Dennis Hopper’s Easy Rider: A Look Back

The actor Dennis Hopper died this morning. You know him from Apocalypse Now and Blue Velvet. But, more than any other film, his legacy is tied to Easy Rider. Hopper directed, co-wrote, and co-starred in the counterculture classic, which won the top prize at the 1969 Cannes Film Festival. Drugs, motorcycles, hippies, communal living – Easy Rider captured the spirit of the counterculture movement, and now, 40 years later, it serves as something of a memorial to the Woodstock generation. Above, we feature the 1999 documentary Easy Rider: Shaking the Cage, which looks back at the making of the cult film. It includes interviews with Dennis Hopper and his co-star Peter Fonda. Part 1 appears above. You can access the remaining parts here: Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, and Part 7