oppressive society which had turned against them. Wyatt could also be referring to the 60’s and counterculture movement in general. The 60’s started out with idealism and ended in disappointing fashion. Their deaths can be seen as a metaphor for the end of the 60’s, the death of innocence and that way of life.
Easy Rider was very significant to the Hollywood film industry. Its low budget was ideal for the flailing Hollywood film industry, it appealed to an audience previously untapped, and most importantly, paved the way for other low budget movies/unaccomplished directors due to the movie’s success and great profit. After the great success of Easy Rider, studios splurged wildly in low-budget movies intended for the youth market attempting to replicate Easy Rider’s success. “By early 1970, virtually every major studio had youth-cult films in development or production that bore the influence of Easy Rider in their themes of youthful rebellion and their documentary-like intention” (Cook p.163).
There were a few aspects of the film that stood out to me. The subject matter in general was pretty innovative. I don’t think that audiences were quite used to seeing the ideals of Easy Rider and its habitual drug use on the movie screen yet. This was a big step for movies in general. The soundtrack was awesome and unlike that of many previous films. It contained some really rockin’ songs from that generation and might have been one of the first movies to do that. One technical aspect of the film that caught my eye was the use of editing. During certain transitions, the next scene would briefly flash over the existing scene, sort of fading in and out. When you are on a long road trip like the one the protagonists were on, one day sort of fades into the next. This editing technique sort of shows us that and goes along perfectly with the story told.
When Wyatt uses the words "we blew it" responding to Billy's statement "we've done it we're rich" i believe he is thinking about their whole trip and their stop at the ranch where he said the owner should be proud, because he himself wants something more for himself besides just a memory.
Easy rider was significant to the film industry in 1969 because it proved to the film industry that a low budget film such as this could impact the audience just as much. As stated by cook " ...convinced producers that inexpensive films could be made specifically for the youth market and become a hit overnight" Cook 71
in this film certain aspects stood out from the rest. One of them was the acid trip scene which stood out to the drug induced culture of the 1970's. Another scene that stood out was the 360 around the hippy farm because it was a relatively new shot for film making in the 1970's. The transitions between each scene when the next scene would flash over the previous scene which gives the audience a feeling of moving on i guess.
When Wyatt says, "we blew it" i think that shows what type of character he is compared to Billy. Billy is the big party guy and Wyatt is the more laid back quiet guy. When he states that, i think it shows that he is finally realizing that their ways of living are over and its time to settle down. All they are doing is driving across the country just having a good time and doing drugs. Billy hasnt realized that yet but i think Wyatt has.
The reason that the Easy Rider film was so significant to the Hollywood film industry in my mind would have to be the content of the two characters. Wyatt and Billy were just two ordinary guys out to enjoy the open country. They just get on their bikes and ride all day and then come nightfall they find a place to park, whether its in the woods, or with a family who takes them in. A quote from David Cook states "History suggests that pictureswith big budgets had the best chance of succeeding in a volatile market." Also according to Cook they the film Easy Rider return "19.2 million in domestic rentals."(Cook) This fact shows that this film was a hit in the early 1970's and despite the film, was still able to make money. Thus far with our conversations about the 1970s characteristics of the American cinema the part that stood out the most in the film Easy Rider was the ending. Im still a little uncertain about why film makers do this, but it always seems that the main characters get shot at the very end of the film. Maybe that is something that film makers did during that time but it just caught my eye about how both movies that we have watched so far have ended with the main characters dieing.
Jordan Robbins
Like other students have said Peter Fonda's statement could mean a many number of things. It could have meant that they used their money not as wisely as they could have. They could have experienced Mardi Gras a different way. However I took it as if he took what Jack Nichloson's character said to heart. Fonda and Hopper took this road trip to experience America as a free country and opprotunity. However the average ordinary citizens could not accept them as their own. They were looked at as a virus that was threating their very own existence. They were not able to eat in a restaurant without being stared at and laughed at. They were not able to even stay at a hotel. These freedoms they believed to be enjoying were looked at like a threat to everyday life. That's why I believe he said they blew it because they took their roadtrip as outsiders to a very non-conforming or accepting country.
As Cook has said this movie opened up the flood gates for filmmakers to live out their visions and gave independent film companies a chance to get on the map. The movie was made for dirt cheap and made huge profit from it. Filmmakers could make movies that the audience especially the younger idealistic audience could relate to. In the 60's this is what was happening people were refusing to conform, they were doing drugs and they were having premarital sex with many different partners. This movie spun the way for more filmmakers to make movies based on their opinions and beliefs. More people could honestly relate to this movie then they could relate to the sound of music.
When Peter Fonda whispers “we blew it” to his friend Hopper around fire, I believe this could mean many things. But what I could conclude from the context of the movie would be that he is upset about the way his life is going. On the road Fonda comes in contact with a lot of different people and lifestyles. He sees all the things they have such as the farms these people own, the families they have, and the house their living in. I think he feels like he is missing out on the bigger and better things he could have and be doing instead of all the drugs he does and spends his money away on.
In Lost illusions it talks about Easy Rider being a low-budget youth culture movie. This movie was so significant to the Hollywood Film industry in 1969 because it was a low budget film that became very successful. I don’t think they were expecting this movie to make it as big as it was and make as much money as it did. I think its success was due to the fact that a lot of the younger people during this time could relate to the events that had happened throughout the movie.
Kelly Grzybowski
I think Peter Fonda’s character in Easy Rider says, “We blew it” to Dennis Hopper because he realizes that they spent their money and time in waste. Throughout the film you can tell there is something on Peter Fonda’s mind. He seems detached from everyone else. “Captain America” realized that the life he was living was not the life for him. I think he envisioned himself living off the land as the farmer did who let Peter Fonda fix his flat tire. He complimented him so seriously about how not every man could live of the land and how it was a nice place. After seeing the commune of the hitchhiker, I think this furthered “Captain America’s” need for a change in his life. The scene where he explains that they blew it is excellent. Peter Fonda’s character is deep in thought with this idea while Dennis Hopper is confused. I think it was a great way to express even their difference between characters. Peter Fonda couldn’t live his life the way it was going but Dennis Hopper was fine with the way things were going. This movie was a success. It was a low-budget movie that made lots of money. The movie caught the younger generation at the time and was able to connect with them all. Easy Rider had everything to grab the attention of this younger audience. The road trip had the stunning scenes on the frontier and wilderness with hot rod bikes and adventure. They were living the dream and at the end of it was Mardi Gras. This movie reflected the younger generation of the sixties perfectly and that’s why it was such a box office hit.
In regard to Wyatt's final words, "we blew it", I only see one thematic meaning. One could assume that Wyatt did not acquire what he originally set out to find, which seemed to be a solid understanding of personal values and freedom in a world and time that would not necessarily be accepting. Billy's idea of freedom and seemed to be doing drugs and partying with women. This lifestyle may be full of freedom and success, but it seemed as though Wyatt was looking for a more spiritual experience. He seemed to have a more meaningful purpose for selling drugs, living freely, and having sex with women. His words, "we blew it", most likely meant that he did not find his ideal place in the world with regard to what he was doing. In the film Wyatt and Billy essentially represent the thoughts and ideas of their generation, but the words, "we blew it", is a microcosmic statement that implies that their generation is in for a rough future, with little hope of bringing understanding to others.
Thomas Penglase
I beleive the main idea of this movie was to put the viewer and the two main characters in search for a definable term for the word and experience of freedom. The definition of freedom to me always seemed more or less simplistic until after viewing this movie when I realised that this term can have many different definitions. As the movie progressed the idea of freedom became more obscure and distant. For example when the lawyer [Nicholson] talks about when certain people acheive their freedom other people become afraid and how that fear can create violence. For example, while in the south the characters were persecuted,judged,locked up, and even killed for just the ideals their appearence represented.
When Wyatt says, "We blew it", I think he is saying that this journey he and Hopper took didint have any clear cut results like he might have expected and maybe the answers he sought to find became even more complex at the end of his adventure.
During the entire movie Wyatt's character is calm and contemplative while Hopper plays the more comedic role. During the "we blew it" scene Hopper refers to the journey having something to do with making money.Maybe meaning happiness and liberty is obtained through the means of weatlh.
Maybethis perception was a general one of the "common man" which I felt Hoppers character
m
iht have represented.
I thought the most interesting thing about this film was all of the symbolic characters and visuals they added to the movie. The first is at the very beggining of the movie and shows the character Wyatt being the only one not bothered by the airplanes flying over head, imediately establishing his chracter as the calm and resevered one. The airplane is also a great symbol for escape and journey which acts as a nice entryway into the chracters quest. I thought another great symbolic momement happened about mid way through the movie when Fonda and Hopper were having dinner with the farmer and his family. At the table every persons facial expression revealed great sadness and uncertainly which to me not only forshadowed the uncertainty of what was ahead in the journey but also of the mans failed attempt of a similar journey he set out to do when he was younger. I think Wyatt thought that his freedom was there on the farm while the famer felt trapped and wanted to be in Wyatts posistion. Perhaps the greatest symbolic moment of the film was when Wyatts bike [perceived vessel of freedom]gets murdered and explodes establishing the idea that the search for meaning on this earth not only might not have any answers but will always be profoundly destroyed and corrupted by other humans who are trying to stop the exploration who only want stagnace and the lack of progress.
I think “We blew it” refers to the American dream that these characters are longing for. Like as Jordan Strand had mentioned, I think there is a longing throughout the movie for Wyatt (Fonda) to stay in one place and settle down, to be a part of something more than “Captain America”. Billy was the anti-Wyatt, that man without a plan. Captain America was just a front, he wasn’t living what he considered the American dream and he knew it.
The reason this movie was so important was because it could basically say nothing and be effective in that, not only effective but profitable. When you have everyone in Hollywood losing money on movies by bringing in big stars, having your typical run of the mill storylines, and not really marketing to a specific group, you are going to have an eye opening experience in seeing how a movie like this becomes successful. Cook talks about studios putting millions into movies and having their returns always come back negative. Easy Rider gets made dirt cheap, becomes popular and rides away with more than most studios would turn using their greatest story and greatest talent.
One thing that stands out to me in this movie is that there are at times these departures from the “Classical Hollywood”. For instance, how silence is acceptable, dialogue just plays out. This reminds me of Ozu’s Late Spring, where things at times are just there to be taken in, in real time in a real world. It isn’t innovative in the fact that it has been done before, but I think the way it is being used is showing how lost these characters are, how far off they are from that American dream they are seeking.
Like many of my classmates I feel that when Wyatt says “we blew it” to Billy he feels that maybe their adventure was a waste. Both want to experience freedom and through portions of the film you believe that their idea of freedom is the same. However during the scenes with the rancher and his family it seems that Wyatt’s idea of freedom is different than Billy’s idea of sex, drugs, the open road, etc … It seemed he had other things on his mind. I think he might have been wondering what it would be like to own his own land, which he could have done with the money, how he would have done things differently. He seems to be moving on and wanting a future, actually thinking there is a future instead of living in the now.
I think Easy Rider paved the way for other studios to produce similar movies. Producers saw that people, particularly youth, could relate to the themes in the film Easy Rider. “By early 1970, virtually every major studio had youth-cult films in development or production that bore the influence of Easy Rider in their themes of youthful rebellion and their documentary-like intention” (Cook 163). The film was a success because people could related to it. There were themes and metaphors that fit with society during the 1960’s. Also, the investment on the film was $375,000 and made 19.2 million (Cook 162). There was also things done technically in the film that were new and not seen much or at all in Classic Hollywood, such as the quick edits used for the transitions.
Tara L. Vickery
When Billy explains that they had made it because they made so much money in a cocaine deal, Wyatt quickly shuns this notion because he is a firm believer in the idea that money isn't everything. Sure they are having a great time going on wild adventures and such, but there is no point to where they are going; there is no “end of the road” for them so to speak. Therefore, their deaths at the end of the movie were not an incredible shock. I believe this is a cold hard statement to the “counterculture” at the time that their lifestyle was borderline meaningless. Which, according to Cook, was apparently opposite of how the public interpreted it and it marked the rise in what was called “counterculture cinema.” Cook also explains that Hollywood, at the time, plummeted into a recession due to the attempt to capture the effect of the box-office smash “The Sound of Music.” This meant that the production values were at an all-time high, and therefore so were the movies' budgets. However, the money invested did not reciprocate and it was refreshing to see a movie such as Easy Rider come about because of its “cinema verite” style, complete with mostly handheld camera, footage shot on location with the public unaware, plot structure that was more fluid and montage-filled as opposed to formulaic, and minimalist acting that reflected the character's mood and reaction to their surroundings as opposed to furthering a plotline. This style also meant a significantly smaller budget, which was reciprocated many times over in its run. Hollywood then began to adopt these sort of ideas and techniques into it's model and quickly attempted to bank on this style instead.
When Wyatt tells Billy that they "blew it," I think what he's talking about is in many ways simply The American Dream. From Billy's prospective he and Wyatt really had it made. They were rich, and didn't have to answer to anyone, they were free. But to Wyatt that freedom was tainted by the money they had, and the fact that they were both so hung up in the world of drugs and escaping the law. The first commenter to this blog, gets it right when he says that the scene at the farmhouse is of major importance. The family at the farmhouse has a freedom that, even with their motorcycles and money, Wyatt and Billy could never have. Wyatt sees this kind of freedom again at the hippie commune later in the film, and while it seems that those people are struggling at a futile existence in the wilderness, its clear that Wyatt empathizes with them. In the end, looking back over what they had done, Wyatt feels as though they wasted their shot at true freedom.
In the late 1960s the Hollywood studios were still attempting to hold on to many of their old ways, and were releasing expensive flop after expensive flop. The profound success then, of EASY RIDER, produced by a small independent film company, forced the Hollywood majors to change their efforts and support younger film-school trained auteur directors such as Martin Scorsese and Stanley Kubrick. According to Cook, the overnight success of EASY RIDER, "led to a spate of low-budget youth culture, or "youth-cult" movies and the founding of many short-lived independent companies..." This change would forever alter the way that films were made in Hollywood, opening the door for the new film schooled generation of directors to put out their films both inside and outside the Hollywood system.
Along with these new directors came new ideas regarding the formal aspects of film making. Ideas about lighting, or editing for example were being taken from the European art film model, or from ideas found within more experimental sources of the time. In EASY RIDER deviations from the traditional style of film making are very stark. At points the cuts between scenes jump back and forth. The first time this happens it seems very jarring, and that was clearly a bold choice to make in the process. Also, the entire acid trip scene really stands out as being quite different from other films of the era. Its bizarre editing, almost surreal abstract use of color and motion, and the use of voice over, make it very effective in portraying the drugged out characters and their strange environment inside the cemetery.
Kevin Stephan
When Wyatt said "we blew it" i think he was referring to the American Dream in a way. Which was something they were chasing the whole movie. The dream of being rich and successful. While Billy wanted to use all the money to get high and party all the time. Maybe even using some of the drugs, to get more drugs, and make more money off of it. While Wyatt finally sees the life of crime isnt the way to go anymore. He also wants to start and settle down and finally start enjoying life. But when he said "we blew it" he was referring to how they blew, what they used the money, and they could have spent it on something better. Easy rider is just like the hollywood style of the late 60's and early 70s because like most of the movies in that era, they grossed insane amounts of income while hardly putting anything into it. While they dont seem like they made much in todays age, but back then they made a lot. One of the clever things about filming it, was how they shot all of the outdoor scenes, without lighting, just like bonnie and clyde. These scenes would have to be hard to make, just from the fact that you have to wait for the perfect time for filming, the slightest wrong angle with the sun could mess up the filming.
Sebastian Juarez
Easy Rider is an anti-establish movie much like Bonnie and Clyde both are fighting the authority figures and mores of their times. Easy Rider was made during a time of great unrest in the United States and the world. In 1968, both Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr. were assassinated. The United States had become more involved in the Viet Nam war. The civil rights movement was working to get equality for African-Americans. This was also the time of the sexual revolution and the introduction of the birth control pill. The youth of America were at a crossroad. They had to decide whether to follow the mores of their parents’ generation or join the counter-culture movement.
Wyatt and Billy were looking for “the American Dream”. They started out their journey in an unusual manner by making a drug deal to get their money. However, they wanted to find the freedom, independence, and security that most Americans long for. They were going to journey across the country from Los Angeles to Florida. In Florida they would be able to settle down and find the freedom, independence, and security they wanted by using the money they got from the drug deal. On their journey across the country they were going to stop in New Orleans for Mardi Gras.
I believe what Wyatt meant when he said, “we blew it”, was that Wyatt and Billy had the chance along the way to find what they were looking for whether it was at the commune or living like the farmer but they choose to go on. They were accepted at both places but choose to go on looking for “the American Dream” in a world that was threatened by their appearance. They were the representatives of the counter-culture to the rest of the society.
It is George Hanson (Jack Nicholson), the alcoholic lawyer, who saves Wyatt and Billy from the establishment (the Police). He is connected to the establishment. He is the son of a man of power, a lawyer, and former college football player. However, he is the first to be killed by the “rednecks”. This shows us that if we join or associate ourselves with the counter-culture we will be punished by society. I think that Wyatt, in his “we blew it” comment is also having remorse for having brought George into the counter-culture and feels responsible for George’s death.
Sebastian Juarez
Through out the film, Wyatt and Billy are attempting to live the American Dream. They believe they are free but I think by the end of it, Wyatt suddenly realizes that this is not the case. As they camp outside for the last time, Wyatt seems agitated and Billy tries to lighten the mood only to be shot down by Wyatt's exclamation, "We blew it." At this point they've been through a lot together: No hotels were taking them in, the locals glared at them, George had been killed, and they both suffered from a bad LCD trip. It seems that Wyatt is putting this all into perspective and no longer feels that the trip was worth it. In an earlier scene, it is mentioned by George how people are afraid of freedom, hence the reason Wyatt and Billy get strange looks from the locals and are constantly made to feel like outcasts. It's possible that Wyatt is also letting what George said, affect him. I think that Wyatt feels like the party is over. Perhaps part of him wants to settle down. As mentioned earlier in the film, Wyatt makes a polite comment to a farmer about how he has nice place and he should be proud. In a way, I think Wyatt would have been happy owning his very own peice of land instead of living as an outcast.
~Jonathan Porter
Melissa Neumann
9/19/2007
In the movie “Easy Rider,” when I first heard Captain American, Peter Fonda’s character, tell Dennis Hopper’s character, “We blew it,” I actually wasn’t sure what he meant the first time. The rest of the day I thought about it. My first reaction was that Fonda’s character realized they wasted their time going to Mardi gras. Their goal in life was to go to Mardi gras, and perhaps it was a waste. They could have done better things instead of heading to New Orleans. When they were at the farm in the beginning of the movie, Fonda’s character really seemed to take to that life. When he said “We blew it,” maybe the passion for New Orleans that he once shared with Hopper was replaced with a yearning for a life where he can settle down. He gave up that life for a festival.
In Cook’s book, “Easy Rider” is described as a ‘youth-cult movie.’ It had a rebellious feel to it, very anti-authority. And young people always take to the movies with the rebellious nature. In the movie, Fonda and Hopper were outsiders when they got to Louisiana because of their look. People who are “different” are always judged by those who consider themselves “normal,” so a movie where that is a point in it will really attract the youth of America. What really stood out for me was the soundtrack. The music really kept my attention. The lyrics were so different and creative. I enjoyed them. And music in a movie can really make it. A good soundtrack is always a plus. After I got home, I talked to my mom about the movie, and the first thing she brought up was the music, telling me how much she loved it when she first saw the film.
Something else that stood out to me was the acid trip scene. The quick shots during the scene kept my focus. I thought they were very creative. I’ve seen drugs seen in quite a few movies, but nothing that really made me think that this one.
Alex Brucker
I will quickly say what has already been said 30 times over. Originally, when Peter Fonda dropped "We blew it" I was interpretting it as "We could have done better". I immeadiately thought back to the other farms and how he always admired their ability to survive on their own, especially the hippies. He liked how hope was not issue, but belief in the self continued to drive the community. The community have a sense of accomplishment and are proud of every achievement they make. I think that was something Wyatt admired and felt he lacked in his life.
Now that I think back to the film and the line, I think Fonda was just refering to living the life. Hopper has no drive and motivation. He is free and just wants to be free. Fonda's character appears to be searching for something better. That is why he picks up the hitchhiker and invites Nicholson to come along. There was hope that something new, something important, anything that would make life more meaningful might appear in his life. When he says "we blew it" he is refering to his own search. Hitting the free road was supposed to bring meaning to his life. All they found was the exact opposite, discrimination and cluelessness. Being a drifter was not Fonda's goal. He always knew where he was going next.
As for the movie as a whole, I think it was trying to explain the generation in terms of Fonda. That although drugs and freedom were huge, the main goal was purpose. I know the film was giving a glimpse of the world but I feel that it was more explaining or rationalizing the actions people were taking in the world. either way, the film was a trip into finding meaning in self and how the world is what you make you it. The soundtrack did represent the era, as fantastic as it was, but the lyrics were also used as storyline. Each song has it's own meaning, and that meaning is stretched onto the images. The music adds more dialogue to each scene.
A timely article on CNN:
http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Movies/09/15/fonda.auction.ap/index.html
The flag from the back of Captain America’s jacket is worth an estimated $50,000, and you can buy it! Peter Fonda is auctioning off artifacts from “Easy Rider” to the highest bidder. This here is one of those instances where words have a way of echoing beyond time and context. Goddamn right he blew it. There’s a hell of a lot happening in that moment. Remember, these are not just actors playing characters. These are the men who wrote the words, directed the action, and produced the film, attempting to both give the anticonsumerist hippie counterculture a fair shake and profit from it in the same motion. No matter how pure or idealistic the concept, no matter how far-fetched or ridiculous; there is nothing of Man, nothing at all in the Earth that cannot be corrupted, turned cheap, crass, and American. Wyatt saw it coming. Peter Fonda in his own personal right saw it coming, and so did we. The premonition of a star-spangled gas tank full of cash going up in flames is nothing less than the augur of the imminent trainwreck of American hypocrisy…only liars get to have their cake and eat it too. This is no time for a man of Truth. A tidy message to buy with your greenbacks…spiritual destruction is the only destination when dollars fuel your motivation.
Ce n'est pas liberté. It is in fact only a graphical conception of freedom. Put that in your pipe and smoke it. When the dream is a lie, only liars live the dream.
I know this is after everyone else has posted their take on the three words "We blew it" but I think that this film speaks volumes for the time. Though the film was a little slow and kind of uses sterotypical characters, with some cliches I think the director wanted that, I think he wanted the film to parralel westerns, even their names whyatt "herb" and billy "the kid" are derived. I also feel that this was an attempt to establish a new generation of "old". everyone says that this film as did bonnie and clyde, brought teens to the theatres but both use old film concepts the films our parents love and grandparents enjoy...they are just modernized with the times. The " we blew it" comment i think reflects on the idea of freedom. Here are two young men looking for america and looking for this great country that everyones thinks it is, hell the idea of new orleans is that its parties on the street woman every where, drugs and alochol given out like candy. So in his mention of failing not just them selves but dreamers and onlookers alike (nicholson) or the girls in the resturant, or the farmers and hippies, they went out and found that america is repressive and conformists, so the didnt find "America" but instead found what they ran away from. Its an exceptional film for its budget, the acid scene does terrorize as it should, and the ending is crucial, it parallels their adventure, there once was a free country but somewhere it died, so the ones that run against it die as well. i hope im not just babbleing and spelling everything wrong. I aslo think that the term easy rider means that a woman that is with a man and supports him with money. so the woman inturn is a prostitute.
Marisa Marcus
The statement “We blew it” seems to reveal that Wyatt’s motivation for this trip wasn’t for money, but rather he had a different reason for embarking on this travel. It appears Wyatt was more interested in a spiritual journey rather than financial success. This may be why Wyatt believes that this trip was a failure because of the way in which the trip was conducted. It seems that Wyatt as a character admires and values a form of hard work more than easy living. For instance, when the travelers encounter their first family on the road, Wyatt compliments the man for living off the land. He also respects the community they come across. Despite the fact that these people have to struggle to even gain access to food, Wyatt embraces their way of life and even contemplates staying there. This reveals that Wyatt has more aspirations than simply gaining quick access to money, sex, and drugs. So when Wyatt realizes that this entire trip only amounted to easy access rather than the spiritual enlightenment and freedom he seemed to be searching for, he becomes severely disappointed and states the entire trip was a failure.
In David A. Cook’s chapter on Genres in American cinema, describes the concept of the “Youth Cult Film” and how this concept applied to the film Easy Rider. Some of the credit for this genre is the fact that movies began to see the profit in targeting younger audiences. Because of this, movie theaters began to promote and support movies that would attract younger audience members. Cook also reveals the relationship between younger audience members and experimentation in films. Younger audiences, that seemed more accepting of radical films, allowed for unconventional techniques in film making. These explanations seem to describe the subject matter as well as the innovative editing in Easy Rider. These new techniques, especially in terms of camera film making, contributed to Easy Rider’s reputation as an innovative cult film.
It seems that when Wyatt said that they "blew it" he was referring to what they hadn't done. Like many have stated this goes back to the farmer and even the hippie camp. In both of these places they were given a glimpse into what made these people happy and this is what Wyatt was looking for. They had all this money and they accomplished their dream of making it to mardi gras, but they didn't find happiness there. Even after all of their partying they were back on the road searching to be happy.
This was a period of change in the movie industry and the country in general. This film was important because it was cheaply made and turned a huge profit. According to Cook this time was full of tax shelters, marketing and merchandising. There were huge economic problems in the movie industry. The goal was to relate to the masses of the time,but make the movie with as little cost as possible to turn a profit. This movie did that.
I feel that the comment "We blew it" refers to a number of failures that the two main characters, Wyatt and Billy, had encountered. First of all, I feel that this comment refers to the failure of living a free life. Although Wyatt and Billy are told and commended for living free lives, it comes to the point where they realize that in fact, they aren't living free lives. They are forced to camp out every night. This leads to a number of problems. For example, being robbed and George's death. I also feel that another failure was George's death alone. Wyatt and Billy had invited George along to Mardi Gras, however this was, it turned out, a risk to take. The last failure, so to say, was Wyatt's and Billy's use of money. They spent this money primarily on prostitutes and drugs. After their experience at Mardi Gras, it was realized that they didn't succeed in what they had initially intended: to live free.
-Allison Waller
Because his words 'we blew it' stood out so much in the film and considering you've made it the question this week, I feel like that quote should stand for the whole film, but I think it really only sums up Fonda's character. In the beginning of the film when they have dinner at the family's house he tells the man how much he admires him for living off the land and making it rich not through money but intangible things like his family life and work and so on.
The film reminded me of 'Mice and Men', which I'm sure they had some sort of intention to reference that book, because the two of them are just travelling and are saving this money to be 'rich' (and in Fonda's case we all knew he wanted to 'live off of the land' like George and Lennie). But Hopper's character wanted something different. What, I'm not exactly sure. I do know he wanted to live in the moment, and there goal the whole movie was to get to Mardi Gras, and they got there, and lived it, and to him, they did it.
As for Fonda, I don't think he knew what he really wanted to do once they got to Mardi Gras. And like 'Of Mice and Men' the audience and the characters secretly knew that his/their real dream was to just be successful in life, not neccessarily be rich with money.
So the ending of this film is almost bittersweet. Hopper's character got what he wanted, he considered them rich, and Fonda's knew he could never achieve what he really wanted. So although almost shocking in its abruptness, their deaths was perfect timing (that came out a little insensitive sounding).
The ‘we blew it’ scene refers back to the scene earlier when Fonda talks about freedom. In short, he is saying that, by investing their money and deciding to live up the rich lifestyle, they’ve blown every chance they have of being ‘free’. The director tells us this not only through the words of Fonda, but also through the images he gives us. While there’s no real conflict or plot to the film, there still is a ‘thesis’ in a way: freedom lies within, and that freedom cannot be found until one is left with nothing but what’s within. This is most prevalent in the scenes where the main characters visit people whom they consider to be free: the family of the first guy they drop off, the family that lives on the farm, etc. This is why the talking in these scenes is minimal compared to the rest, because the screenwriter does not wish us to dwell on what’s happening, but rather on what these people are like- as we see them struggle for food or money, we ask how free they really are. In a way, it’s quite creative that the director stages the scene that has Fonda talking about freedom, and the ‘we blew it scene’ almost completely identical. The framing is also practically the same- most general conversation is done in a medium shot including the fire in the shot, while anything serious that is said is done with a close up of the characters. This identical style of editing should practically give away what Fonda means by ‘we blew it,’ and yet it’s still hard for some people to make that connection.
Cook is quoted by saying “…there was little other action on the youth market front until the revelatory success of Easy Rider” (pp 162), which is why the film was such a big impact on the US film market at the time. It seemed that while adults had demolished what Jay Presson Allen referred to as the ‘Delayed Fuck’ films (Doris Day/Rock Hudson films that had no sex until after marriage), teens were still left with either watching an artistic film like ‘Blow-Up’, or were forced to watch a slapstick family comedy that Disney put out. There was no middle ground for teens to lean on and relate to in film. However, Easy Rider changed all that. A new set demographic was formed in the blockbuster books, and it had to be fulfilled, which is why at this point all genres bump up their films to make them appeal more towards teens- comedies begin to get raunchy, as seen in MASH or Harper Valley PTA, horror films such as The Omen or The Exorcist have a new sense of gore to them, action films are now more violent, soundtracks now have more needle drops in them, all of this done to appeal to this new demographic, and by the time 1980 rolls around, where films like Fame or Ordinary People come out, the main audience being triggered is the teenager.
Tom Emmrich
The general feel of failure at the end of this film sort of exemplifies the notion about a cinema about losers and outsiders who never quite accomplish what they set out for. Billy is so content with the big score and has the general malaise of the counter culture that he fails to see anything else. Wyatt is much deeper, looking for a way to save his soul and make meaning in his life, that he reflects on what they’ve done and is not happy with what they accomplished. The end of the sixties seemed to show this idea of “I was not born to follow” as represented in end of the in the only song that is played twice in the film. Wyatt sees that what they have done is just buy in to the greed of the popular culture and have not learned one thing from the different people they met along the way about making it on their own terms. The farmer and his family and the commune gave Wyatt hope for coming out of this drug deal unscathed, but Billy was always there, bringing him down or shooting his mouth off. Wyatt knows they had a chance to create their own path but instead chose to just basically to be on a joyride and haven’t come close to what he considers is the American dream.
Fonda and Hopper's characters in EASY RIDER wanted to achieve the American dream, but Fonda didn't realize what that meant until everything was over and done with. In the old days, the dream was to live off the land and have the freedom to do what you want; in the 1950s, perhaps, that ideal changed to a cut-throat race for wealth... which maybe is what EASY RIDER is about. Fonda and Hopper's characters may have been richer, but at the expense of others--they themselves won't touch cocaine, but they have no problem selling it for their own profit. Seems like witnessing a man being beaten to death and freaking out in New Orleans wasn't worth it, or much fun at all, and the most meaningful part of their experience came early on at the commune.
EASY RIDER was cheaply produced and made a large profit, so studios were eager to make other counterculture films for the youth market.
Ian Beck
Getting rich and living the easy life is somewhat of a common quest these days, as it has been for a long time. My interpretation from the beginning of the movie is that Wyatt and Billy had been smuggling drugs for quite sometime. Both men were relaxed, knew exactly whom to buy and sell from, and the fact that Wyatt spoke Spanish all contribute to that idea. As Billy proclaims in the movie, their goal was to get rich, retire in Florida, and live the easy life; but not before they experienced Mardi Gras and all the craziness that comes along with it, I suppose sort of their ‘last ride’. Of the two, Billy is more of the simple-minded/carefree type while Wyatt is obviously the more astute, calm and collective one, often leading Billy with his decisions on their quest. After all the torment they had been through, being ridiculed a number of times for their hair and clothes style, beaten up while camping outside and their new lawyer friend that got them out of jail being beaten to death only because he was with them, I believe all weighed heavily on Wyatt. The simple pleasures of Mardi Gras, the sex, drugs, and alcohol eventually wore off and they were left facing the same facts of life as before, they were only socially accepted among people like themselves,like back on the ranchers farm. It was obvious Wyatt enjoyed that life, they had the basic food, shelter, and entertainment, that truly was the easy life that they were searching for. Remaining there cost no one their lives, torment for being different, nor any other sort of displeasure. While the drug money they accumulated would eventually run out, they would have to live with the terrible events that occurred for the rest of their lives; the end didn’t justify the means. This is why I think Wyatt told Billy that they blew it.
I believe this film to be innovative for a few reasons. As discussed in class this time period saw a new generation of film style from that of before, when movies were (generally speaking) good-hearted. I wouldn’t call this movie a comedy, but it did have a few funny moments where the class would laugh out loud, but Hopper knew exactly what demographic he was trying to capture. This wasn’t for your parents crowd of Abbott and Costello fans, it was for the young adults whom were desperate for something new and exciting to talk about. In that sense, this movie’s success helped continued steering other films trying something new to enter the fray, and because of that was very innovative.
brennan o'lena
The campfire scene in which Fonda's character says "We blew it" can have endless meaning. It can mean something new and unique for every viewer who watches it. Depending on where they are in there lives or simply how they feel at the moment. However, I feel that the writers meaning could possibly have been that we through away 'our" lifestyle. The whole movie Fonda and Hopper are rebellous free spirits who don't care what people think of them and actually enjoy the reaction they get. This is clearly shown in the small town diner scene. The are nomadic with short term goals, truelly living by the seat of their pants. I feel that Fonda's character feels that they sold out on the counterculture lifestyle. The fact that they may be sell outs is shown when Hopper says we piece about getting a big house and pool or something to that effect. Fonda feels they didn't spend there whole lives being who they are to end up like there parents and the normal American. Therefore, they "blew it."
brennan o'lena
When Wyatt says “we blew it” it changes the way the movie was headed in a way. At first it seemed like they were having such a good time but him saying that makes it seem like he was not enjoying the trip as much as Billy and in some sense regrets what they did. On the other hand Billy is ecstatic and is so happy they are doing this. He says “ it’s what it’s all about, you go for the big money then your free.” Billy wants to be retired in Florida with their money. Conversely Wyatt seems to be searching for something more. When they are at the ranchers’ house there is a parallel between the ranchers changing the shoes on the horse and the boys changing a flat tire on their motorcycle- aka the new horse. Then while at dinner Wyatt is talking about how he really likes it at the ranch; they live off their own land, are with their family, and seem to have a good (hard earned) life.
Also the saying “we blew it” could have a different meaning on a dissimilar level. It could literally mean that they blew it all- referencing the cocaine. Drugs made up a big part of New Hollywood and this movie was the first to have people doing the drugs on camera. These sorts of scenes changed the way movies were made; people were not used to seeing the drug use and so ignored it. However it was happening in the country and people needed to see it first hand and stop turning their heads the other way- so to speak.
Nathan Radoszewski
I think Jordan Strand’s original post about Wyatt’s “We blew it” comment grasped its meaning perfectly. In the beginning of the film Wyatt was sincerely impressed with the ranch owner’s life and expressed his appreciation for it more than once. I think that scene contained the most sentiment that we got to see out of Wyatt. When he said, “We blew it,” I took it as the expression of the idea that all they had done amounted to nothing in his eyes. Their whole adventure, all the money they had worked to accumulate, was spent in one week and they had nothing long-term to show for it. Chilling at a hippy compound, wandering New Orleans with prostitutes, and tripping on acid comprised some of the better moments of that week. Being refused a room, being refused service at a restaurant, being beaten in the night, and having a friend murdered beside you were just some of the negatives of the week. I think with it all weighed up Wyatt was discontent with the trip. I’m sure he would have more so appreciated using that money to buy his own land; which is pretty much as free as you can get in America. Even in history the only ones who could typically vote were land owners. Recalling his affection for the farmer’s life, I feel I can justly say Wyatt would have been happier trying to emulate that life than blowing all his money on a trip to New Orleans, which proved not to grant him much freedom at all.
I think the most innovative quality this movie had was the way it appealed to its targeted audience. It didn’t so much rely on expensive and flashy actors or effects to market it, but a storyline perfectly designed to fill a niche in Hollywood film; the niche of youth. It was based primarily on young adults which was both interesting for young adults at the time and youths nearing adulthood, interested in what their near future could contain. On the grandest scale, the movie taught us a bit about freedom in general, but I think it was primarily geared towards youths. Young adults and youths all over the nation could watch this film and foresee the prejudices they would get if they chose to lead the “easy rider” lifestyle like Wyatt and Billy. It was a very popular and appealing lifestyle, to be a drug-using and freedom-loving hippy, at the time; and this movie does well in dissecting it and showing the pros and cons. In essence, this was a relatively inexpensive and efficiently made movie that proved “inexpensive films could be made specifically for the youth market and become hits overnight.” It found a lifestyle the youth of America were interested in and could become engaged in, wrote a fantastic storyline in that setting, showed all the aspects of the life, and formed it into a uniquely shot film for America and its young to enjoy.
Dylan Statz (301-004)
Tegan Olness
In the campfire scene where Peter Fonda tells Dennis Hopper “We blew it” it has multiple meanings. The most obvious choice is that the character Wyatt is regretting spending their savings on women and drugs. Dennis Hopper’s character, Billy, did not seem to care that the money had disappeared. He was only concerned with scoring more drugs. This is ironic because earlier in the film Billy was concerned that the hippie that they picked up on the road would notice their cash in the fuel tank. His laid back attitude during this scene is attributed to him being under the influence of drugs.
“We blew it” could also be referring to their life and how they are living it. They are constantly on the move and constantly being pushed around. Neither one has a place to call home, a woman to call a girlfriend or wife, or a piece of land to call their own. They were representative of the youth during the time period, trying to avoid responsibilities and have a good time. Wyatt seemed comfortable when they settled down with the hippie group and when they visited with the farmer. He seemed to be a bit envious of both groups because they were content with life and settled down.
“We blew it” was also Wyatt’s way of saying that they screwed themselves over. Their lifestyle was going nowhere, as were they. Wyatt was starting to realize that, but Billy had no idea. He was content with his situation and place in life. I think after Jack Nicholson is killed that they both start to look at their life in a new light. They knew that their life would end in a bad way and decided to live up every moment.
When watching the film Easy Rider there were many conversations that I noticed, because of the strange awkwardness that seemed to highlight them. When Fonda said “We blew it,” this was such a conversation, but this was not the only one. Near the beginning of the film, shortly after picking up the hitchhiker the three men decided to stop for the night in what seemed to be some kind of ruins in the desert. When huddled around the campfire and “high” out of their minds, Fonda said “I think I’m going to crash.” These two scenes had a strong parallelism to each other, which I think was on purpose to create some type of rotation in the plot. They left the discussion about the crash fast, only to return to it near the end of the film for the conclusion of the story.
From the scene in the desert I couldn’t help but notice that Fonda seemed to be depressed, and/or running from something. His character was not typical of the counterculture which seemed to be more apparent in Hopper. Fonda seemed to predict his own death, and it didn’t seem to mind as if he was welcoming it. Maybe he was disappointed of his past or he was looking for something else to do in life such as settle down and work on his time much like the farmer that he admired. Either way I think that the ride to New Orleans was supposed to be the death of Fonda and when it didn’t happen he was mad and said those three infamous words. “We blew it.”
I think that Wyatt was referring to the fact that they had not really changed anything in their acts of rebellion; maybe he felt a lack of fulfillment in their trip to New Orleans.
The characters in depict the lifestyle of most youth at the time; therefore the film also reflects their political views in the wake of the Vietnam War. Their nonconformist lifestyle and rebellious attitudes towards sex, drugs, and the war was invoked in the production of this film. I found the lack of continuity most interesting in this film, in the triple cut between scenes. It was meant to be noticed and therefore is in a sense rebelling against the Hollywood style used in film editing at the time.
-Brian Shea
Easy Rider was a hit at that time supplely because it contains “themes of youthful rebellion”. Up until Easy Rider, almost all of the film fails to produce any profit. Easy Rider in a way was like the silver bullet, it brought back the youth as well as giving Hollywood new look at their audience, thus similar film were made.
Easy Rider was interesting in that it was “hip, with it, relevant, and now”. It was about hippies, drugs, sex, and freedom. “we blew it” simply stating that with all the money that they processed, they’ve travel across the country and gain nothing of value. They smoked the money away instead of buying something useful such as land/property etc.
Defne Tuzun
Koua Xiong
Brian Cooney 9/19/07
When Peter Fonda says "we blew it" to Dennis Hopper by the fire, he knows he could have started the life he wanted to have with that cocaine money, but decided to go along with Hopper to Mardi Gras instead. The scene where the two of them were eating dinner at the farmhouse really expressed an envy that Fonda had of the farmer. Even though they didn't have much money, they had their own land that they were farming on and trying to make successful. Fonda realized that that is the real american dream, not travelling across the country to party it up at Mardi Gras. The fact that Fonda is murdered before he even gets a chance to try and make his american dream reemphasizes that they should have spent the money elsewhere, not putting themselves in those situations.
The Cook book says the production company put very little money into this film. It obviously made a lot more money than its budget. This film was so successful because it was made by people who were really living the sixties lifestyle, which allowed the audience of this period to connect in a way no other movie previously allowed. This movie reached out to the people of the sixties by such techniques as filming on location. This films innovative techniques (especially the acid trip scene) made it a classic that will never be forgotten.
"We blew it." We never achieved freedom. On this cross country drug enduced, motorcycle driven voyage, not once did we find the keys to the shackles. Work is our occupational prison, keeping us locked within the boarders of towns, the invisible lines that divide us all. No we never found this freedom which the hippie commune felt they had discovered, which the rednecks, blinded by their own bars, refused to allow freedom's liberation. The only man in which has obtained a sense of freedom, as Wyatt notes, is the farmer, free to tend his land as he pleases. Wyatt blew it on the trip, but I think he had ideas. I think if it weren't for his unfortunate demise, he would have bought up some land for himself. But the most unfortunate thing, is that I know he would eventually discover that farming is just as much a prison, chained to the land you tend.
Stylisticly this film incorporated elements nearly unseen in american filmmaking prior to that time. The lush montages, revealing the beauty of the Arizona desert, was painstakingly and well shot. The LSD trip scene offered great almost slippy shots, making the audience almost trip with the characters.
I think that Timothy W. Hansen has a good point about how we all could predict that the tank of gas, which contained all the money, would go up in flames. A big point in the counterculture movement was the push away from consumerism and society. The destruction of the bikes can be used to symbolize that movement
The scene shone on the blog tells a lot about the characters in Easy Rider. Peter Fonda tells an excited Dennis Hopper that they "blew it" much to his surprise. This statement may mean several things. It could have been a reference to the ending of the movie much like the split second flash forward in the church- like brothel. It could also be the fact that they used the LSD (or similar drug) with a couple of prostitutes rather than those who they were supposed to use it with as the farmer who gave them the substance told them about.
If we look a little more into context, it may have been a metaphor for the youth of the time. Many things were changing at the time and almost all of that was done because of teenage rebellion and the new drug culture. Just like the book written by Cook said, the movie industry itself was being revolutionized by younger film makers and focused more on the topics they care about. (Probably because they turned into the major audience of motion pictures.
The unique thing I noticed about Easy Rider was many of the transitions. One scene would flash into another for one or two seconds and repeat several times before moving to the other scene. I have not seen that in any other movies, even modern ones. And again I have to talk about the very brief flash forward to "Captain America's" Burning bike. This was a device that intrigued me yet, I have little understanding of its bearing in the film.
When Wyatt says 'We blew it' there could be numerous meanings behind it, however I consider two to be most clear. Firstly, he could be referring to the money they made from drug dealing. I think that at this point in the film, Wyatt is thinking through what they are doing and possibly considers it not to be the best plan but to still go through with it. I also consider it to be a premonition of their fate, as if he knows that because they are a part of the counterculture, something is bound to happen to them eventually.
In Lost Illusions, Cook notes that even though the film was made on a low budget ($375,000) it still managed to make a highly profitable $19.2 million. I think this is what makes it so significant in 1969, as it showed studios that there is another way of doing things, and it does work. Although there had been many low budget European films which had done well, Easy Rider was the first American film to gain so much.
The one aspect of Easy Rider which stood out to me the most is the use of music. Not only because at the time it was unusual for there to be a rock music soundtrack, but the choice of songs and where they were placed in the film seemed different. I felt that on occasion music was used as a replacement for dialogue, that in most Hollywood films there would have been a short music clip then dialogue. However in Easy Rider there were whole songs and no need for the dialogue as the song spoke for the characters.
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