The Source

Overview

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.

Cast

Johnny Depp

Jack Kerouac

Dennis Hopper

William S. Burroughs

John Turturro

Allen Ginsberg

Allen Ginsberg

Self (archive footage)

William S. Burroughs

Self (archive footage)

Philip Glass

Self

N/A

Robert Creeley

Self

N/A

Ann Charters

Self

N/A

George Steade

Self

David Amram

Self

N/A

Ed Sanders

Self

N/A

Gregory Corso

Self