Remembering Easy Rider Fonda, Dennis Hopper and Jack Nicholson as they travel freely down the highway in Easy Rider

"Easy Rider" synopsis

After making a fortune smuggling marijuana, Captain America and Billy throw away their watches and embark on an unplanned journey across America on their motorcycles. He was taken to a detention center on the way. There, he meets lawyer Hansen and they hit it off. After being released, the three continue their journey, smoking marijuana and camping out, but wherever they go, they encounter unexpected rejection from the people along the road, and finally face the brutal reality of America... .

Index

• Fonda's death news arrived on the 50th anniversary of the film's release.
• Road movies from the American New Cinema era
• Fonda, Hopper, and Nicholson became the darlings of their time.
• Advertising policy in Japan, reaction at Subaruza
• What Fonda said before she died - in lieu of a memorial service

Fonda's death news arrived on the 50th anniversary of the film's release.

On August 16, 2019, news of the death of American actor Peter Fonda came to light. Passed away at age 79. He died of lung cancer. In recent years, his acting hasn't been particularly talked about, but there's still something sad about learning of his passing. As someone of a generation deeply attached to the American New Cinema of the 1970s, no matter how much time passes, it was an icon of the era that can never be forgotten.

The most notable work of his career was ``Easy Rider,'' which he produced, co-wrote, and starred in. It was released in the United States in 1969, so this year marks exactly 50 years since its release.

He recalled the time when this movie was released in his autobiography "Don't Tell Dad" (published in 1998, not yet translated in Japan), which was published before his death.

"On July 14, 1969, the film opened without any fanfare at the Beekman Theater in Manhattan, but on that day there was a line that was several blocks long. It broke the record for... After that, I met many people all over the world who said that this movie changed their lives.''

"Easy Rider" preview

Released in 1969, a turning point in the era, this movie became a record-breaking hit all over the world.

"Easy Rider" was first released in Japan on January 24, 1970. It premiered at the Subaru Theater in Yurakucho, and, like in America, it became a huge hit with long lines in front of the theater. It was shown at this theater for 23 weeks (5 and a half months) and became one of Subaru Theater's representative films. However, this fall, Subaruza will put an end to its long history.

I wanted to look back on "Easy Rider" at CINEMORE, so I interviewed two people on August 6th. Atsuo Omori, a veteran publicist who was in charge of promoting this movie at Columbia Pictures at the time, and Yoshiyuki Adachi, the last manager of the Subaru Theater. There was a lot of excitement about ``Easy Rider,'' which is rarely talked about these days, and Peter Fonda was also talked about for the first time in a while (I also brought the theater program and an Signs I got from Peter Fonda).

10 days The Day After... We received the unexpected news of Fonda's death. The 50th anniversary of the release of "Easy Rider," the closing of the Subaru Theater, and the death of Fonda. These things coincided so perfectly that it's hard to believe it was a coincidence, and this article also serves as a memorial to Fonda (first of all, I would like to pray for the repose of the soul of the deceased).

Road movies from the American New Cinema era