Dennis Hopper, John Ford, John Huston sent in by reader Paul Duane.
Tuesday Weld photographed by Dennis Hopper.
Trailer for Out Of The Blue, his best picture."Subvert normality man...."
From the incredible documentary: Dennis Hopper- The American Dreamer by L.M. Kit Carson & Lawrence Schiller (1971)
From The Last Movie, best unwatchable movie ever?
He was a nut, but he was our nut. From Rebel Without A Cause to Key Witness to Apocalypse Now to Out Of The Blue, he livened up more movies than any other actor of his generation. He was on the best episode of Naked City, basically playing himself, a delinquent brat. He seemed to speak for all of us who can't help fucking up, everyone who has ever spent years of their life drunk, high or both, out of control, and unable to bear the straight world. Dennis Hopper was our man. Actor, photographer, director, art collector, goof ball. See some of Dennis Hopper's incredible photographs here. I have a giant print of one of his Ike and Tina Turner shots over my desk. I, for one will miss him. Obituaries can be found here, here, and here.
He did a Q&A in Dublin years ago where he talked about, among other things, his love of the Apocryphal Gospel written by Judas Iscariot, and how the only one of his own photographs hanging on his wall showed himself, John Huston and John Ford in bed together. Apparently he'd been commissioned to take a photo of Huston for a whiskey ad, gone driving with him, and Huston had said "Let's drop in on Jack Ford, he's not well." They arrived, Ford was in bed watching sports on tv, and Huston climbed into the bed with him. Hopper, overawed, got ready to take a picture and Ford ROARED at him, "YOU KNOW WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH YOU, KID? YOU GOT NO FUCKIN' BALLS! IF YOU HAD ANY BALLS YOU'D GET IN THE BED WITH US!"
ReplyDeleteSo he put the camera on automatic timer and did what he was told. God bless him, there aren't any more like him.
Great story, Paul.
ReplyDeleteAs great as so many of his roles were, my favorite Hopper moment might be in Hearts Of Darkness, actually, when Coppola's trying to explain to DH the photojournalist's motivation; Hopper really tries hard to understand...
Oddly enough I was watching an old black n' white Gunsmoke eposide the other day (they're on The Western Channel... the B/W ones are the best)and Dennis Hopper had a bit part in it. He was truly one of a kind! -Barry Soltz
ReplyDeleteGone to pussy heaven. R.I.P.
ReplyDeleteThis is from Wikipedia: In 1999, actor Rip Torn filed a defamation lawsuit against Hopper over a story Hopper told on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Hopper claimed that Torn pulled a knife on him during pre-production of the film Easy Rider. According to Hopper, Torn was originally cast in the film but was replaced with Jack Nicholson after the incident. According to Torn's suit, it was actually Hopper who pulled the knife on him. A judge ruled in Torn's favor and Hopper was ordered to pay US$475,000 in damages. Hopper then appealed but the judge again ruled in Torn's favor and Hopper was required to pay another US$475,000 in punitive damages.[21]
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting that "Out of the Blue" trailer. I stumbled upon my copy of "OotB" about five years ago at a Family Dollar store for a buck, had never heard of it.
ReplyDeleteA great little movie that deserves attention.
Yesterday on FB I posted trailers for it and "Night Tide," another great little movie that could use more attention.
Somebody sent me the picture:
ReplyDeletehttp://twitpic.com/1sekzu
"Somebody sent me the picture:
ReplyDeletehttp://twitpic.com/1sekzu"
Thanks, gotta add it to the post, it's too great not to.
It certainly is.
ReplyDeleteThis great but very sad LA Times piece by the guy Hopper hired, and then fired, to write his biography, reminds me that it was the Gospel of Thomas rather than Judas that Hopper loved to quote from:
http://tinyurl.com/283hup3
Really short, sweet, and well put. I think your sentiments hit the nail on the head for quite a few of us. Just a thought...am I the only one who thinks that "Giant" seems to be glossed over in most of his obits? I know its a more traditional movie, but in that I always thought it was one of those great majestic, ensemble, big/old Hollywood epics. Well acted and well put together.
ReplyDelete"am I the only one who thinks that "Giant" seems to be glossed over in most of his obits? "
ReplyDeleteIt's one of the movies that seems to get better over the years, or better with each viewing. First time I saw it as a teen I thought it was a bit slow and overblown, now I think every frame is perfect.
Wait, are you trying to tell us you're a fuck up that can't do anything right and has problems dealing with your emotions cause if you are, i find that hard to believe.
ReplyDeleteAnthony Bacabella
"Wait, are you trying to tell us you're a fuck up that can't do anything right and has problems dealing with your emotions cause if you are, i find that hard to believe."
ReplyDeleteI self-medicate.....
he had an interesting life for sure but I have a hard time wrapping my head around a guy who is a drunk, then plays one in a movie and is nominated for an Oscar.
ReplyDeleteKinda like Goldie Hawn's daughter getting nominated for playing a groupie in "Almost Famous" then marrying the guy from the Black Crowes.
I self-medicate.....
ReplyDeleteI guess once a junkie always a junkie, eh?
Anthony Bacabella
"I guess once a junkie always a junkie, eh?"
ReplyDeletesober as judge these days, although for those stressful times I try to keep it down to pot, valium and the occasional Restoril, the other thing is too much of a full time job for lazy fuck like me.....
Lol!!!
ReplyDeleteHey Hound, did you see where Out of the Blue and American Dreamer are both playing at Lincoln Center tomorrow, 8/15?
ReplyDeleteDennis Hopper was the most amazing actor of his generation. We will miss him so much.
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