| 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. | |
| Release Date: | Jan 23, 1999 |
|---|---|
| Director: | Chuck Workman |
| Writer: | |
| Genres: | Documentary, History |
| Keywords | biography, writer, gay theme, gay artist |
| Production Companies | Thirteen, Calliope Films |
| Box Office |
Revenue: $360,895
Budget: $0 |
| Updates |
Updated: Jan 29, 2026 Entered: Apr 25, 2024 |
| Name | Character |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| Gary Snyder | Self |
| Jerry Garcia | Self |
| Jack Micheline | Self |
| Michael McClure | Self |
| Stephen Ronan | Self |
| Philip Whalen | Self |
| Terry Southern | Self |
| Timothy Leary | Self |
| Paul Krassner | Self |
| Diane Di Prima | Self |
| Tom Hayden | Self |
| David Dellinger | Self |
| John Sampas | Self |
| Name | Job |
|---|---|
| Chuck Workman | Director, Writers' Production |
| David Amram | Sound |
| Philip Glass | Sound |
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| James Cady | Associate Producer |
| Mark Apostolon | Associate Producer |
| Organization | Category | Person |
|---|
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| 2026 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
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