Heart Beat
They shocked us. They outraged us. They didn't do anything wrong. They just did it first.
1980 | 110m | English
Popularity: 0.4 (history)
| Director: | John Byrum |
|---|---|
| Writer: | John Byrum |
| Staring: |
| An exploration of the relationship between Beat Generation writers Jack Kerouac and Neal Cassady, and Cassady's wife, Carolyn. | |
| Release Date: | Apr 25, 1980 |
|---|---|
| Director: | John Byrum |
| Writer: | John Byrum |
| Genres: | Drama |
| Keywords | love triangle, san francisco, california, husband wife relationship, biography, jazz club, beatnik, alcohol abuse, on the road, polyamory, post world war ii, aspiring writer, beat generation, 1950s, bohemians, friends love same woman, impulsive drifter, counterculture, jack kerouac, marijuana use |
| Production Companies | Orion Pictures, Further Productions |
| Box Office |
Revenue: $954,029
Budget: $0 |
| Updates |
Updated: Jan 30, 2026 Entered: Apr 20, 2024 |
| Name | Character |
|---|---|
| Nick Nolte | Neal Cassady |
| Sissy Spacek | Carolyn Cassady |
| John Heard | Jack Kerouac |
| Ray Sharkey | Ira (based on Allen Ginsberg) |
| Ann Dusenberry | Stevie |
| Margaret Fairchild | Mrs. Kerouac |
| Tony Bill | Dick |
| Mary Margaret Amato | Waitress |
| Kent Williams | Ogden |
| Susan Niven | Ogden's Secretary |
| Marcia Nasatir | First Receptionist |
| Mickey Kelly | Second Receptionist |
| Luis Contreras | Mexican Junkie |
| Sharon Lee | Blonde in Car |
| Stephen Davies | Bob Bendix |
| Jenny O'Hara | Betty Bendix |
| Don Brodie | Dispatcher |
| John Larroquette | TV Talk Show Host |
| Terence H. Winkless | Youth in Bar |
| Steve Allen | Steve Allen |
| David Lynch | Painter (uncredited) |
| Mickey Kelly | Second Receptionist |
| Raymond Vitte | Undercover Agent |
| Name | Job |
|---|---|
| John Byrum | Writer, Director |
| Eric Jenkins | Editor |
| Dianne Crittenden | Casting |
| Thomas L. Roysden | Set Decoration |
| Patricia Norris | Costume Design |
| Vivian McAteer | Hairstylist |
| Richard Hashimoto | Production Manager |
| Jack Nitzsche | Original Music Composer |
| László Kovács | Director of Photography |
| Jack Fisk | Production Design |
| Edouard F. Henriques III | Makeup Artist |
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| David Axlerod | Producer |
| Alan Greisman | Producer |
| Edward R. Pressman | Producer |
| Michael Shamberg | Producer |
| William Tepper | Executive Producer |
| Organization | Category | Person |
|---|
Popularity History
| Year | Month | Avg | Max | Min |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4 | 6 | 13 | 2 |
| 2024 | 5 | 8 | 12 | 5 |
| 2024 | 6 | 5 | 9 | 1 |
| 2024 | 7 | 4 | 11 | 1 |
| 2024 | 8 | 4 | 8 | 2 |
| 2024 | 9 | 4 | 7 | 2 |
| 2024 | 10 | 3 | 7 | 2 |
| 2024 | 11 | 2 | 5 | 1 |
| 2024 | 12 | 3 | 10 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 1 |
| 2025 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 2025 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 2025 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 2025 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 2025 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2025 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 2025 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 2025 | 10 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
| 2025 | 11 | 3 | 6 | 1 |
| 2025 | 12 | 3 | 5 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 0 |
| 2026 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Trending Position