The Source
1999•1h 28m•5.6•Released
DocumentaryHistory
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.
Director
Chuck Workman
Revenue
$0M
Languages
English
Studio
Calliope Films
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
Robert Creeley
Self
Ann Charters
Self
George Steade
Self
David Amram
Self
Ed Sanders
Self
Gregory Corso
Self
Kyle Roderick
Self
Lawrence Ferlinghetti
Self
Ken Kesey
Self
Production
Company
Calliope Films
Company
THIRTEEN
Recommended
6
Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood
2018
6.4
Chris Brown: Welcome to My Life
2017
7.1
Come See Me in the Good Light
2025
7.4
Supersonic
2016
7.4
I Am Heath Ledger
2017
6.8
Howard
2018
7.8
Being James Bond
2021
7
Welcome to Chechnya
2020
6.9
Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound
2019
7.5
The Last Repair Shop
2024
6.9
9/11: Inside the President's War Room
2021
8.4
Everybody’s Everything
2019
7.2
Cover-Up
2025
7.8
As I Was Moving Ahead Occasionally I Saw Brief Glimpses of Beauty
2000
7.5
Struggle: The Life and Lost Art of Szukalski
2018
7.3
Whitney
2018
7.8
One More Time with Feeling
2016
7.9
John Candy: I Like Me
2025
6.7
Cameraperson
2016
7.5
28 Up
1985
Similar Movies
Are You Awake?
2025
Till The Clouds Roll By: Real to Reel
2006
Three Little Words: Two Swell Guys
2006
Tears of Neon
2026
6.6
Bandit Queen
1994
7
The Half-Life of Genius Physicist Raemer Schreiber
2018
5.5
Moog
2004
6.7
One Night with the King
2006
7.2
Deep Water
2006
7.7
A Season of Giants
1990
5.6
The Abdication
1974
Kylie Minogue: Showtime
2016
8.9
J. Lo: Let's Get Real
2016
4.1
Imperial Venus
1962
6.7
Seve
2014
7.1
Pierrepoint: The Last Hangman
2005
6.6
Salman Rushdie: Death on a Trail
2019
Our Gay Wedding: The Musical
2014
Lord of the Brush
2005
7.1
Jim Morrison: The End
2021