Monday, May 19, 2014

Easy Rider...

A couple weeks back, Sunset77 brought-up the subject of "Easy Rider".  He had just finished watching the movie, for the first time.  I saw it (for the first time) in 1969... but at that time, I was too young to understand it.

I bought the "Special Edition" DVD a few years ago, which includes narratives from Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda.  They both provide great insight into "behind the scenes" happenings, and of course, how the movie was made.

I found it interesting that the "hippie commune" (featured in the movie) was real commune!  It was not however, located in New Mexico (as the film insinuates). It was actually located in Malibu, Ca...
Another bit of trivia, is the scene where Fonda throws his watch on the ground. That of course, was filmed in Ballarat, CA-----on the way to Goler Wash (1968). Hmmmm.....
According to Dennis Hopper, he consulted David Crosby for the music score. Crosby started his "consultation work" by viewing the original film, which featured music chosen by Hopper himself (from his own personal collection).
Crosby's advice to Hopper: "Man... leave it as it is... it's great.  I can't do any better". (I'm paraphrasing)

Easy Rider Soundtrack (1969)
1. "The Pusher" - Steppenwolf
2. "Born To Be Wild" - Steppenwolf
3. "The Weight" - Smith
4. "Wasn't Born To Follow" - The Byrds
5. "If You Want To Be A Bird (Bird Song)" - The Holy Modal Rounders
6. "Don't Bogart Me (Aka Don't Bogart That Joint") - Fraternity Of Man
7. "If 6 Was 9" - The Jimi Hendrix Experience
8. "Kyrie Eleison/Mardi Gras (When The Saints)" - The Electric Prunes
9. "It's Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)" - Roger McGuinn
10. "Ballad Of Easy Rider" - Roger McGuinn

As for my own commentary:  Folks on other blogs have asked if cocaine was popular during the 60's. Watch the first part of "Easy Rider" where they sell cocaine to Phil Spector at the airport.  It was filmed in 1968.

67 comments:

LynyrdSkynyrdBand said...

Great movie.

My favorite part is the campfire scene, when Nicholson discusses the "Venusians".

"All walks of life..." LOL

I wanted to add a video clip of that epic scene... but I couldn't find it, in it's entirety.
All I could find, were butchered versions. (Little bits and pieces)

Anonymous said...

I read where Jack Nicholson said the joints they smoked during the filming were all real and they were truly stoned throughout most of the film. I suppose that's true, I have no reason not to believe it anyway...of course smoking a joint is no big deal what I want to know is if they really dropped acid during filming. That makes things far more interesting...:)

LynyrdSkynyrdBand said...

Krissy!!

Welcome to the blog. : )

katie8753 said...

Thanks Kimchi, you rule! Hi Krissy!

Speaking of Dennis Hopper, I was half-way watching an episode of The Big Valley today, and I saw a character that looked just like Dennis Hopper, although he was very young, VERY good looking and had a beard. But when he spoke, I knew it was him. This was probably in 1965 or 1966.

Then I watched the credits. It was definitely him.

Kimchi said...

Hi Krissy!

To this day, I'd still like to know why Dennis Hopper picked Ballarat to film that scene in 1968...

It is so far off the radar, nothing there, nothing attractive...

How did he know about it? The only thing going on there at that time was the Family passing thru to get to Goler Wash...and committing crimes, i.e., stealing from campers and homesteaders..

Kimchi said...

Homesteaders was wrong, I should have said mine claimers...

katie8753 said...

Here is the episode. You don't have to watch the whole thing. Dennis is at the first of it. He's so cute with beautiful eyes.

Enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8_iqfsuf74

beauders said...

Kimchi do you think Hopper knew Manson and the Family and had travelled with them to Barker Ranch?

MrPoirot said...

They are seen as heros today by America's large Harley owners contingent but Captain America and Biker Billy portrayed anti-heroes.

At the end when Fonda says "we blew it" that is what the movie is about in three words.
They made the big score selling coke to Spector and in the movie at least they never had to work again: they had achieved the American dream..........in their minds that is.
They buy new Harleys. The gas tank with the American flag symbolized American materialism. They hid the big money inside the gas tank with the flag on it.
Their dream was to go to Mardi Gras and party forever. They never intended to work again in their lives. This is what they thought life was about. They were wrong.
Along their journey from California to New Orleans they experience 3 ways to live your life. 1 The Farm 2 small town 3 hippie commune. They chose not to live and contribute to these three life styles even though they were invited to be a part of these communities. Instead choosing the lazy way; they "blew it" another words. Life is not about getting rich and never having to work again. That is why they got arrested during the parade: they were mocking the American way of life.


A few of the hippies in the commune scenes Hopper went and found in Topanga Canyon just for that a little realism. Some of the hippies were really actors though.

The motorcycles symbolized horses and the agrarian way of life that had been America up until the 60s. Captain America and Biker Billy symbolized the antithesis of the American way of life and agrarianism. In one scene Fonda is wearing spurs.

sunset77 said...

Interestingly, there was a "Dennis Hopper Day" this past Saturday in Taos NM. "Saturday would have been the late actor and director's 78th birthday. Hopper lived in Taos for years and is buried here. Hopper first came to New Mexico in the late 1960s to scout locations for "Easy Rider." Shot on a shoestring budget, the independent film summed up the hopes and anxieties of the '60s, romanticized the open road and ended up revolutionizing Hollywood by forcing the studio gates to open to a new generation of film school graduates.

Motorcyclists pulled out of the plaza just before 1 p.m. MDT. Led by a police escort, they started their easy ride on the two-lane road heading out of Taos, a diverse town known for skiing, art and Hispanic and Native American culture. Not unlike scenes in the movie, snow-capped mountains served as a classic backdrop for much of the ride."--ABC News

That was probably a great ride, I would have liked to have been there. NM is a pretty long run for me though. I know guys that run that far, but I never have. I rode about 40 miles yesterday, that's about all my butt could take, it ain't the 60's anymore.

sunset77 said...

I don't know if Hopper ever crossed paths with Manson and/or his family but I wouldn't be surprised if he did. Hopper was interviewed on the Merv Griffin show in 1971, they way he talks, laughs, and dresses reminds me of Manson. At one point during the interview Hopper says "I'd like to defend the garbage men of America, this is important...". It seems to me Manson had a song about a garbage dump.

Also on the panel of that show was Willie Mays, a baseball player. I seen Mays play at 3 Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh. In one at bat, Mays singled, the next batter, Willie McCovey lined a long home run to right. I can still hear that CRACK!! echoing around the stadium. (that was a long time ago).

The Merv Griffin clip is -->HERE.

I had forgotten that Toni Basil was in the film Easy Rider. I think I read that she wore her Las Vegas High cheerleader uniform when she was like 40 years old for her music vid Mickey.

I didn't realize just how iconic the film Easy Rider was, I don't know how that one got past me until recently. Phil Spector, Jack Nicholson with his gold football helmet with no face mask, and Don't Bogart that Joint.

MrPoirot said...

In 1985 I rode a Kawasaki KZ750 out the Oklahome panhandle on a 60 mile dirt road that left out of Black Mesa and pointed towards Folsom New Mexico. It was true wild west territory. It was my first trip out west so when I saw a tumbleweed cross the dirt road it spooked me because in late eve they are ghost-like. Dust Devils are even scarier. Occationally a big snake would crossing the road. Over two and a 1/2 hours it took to get to Folsom New /mexico. I stopped once intending to camp on the open range but came upon another snake so I was too scared to camp. I was even worried about injuns attacking. There were two places by the dirt road marked with a sign that pointed to dinosaur foot prints. This country was just too real. Finally arriving in the nearly nonexistent town of Folsom at 11pm I walked into a small bar that was partying like rock stars. I ended up renting the house next to the bar for the night. when I woke up the next morning I walked out the back door and there stood a huge volcano. Mt Capulin Nat Mon.
New Mexico is a beautiful state.

MrPoirot said...

You can see the spurs Fonda is wearing while the song "The Weight" by The Band is playing. It only occurs for a few seconds while Fonda is riding his chopper. They show just his boot. Took me a long time to find it.
OK is that movie trivia or what?

MrPoirot said...

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=easy+rider+the+weight&FORM=VIRE1#view=detail&mid=D307C9D629C5875978A3D307C9D629C5875978A3

OK it is Hopper's boot with the spur. Left foot light beige boots. If Hopper has spurs I cant see them but maybe he does. Look for yourself.

MrPoirot said...

Shit! It is Fonda's left boot.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the kind welcomes! I read this blog daily- I'm just more of a lurker than a poster. You have nice people on here and I learn something new all the time. :)

CarolMR said...

Thanks, Kimchi.
Interesting that Hopper became a Republican in his later years. He was also a first cousin of Perry Mason actor William Hopper, who was the son of gossip columnist Hedda Hopper.

MrPoirot said...

Obama had him audited.

katie8753 said...

Thanks Carol. I didn't know that!

CarolMR said...

You're welcome, Katie! And welcome, Krissy.

Doc Sierra said...

LynyrdSkynyrdBand said...

Great movie.

My favorite part is the campfire scene, when Nicholson discusses the "Venusians".
---------------------------------
My favorite line in the movie is during this scene when right after Dennis Hopper sees a UFO Jack Nicholson says that the Venutians are living a working among us. Nicholson says to Hopper (paraphrasing) "you saw one" and Hopper says "I saw something man but I didn't see it working here".....

Doc Sierra said...

Phil Spector is such a weasel. He looked like such a pussy in Easy Rider when he was frightened by the sound of the airplane overhead. I read a biography about him a few years ago. He ripped off so many song writers and bands. There's probably a special place in hell for him.

katie8753 said...

Doc, isn't he in prison for killing some woman?

Doc Sierra said...

Yep and he probably doesn't have access to his vast array of wigs.....

revatron said...

In the laserdisc commentary Hopper says the bikes were built by a member of the Satans Slaves. There's conflicting reports on the internet. Most places credit Bed Hardy, but some websites say the original bikes were built by Dan Haggerty, a Slave.
Over 11 bikes were stolen from a garage in Simi Valley before the film production wrapped.

louis365 said...

Spector is in the hospital section of Corcoran...at least he was.

katie8753 said...

Thanks Revatron, that's interesting.

Thanks Louis & Doc. I think that Phil Spector is a very strange man. But I don't know much about him. In fact, I never even heard of him until he killed that woman. He tried to say she killed herself but the jury didn't buy it.

MrPoirot said...

In the pic for this thread you can see Spector and a guy dressed in black. Though not shown in the pic but shown in the movie was a Rolls Royce. Spector brought his own body guard and luxury car. Hopper agreed to this because the budget was too small for the production to rent a Rolls Royce.
Spector brought his own body guards to his daily trial for murdering Lana Clarkson 33 yrs later. If you want to experience the bizarre vibes emitted by Spector that Lana Clarkson must have been fleeing from even before Spector drew a pistol on her and blew her brains out; then watch this scene with him in the dope deal with the easy riders. Spector is freaking out Hopper and Fonda too.

There is a good print interview somewhere about Spector with a musician who knew Spector in his "wall of sound days" as a record producer. The musician describes Spectors talent by saying the wall of sound was Spector's only trick but it was a good trick: like a dog that could talk.
If you saw any big rock bands in the 60s and 70s that used two drummers then you saw the effect Spector had on music at that time.

sunset77 said...

California inmate locator lists Phillip Spector, no. G63408, age 73, as being in the California Health Care Facility, Stockton. I think I read that he was in Corcoran at one point, but he may have been moved. I was in at least 6 different jails/prions in the 3 years I was in.

The woman Spector apparently shot, Lana Clarkson was in many movies, TV shows and at least one commercial. I remember her being in a TV show or movie that I liked, but I can't remember which one. Her IMDB page is Lana Clarkson.

I didn't know there was a connection between Dennis Hopper and Hedda Hopper, thanx Carol MR.

Off topic comment: There was a drive by shooting in CA a few hours ago, 7 are dead and 7 wounded. The shooter was apparently the 22 year old son of "Hunger Games" assistant director Peter Rodger.

Elliot Rodger posted a number of vids on YouTube including Elliot Rodger's Retribution , a few hours ago.

22 year old shooter Rodger said on his blog,

"My name is Elliot Rodger. I was born in the UK, but moved to the United States at the age of 5. I grew up in Calabasas and Woodland Hills, California. Currently, I am attending college in Santa Barbara, and while there I am staying the the town of Isla Vista. I have tried very hard to fit in with the social scene there, but I have ultimately been unable to do so. There are too many obnoxious people who have ruined my whole experience at that place.

I consider myself a sophisticated, polite gentleman, unlike most boys my age. My father is of British descent, and my mother is of Asian descent, so that makes me a Eurasian. I enjoy hiking, exercising, watching sunsets, traveling, cars, fashion, going to nice restaurants, and going to parties. I have traveled all over the world, ever since I was a child. So far, I have visited ten countries, including Great Britain, the United States, France, Spain, Greece, Germany, Mexico, Singapore, Malaysia, and Morocco."--Elliot Rodger

Rodger apparently committed suicide with a gunshot to his head.

katie8753 said...

Thanks Sunset. How sad....

MrPoirot said...

That kid doesn't look Eurasian. He looks Eurmuslim.

Patty is Dead said...

Patty went to school there. So bummed.

MrPoirot said...

Hollywood needs to take note. This killer's dad was a big movie director assistant. Hollywood has always baited the crazies with shocking violence portayed through bloody realism.

You doubt me? Take your remote and channel surf through your channels: notice how many times you just saw an actor pointing a gun at the camera or at another actor. I used to do this test all the time. It's very hard to surf your channels and not notice a gun pointing at you.
Rock musicians got called to task for too many suicide songs. They had to back off. Led Zepplin's "Stairway To Heaven" is a suicide song.
Hollywood got bit in the ass by their own kid this week. Their kids are getting brainwashed too and they need to admit it. Hollywood has always baited the crazies. I remember Bill Clinton telling Hollywood to back off the baiting but they laughed at him.

MrPoirot said...

Hollywood needs to get back into the entertainment business and get out of the brainwashing business. Look at how dark and violent the Batman movies have become. They bum me out with Batman.

Doc Sierra said...

I couldn't agree with you more Mr Poirot. When this subject was at the forefront back in the late 80s and early 90s I was the first to defend "artistic freedom". Because of these movies, TV shows, and gangster rap videos we have an entire generation with a high percentage of young men who think they need be gangsters to be somebody. When I was a young man we all wanted to be rock stars. Now, too many young men demand respect without earning it or they'll "bust a cap in yo ass". It absolutely makes me sick.....

Doc Sierra said...

Also, even though I was never one that liked to fight, when we had a beef with someone we used our hands. Anybody that used a weapon or fought with more than one on one was considered a pussy. I don't think these punks know how to fight.

MrPoirot said...

Because of whose kid this was in the murders in California I think the media will hush this one up for fear Americans may figure out who it is that is brainwashing young people to kill.

revatron said...

I was just listening again to the laserdisc commentary by Hopper, which can be heard here
http://cinearchive.org/post/37866229597/audio_player_iframe/cinephiliabeyond/tumblr_meztzqgbtp1rovfcg?audio_file=http%3A%2F%2Fubuntuone.com%2F40wDRbff9ohhTcwZArOWwD&color=white
Hopper mentions that he believes the bikes were built by Cliff Vaughs. Hopper says he thinks Vaughs was a member of the Satan's Slaves.

This site here clears up the confusion about who built the bikes.
http://thevintagent.blogspot.com/2012/01/uneasy-rider-cliff-vaughs-story.html

Cliff Vaughs and Ben Hardy built the bikes. Both were black men. Neither were Satan's Slaves. So Hopper's recollection was off a bit. I think it's interesting that he made that mistake though, to mention such a small club who's only "claim to fame" ( as far as I know ) is their involvement with the family.

Doc Sierra said...

I'm not sure but I thing that the Satans Slaves patched over to the Hells Angels.....

Patty is Dead said...

Doc: http://www.mansonblog.com/2013/12/more-on-missing-link-bikers-and-meth.html?m=0

Doc Sierra said...

Thanks Patty, that must be where I read it.....

MrPoirot said...

Thanks for the link Revatron. It is interesting to hear Fonda and Hopper tell how the movie was made. Their opinions differ wildly at times. Fonda said the movie was written backwards. They only had an ending and had to figure a way to get to it.
Supposedly only the cameraman and a couple of others stayed straight during the filming. Karen Black talked about how messed up Hopper and Fonda stayed. She couldn't believe the film became a classic because everyone stayed messed up during the filming.

Hopper was suing Fonda over the proceeds right up to his death claiming Fonda owed him millions.

MrPoirot said...

http://washington.cbslocal.com/2014/05/27/apatow-rogen-slam-wapost-film-critic-for-blaming-calif-mass-shooting-on-white-male-hollywood-culture/

Here on front page Drudge Report is what I said two days ago about Hollywood being the cause of the murders at UCSB. Everybody does realize the killer's father is a big Hollywood guy whose own son was baited into violence by Hollywood propaganda.

revatron said...

Wow. Somewhere along the line I morphed the two biker gangs into one gang. Pardon my confusion.
Kind of makes what Hopper said a lot less cool.

MrPoirot said...

Did Fonda and Hopper ever work together again after Easy Rider? I would think not. Dunno.

MrPoirot said...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnPIOH8bCfk

Bobby here is the opening to "Then Came Bronson" 1968. When Bronson jumps that sand dune on the beach that is your Baja 125 not the big red Sportster Bronson had. I had another version of the Baja two stroke Italian dirt bike called the Rapido but it was the same bike. You had to put two stroke oil in each tank.

katie8753 said...

Bobby!! :)

LynyrdSkynyrdBand said...

Bob!!

Sun King said...

MrPoirot said...Did Fonda and Hopper ever work together again after Easy Rider? I would think not. Dunno.
----------------------------
Interesting fact that Hopper and Fonda got into a fist fight early on in New Orleans, which was shot first. It almost didn't continue filming.

MrPoirot said...

Sun King I had never heard that. Thanks. Hopper was an explosive guy. There is a mardis gras scene in the film of a black dude and Hopper nearly squaring off but the black dude raises his hands as if to say I have no idea what you are mad at. Men generally won't fight crazy people. It's almost like hitting a woman. The guy will still be crazy after you kick his ass. It looked like real footage not acting footage.

Sun King said...

yea, I got the story from Steve Blauner was one of the producers. Hopper & Fonda didnt get along. Also surprising was that the producers also asked Jack Nicholson to watch over the money as it was a skeleton crew traveling with a van and the producers didnt trust Hopper with the money.

sunset77 said...

Off topic comment:

I've followed that Elliot Rodger guy since just about the time the shooting happened 4 or 5 days ago. I've read his entire 141 page "manifesto" entitled "My Twisted Life". Rodger's plan for "A Day of Retribution" appears to me to be somewhat similar to Charles Manson's plan for "Helter Skelter".

Rodger's manifesto says:

"Once I reach Del Playa Street, I will dump the bag of severed heads I had saved from my previous
victims, proclaiming to everyone how much I’ve made them all suffer. Once they see all of their friend’s
heads roll onto the street, everyone will fear me as the powerful god I am. I will then start massacring everyone on Del Playa Street. I will pull up next to a house party and fire bullets at everyone partying on the front yard. I will specifically target the good looking people, and all of the couples. After I have destroyed a house party, I will continue down Del Playa, destroying everything and everyone. When I see the first police car come to their rescue, I will drive away as fast as I can, shooting and ramming anyone in my path until I find a suitable place to finally end my life."

Rodger also mentions the "mind altering" drugs Risperidone and Xanax. My personal opinion is these drugs are what caused this bizarre, delusional rampage. There are many similar cases of people taking mind altering drugs and committing a murderous rampage, including the Manson family.

Also, apparently a few weeks ago, CieloDrive.com uploaded an audio interview of Lynette Fromme. I think it was made after her Presidential assassination attempt. If anyone wants to hear it,-->Lynette Fromme.

Doc Sierra said...

I doubt that the drugs by themselves caused this murderous rampage. It's my opinion that someone, what's the technical term?, their biscuits are little doughy in the middle are completely delusional to do this. I think the drugs probably contributed but aren't the sole reason for this.....

MrPoirot said...

Guns have always been here. Crazies have always been here. Crazies with guns and drugs have always been here.
Something new is amiss that is causing these murders. Murder is being taught by modern media of some type. There is a tremendous amount of indoctrination going on in the entertainment industry.
Here in SC we had 3 killed in a gang shooting in Myrtle Beach on Memorial weekend. Keith Hernandez was indicted on two gang killings yesterday from a couple of years ago. Look at the gang related tattoos on NFL players today. We are indoctrinating young people into violence by using computer screens, tvs and movies.

MrPoirot said...

Sunset77
Interesting point about helter skelter similarities. The shooter attended Topanga Elementary while growing up.

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Jean Harlow said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Jean Harlow said...

sorry, I had to delete my post, there doesn't seem to be a way to edit the post itself without deleting it.

Anyhow, Kimchi you might think about tweeting Peter Fonda to ask him about Ballarat.

@iamfonda

katie8753 said...

Hi Jean. Thanks!

MrPoirot said...



[Quote]It was Feb. 23, 2001, when David Attias — a then-University of California-Santa Barbara freshman and son of Hollywood director Daniel Attias — plowed his turbo-charged Saab into a group of young adults in the same Isla Vista neighborhood of the coastal community, killing four and permanently injuring another before climbing atop the car and declaring himself "the Angel of Death[end quote]

The above quote is from Foxnews.com today about a previous mass murder by another young person who is a child of the Hollywood elite. The current mass murder problem can be blamed squarely on mass media coming out of Hollywood. Kids are being brainwashed.

sunset77 said...

Off topic comment:

I was just looking at Wikipedia about David Attais--Poirot.

He was another drug crazed killer that used his vehicle as a weapon on the streets of Isla Vista.

"On the evening of February 23, 2001, just after 11pm UCSB student David Attias, son of television director Daniel Attias, drove his 1991 Saab down the 6500 block of Sabado Tarde Road at high speed.[1] Attias ran the stop sign at the intersection of Sabado Tarde and Camino Pescadero at around 50 mph, it was a peak time for foot traffic in Isla Vista. After slamming his Saab into two parked vehicles, he swerved and hit five pedestrians and sideswiped seven other vehicles. Four of the pedestrians were killed and the fifth was critically injured."

I remember seeing the street name "Sabado Tarde" on the Isla Vista map when I was looking at Elliot Rodger's route.

"There is a memorial to the victims in Little Acorn Park, which borders on the intersection where they lost their lives."--Wikipedia

I remember hearing an interview with one of the people fleeing Elliot Rodger, he said he hid in Little Acorn Park.

Attias killed 4 people including a UCSB student and an SBCC student. Rodger said in his manifesto he wanted to kill students from both UCSB and SBCC.

David Attias's father was a Hollywood director the same as Rodger's. Daniel Attias has a long list of TV credits including "Miami Vice" and "Beverly Hill 90210. [David] Attias was ultimately released from Patton State [Hospital] and transferred to an "outlocked treatment program" on September 4, 2012.

So far as these "mind altering" drugs causing these rampages, there is absolutely no question in my opinion. There are simply too many similar cases, probably thousands from all over the world.

Both illicit and/or prescription drugs that affect brain chemistry are involved in nearly all highly publicized bizarre, delusional murder rampages. The main prescription drugs are SSRI's. "Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors". Eric Harris, one of the Columbine shooters was taking "Luvox". Adam Lanza, the Newtown Conn shooter's mom said he was treated for 8 years, including taking lithium. There are simply too many similar cases to list.

Susan Atkins said in a YouTube interview, it took her 6 years in prison to recover from all the LSD she took.

MrPoirot said...

Sunset
Since you mention Susan Atkins let's look at her.
She was involved in a mass killing. She lived on a movie studio lot. She designed the murders she committed from a movie she saw which depicted copycat killings. She told stories of wanting to kill Hollywood celebrities. Her violence was derived from Hollywood too. Not just Helter Skelter.

Let's not leave out the Aurora killer who dressed as the joker and shot up a movie theater. Hollywood was involved there too. Batman movies have become very dark.

Of course we shouldn't bash Hollywood for being all bad. What about the kids who grew up to be doctors and lawyers after watching Dr Kildare and Perry Mason.
But there is definitely some bloody foot prints leading up to the homes in make-believe land that are revealing the ill effects of overly realistic subversive violence. Hollywood has become expert at controlling how people think. Hollywood knows now that they can control who you vote for by picking a single ideology and hammering it at you on the screen. Hollywood also knows that movies with nothing to offer can generate profit by simply filling the screen with mayhem. There is another trick Hollywood uses called "main streaming" where they take an evil character and make them look nice, lovable and harmless. Look at Bewitched. Samantha was a Witch who lived amongst us and was just like us. Witches aren't bad are they? Wiccan isn't bad is it? Or is it? That requires a sound judgment to decide.

As far as mind altering drugs: being involved in these killings; if society can see that then why can't they see other things that are commonalities. If Hollywood can control who you vote for can't they control whether you kill or not? Is violence and evil being "main streamed" in Hollywood?

MrPoirot said...

Look again at Bewitched. Samantha was the one who came up with lots of Darin's ad premises. A witch was involved in advertising media that your kids watched according to that show.(hint hint) This seemed perfectly normal to the viewer because Samantha's character was "main streamed". She was cute, blonde and funny wasn't she? She was a witch!
This decades old business of blurring the lines between good and evil, right and wrong are now extracting their costs from our society. Our mentally disturbed are being morphed into killers by the subtle breaking down of societal norms.

johnnyseattle said...

Dennis Hopper is an interesting Cat. He went from hippy actor to Republican and happily shilled for big bucks for entities like Ameriprise (Tommy Lee Jones does the spot now). His ads for Ameriprise were effective as they hit at the boomer folks who knew Hopper from his days as an actor on Rebel Without A Cause.
Hopper later talked with Manson when Charlie was in the hoosecow. Instead of talking about his movie Easy Rider, Charlie talked about a role Dennis had played on TV.
BTW, there is a good story from him about being with Natalie Wood but you'll have to google him, Natalie, and Nicholas Ray.

Nice to be back.

katie8753 said...

Thanks Johnny!

I think that prescription drugs and the ever increasing violence on TV and movies has a lot to do with all these killings. Scary!

MrPoirot said...

The old cowboy movies with the bang, bang, shootem up theme used guns all the time but they didn't incite violence in young people.
You cant say this about modern movies.

Doc Sierra said...

I think that due to ganster rap videos and movies we have an entire generation that expects respect without earning it. A signigicant percentage of these young adults are willing to "bust a cap in yo ass" if you dis them. My generation used their hands if they had a beef and anyone that fought more than one on one or used a weapon was a punk.....