The clever use of symbolism as Fonda is draped with the American flag on his leathers and helmet as well as across the bike itself. A lot of it was about politically what was going on in the country.” The search for the American Dream is first and foremost at the core of Easy Rider, an outlaw movie which takes the standard story of the Spaghetti Western and places it on a highway instead of a high plain and a Harley-Davidson instead of a horse.Īs the strains of the Steppenwolf biker-classic “Born to Be Wild” erupt, the perfect picture of cool appears on screen: Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper as ‘Wyatt’ and ‘Billy’ ( note: Wyatt Earp and Billy the Kid), on slick motorcycles with the wind in their hair, speeding down a highway. Yet what’s even more significant is what the movie represents as an artistic statement.ĭennis Hopper said “ ‘Easy Rider’ was never a motorcycle movie to me. Easy Rider landed hot on the heels of well-received hits The Graduate and Bonnie and Clyde, gathering huge earnings of sixty million on top of a modest budget. It may not have single handedly made large studios sit up and take notice of low-budget, independent movies but it did reinforce the idea. Looking back fifty-years later it is easy to recognize its impact on cinema in the nineteen-seventies. Where the lost innocence and truth of the movement was displayed for all the world to see, not just those in San Francisco or Los Angeles. These ideals danced in the daylight as Easy Rider displayed the counter-culture stripped to its bare bones. A country torn apart by racial hatred, the Vietnam War and a desire to change without the knowledge of how to.Īs a movie, it brought all the underground notions and views to surface. This outsider montage fired a shot of rebellious-equality into the heart of a country. In the midst of all these situations, the revolution became cinematic with the release of the ultimate road movie, Easy Rider. These dark-days called a halt to the dreams of a generation, as murder and violence extinguished the notions of peace and love. Whilst in December of that year, The Rolling Stones played Altamont outside San Francisco, where the ‘Hells Angels’ rampaged, killing African-American Meredith Hunter. Then of course the world witnessed the lows as the Manson Family murders rocked the Los Angeles hills. The last film he acted in was The Last Full Measure which is expected to be released later this year.In nineteen-sixty-nine the world experienced the heights of the hippy-movement and Jimi Hendrix’s guitar soared over Woodstock signaling the highs. More recently, Peter was featured on television series, including CSI: NY, Hawaii Five-O, The Blacklist, and Milo Murphy’s Law.Īt the time of his death, he was in pre-production for a movie called Skate God, expected to release in 2020, according to his IMDb. “In honor of Peter, please raise a glass to freedom.” “And, while we mourn the loss of this sweet and gracious man, we also wish for all to celebrate his indomitable spirit and love of life,” the Fonda family finished. RELATED: Peter Fonda Dead at 79 After Respiratory Failure from Lung Cancer: ‘Please Raise a Glass to Freedom’ As we grieve, we ask that you respect our privacy,” they wrote. “In one of the saddest moments of our lives, we are not able to find the appropriate words to express the pain in our hearts. at his home in Los Angeles surrounded by family.” “ passed away peacefully on Friday morning, August 16 at 11:05 a.m. “It is with deep sorrow that we share the news that Peter Fonda has passed away,” the family said. Peter’s family confirmed the sad news in an exclusive statement to PEOPLE and said that the two-time Oscar-nominee died after suffering respiratory failure due to lung cancer. What mattered most was how he and his dad Henry had a breakthrough before he died in 1982.ĭennis Hopper and Peter Fonda in Easy Rider | Silver Screen Collection/Hulton Archive/Getty RELATED: Jane Fonda on Her ‘Sweet-Hearted’ Little Brother Peter’s Final Days: ‘He Went Out Laughing’īut Fonda once said he didn’t mind if his career never matched friend Nicholson’s, or famous sister Jane’s. He also directed a number of projects and earned himself several accolades along the way, including four Golden Globe nominations (two of which he won), one Emmy nomination and earned another Oscar nomination for Ulee’s Gold. The movie, which also launched Jack Nicholson’s career, was made on a small $400,00 budget, but it was a blockbuster hit after it went on to make $60 million.įonda went on to act in movies like Ulee’s Gold, The Hired Hand, and 3:10 to Yuma. The late actor died earlier this month at 79 of respiratory lung failure during his battle with lung cancer - 50 years after he became a household name thanks to his unforgettable role in 1969’s Easy Rider. Peter Fonda‘s breakthrough hit ended up being quite the profitable movie.
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