The Source (1999)
Traces the Beats from Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac's meeting in 1944 at Columbia University to the deaths of Ginsberg and William S. Burroughs in 1997. Three actors provide dramatic interpretations of the work of these three writers, and the film chronicles their friendships, their arrival into American consciousness, their travels, frequent parodies, Kerouac's death, and Ginsberg's politicization. Their movement connects with bebop, John Cage's music, abstract expressionism, and living theater. In recent interviews, Ginsberg, Burroughs, Kesey, Ferlinghetti, Mailer, Jerry Garcia, Tom Hayden, Gary Snyder, Ed Sanders, and others measure the Beats' meaning and impact.
Director: Chuck Workman
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Johnny Depp as Jack Kerouac |
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Dennis Hopper as William S. Burroughs |
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John Turturro as Allen Ginsberg |
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Allen Ginsberg as Self (archive footage) |
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William S. Burroughs as Self (archive footage) |
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Philip Glass as Self |
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Robert Creeley as Self |
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Ann Charters as Self |
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George Steade as Self |
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David Amram as Self |
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Ed Sanders as Self |
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Gregory Corso as Self |
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Kyle Roderick as Self |
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Lawrence Ferlinghetti as Self |
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Ken Kesey as Self |
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Gary Snyder as Self |
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Jerry Garcia as Self |
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Jack Micheline as Self |
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Michael McClure as Self |
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Stephen Ronan as Self |
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Philip Whalen as Self |
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Terry Southern as Self |
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Timothy Leary as Self |
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Paul Krassner as Self |
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Diane Di Prima as Self |
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Tom Hayden as Self |
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David Dellinger as Self |
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John Sampas as Self |
| Production | Mark Apostolon | Associate Producer |
| Production | James Cady | Associate Producer |
| Sound | David Amram | Sound |
| Sound | Philip Glass | Sound |
| Writing | Chuck Workman | Writers' Production |
| Directing | Chuck Workman | Director |