With all of the hoopla of a giant media circus circling the wagons around him, it's due time to pay my respects to a man who's extensive and rich career I've admired through the years. Don't know the entire story, but I've got to admit, a little snicker came out when I read that he had called his wife a "Human Garbage Can".It just seems the sort of thing he would say.
I would have to say one of the most incredible dialog exchanges had to be the now infamous "eggplant" segment in the 1993 movie True Romance. In the early nineties when I was just barely cutting my cinematic teeth, Hopper shined through like a glaring crazy person beacon. Around this time I was amazed at what a nut-job he could portray. Movies such as Blue Velvet, Speed (Yes. I DO like it.), Red Rock West and Rivers Edge to name a few. Only later would I discover roles in his early days as a gunslinger, JD, or ratty biker in such films as Gunfight At The OK Corral, Rebel Without A Cause or one of my favorites, The Glory Stompers.
Just recently, I obtained a copy of his 1971 documentary The American Dreamer. It is a completely unaltered slice of his life and a total trip to watch. This documentary was filmed during the editing process of what ultimately was considered Dennis' folly The Last Movie.
Another one you won't want to miss is Mad Dog Morgan, an Australian release from 1976 about an Aussie outlaw in the mid-1800's. Troma Video just released an unedited version of this film.
We love you Billy...
No comments:
Post a Comment