JohnDoe
Bryn
Brenton
Dennis Hopper R.I.P. - John Doe Reflects on a Rebel's Legacy
The Man Is Departed, the Hangover Is Eternal.
Dennis Hopper 1936-2010
“I am just a middle-class farm boy from Dodge City and my grandparents were wheat farmers. I thought painting, acting, directing and photography was all part of being an artist. I have made my money that way. And I have had some fun. It's not been a bad life.” – Dennis Hopper
Dennis Hopper lost his battle with prostate cancer this weekend and John Doe is consumed by the cinematic darkness that his extinguished artistic flame leaves. A manic creative force who survived his own self destructive nature, Hopper’s substance abuse and combative personality caused a maelstrom of chaos while operating in the pathos of celluloid expression.
He was committed to his craft as an actor, director and photographer. Relentlessly pushing the parameters of visual mediums to communicate extremes of human experience; frequently at his own expense.
“I should have been dead ten times over. I've thought about that a lot. I believe in miracles. It's an absolute miracle that I'm still around.” – Dennis Hopper
Dennis Hopper had eyes on our dark souls
Dennis as a new comer
Before Dean’s untimely death Hopper co starred in Giant, a role that offered a glimpse at the range he would later be capable of. In this early stage of his career Dennis was getting a steady stream of TV parts, honing his skills on hits like The Twilight Zone, The Riflemen, Naked City and Bonanza.
Turning up in numerous westerns he notably pissed John Wayne off so much with his outspoken politics that the Duke hunted him down on the set of The Son of Katie Elder armed with a shotgun.
On the set of Easy Rider
The Last Movie
Dennis and Jack, a party force to recognize
The 1970’s saw the Dennis Hopper maverick image grow steadily with anecdotes still shared today about disheveled excess on films like Mad Dog Morgan, Apocalypse Now, The American Friend and Kid Blue. Proving that hallucinogenic and ethanol demons can breed genius; this is a time when some of the man’s finest moments can be found on the silver screen.Many of his most unforgettable creations were consumed by a deplorable id, characters that never seek redemption.
Do men like Frank Booth exist?
By the 90’s the man continued to impress and grow notably in The Indian Runner, Paris Trout, Red Rock West, Basquiat, Jesus Son and True Romance. Even in generic material like Speed he managed to take a big pay cheque and still bring some brevity to the stupidity.
Dennis and Nic in Red Rock West
Trailer for Paris, Trout. One of JD's favourite Hopper performances.
In the new millennium he continued to work as long as he was physically able. Obviously paying bills as a working actor, the quality of the product was not always worthy but his presence was consistently memorable.
The unhinged artist
“There are moments that I've had some real brilliance, you know. But I think they are moments. And sometimes, in a career, moments are enough. I never felt I played the great part. I never felt that I directed the great movie. And I can't say that it's anybody's fault but my own.” – Dennis Hopper
The great Mr Hopper on Inside the Actor's Studio, talking James Dean and his early career
Quotes provided by www.imdb.com
Horrorphile
I knew you'd be all over this.
Sad end to the weekend.
I will have to review The Last Movie this week.
Will you do a Hopper movie also?
Film & TV on DVD
Sad as it is, I actually wrote this about a week back. The writing was on the wall when I saw Dennis attending his walk of fame salute. Still when the news came it surprised me.
I haven't been able to get my hands on a DVD copy of The Last Movie yet...stupid me gave away my VHS copy when I came to the states. (What was the name of that Hopper doco you have that I was envious about?)
Am toying with the idea of reviewing a Hopper gem, probably Paris, Trout if I do,
Horrorphile
Abstract Magick
Cinema Herald
When I started reading your article here, which is a fantastic tribute, the first movie I thought of was Paris Trout and lo and behold, you have a video link to the very movie that stuck with me for days after I saw it. It took me a while to shake the uneasy feeling that film left.
He did an outstanding job there and I hated him with a passion.
He was awesome and it's great that he got his recognition on the Walk of Fame just weeks before.
Cheers
Screen Adventure
Love those quotes from him actually - he says he never acted in the great role, but I think thats a huge put down to himself - The American Friend and Paris trout were up there.
Infognito
Screen Trek
QUOTE ME NO QUOTES!
he will be sorely missed, another bulb gone out in the blaze of world's theatre awning lights.
I will never forget how I felt when I saw Easy Rider, when it first hit the cinemas, at 13, I left the theatre feeling angry, its ending perfectly framing the end of the hippy peace movement that the right wing of politics was so determined to destroy, and did.
cheers
fog
Film & TV on DVD
Hi Bryn,
Thanks for the doco title, really eager to check that one out.
The answer to your question is "Yes" and "No". Yes I did own a copy on VHS. But "No", I don't consider I have ever seen the film. The version I owned was a 10th generation VHS to VHS dub that was a cut version to begin with and the quality was atrocious. It was however the best I could find at the time and despite my best efforts I never got the whole way through because the low-res picture was incredibly frustrating....ironically in light of his death I would love to still have it and would have struggled through in order to provide some sort of review.
Through gritted teeth of envy, I look forward to reading your own critique
Film & TV on DVD
When I started reading your article here, which is a fantastic tribute, the first movie I thought of was Paris Trout and lo and behold, you have a video link to the very movie that stuck with me for days after I saw it. It took me a while to shake the uneasy feeling that film left.
He did an outstanding job there and I hated him with a passion.
He was awesome and it's great that he got his recognition on the Walk of Fame just weeks before.
Cheers
Hi Deni,
A pleasure to meet another fan. When I first saw Paris, Trout I walked out of the cinema numb. Certainly as powerful as any character Hopper ever breathed life into and one I am still processing.
The walk of fame salute should have been done years ago, but hey he probably didn't see a need to pay for it until recently.
Film & TV on DVD
Love those quotes from him actually - he says he never acted in the great role, but I think thats a huge put down to himself - The American Friend and Paris trout were up there.
Glad we didn't double up as well...naturally I agree that Hopper achieved moments of brilliance throughout his career and the original Ripley film is one of them.
Film & TV on DVD
he will be sorely missed, another bulb gone out in the blaze of world's theatre awning lights.
I will never forget how I felt when I saw Easy Rider, when it first hit the cinemas, at 13, I left the theatre feeling angry, its ending perfectly framing the end of the hippy peace movement that the right wing of politics was so determined to destroy, and did.
cheers
Thanks Foggy one,
I am so jealous you were present on the front lines for the Easy Rider revolution. Tragic how the purity of peace, love and mungbeans became a corporate agenda...
20/20 Filmsight
Infognito
Screen Trek
QUOTE ME NO QUOTES!
cheers
fog
Film & TV on DVD
Hi Matt,
I totally thought of him as an unstoppable force to and harbored hope till the end..he certainly knew his craft as evidenced by that Inside the Actors studio appearance.
_____________________________ _________
You and me both, you and me both Foggy!
unlucky_ fishermen.com
Angling Fish
Check this out...
Film & TV on DVD
He certainly captured the essence of his eras.
My Amazing Mind
Film & TV on DVD