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      What Happened to Kerouac?

      Released May 23, 1986 1h 36m Documentary List
      Reviews 76% Audience Score 500+ Ratings Filmmakers Richard Lerner and Lewis MacAdams explore the unfulfilled promise of Beat Generation icon Jack Kerouac, covering the period from the publication of his notorious novel "On the Road" in 1957 to his alcohol-related death 12 years later. The film features extensive interviews with friends and fellow writers, including the widow of Neal Cassady, who feels that her husband's attempts to live up to the legend of Dean Moriarty, the Kerouac character he inspired, led to his own early death. Read More Read Less Watch on Fandango at Home Buy Now

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      Critics Reviews

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      Walter Goodman New York Times ''What Happened to Kerouac?'' is an affecting and illuminating memorial to a sad figure, who, as his wife remarks, ''left good memories.'' Dec 16, 2017 Full Review Cole Smithey ColeSmithey.com Rated: 4/5 Sep 13, 2007 Full Review Read all reviews

      Audience Reviews

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      william w From Gregory Corso, this is it— "The poet is with the kings and emperors." (~:36?) "Spirit is a hard, tough baby." (~1:15) Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review l g worth watching the entire documentary just to see the reading on the Steve Allen Show. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member What really struck me about the film is that when it was made in 1985, many of the key players in the beat story were still alive - Ginsberg, Corso, Herbert Hunkce, William Burroughs - they can never be interviewed again. Mike McClure still looks like a kid, Jan Kerouac was still with us, Joyce Johnson and Diane Di Prima aren't even middle-aged yet - this is as good as it's going to get, folks. And it's very very good. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/14/23 Full Review Audience Member A slightly unfocused documentary, but as a fan of the subject, I found it appealing anyway. There are great moments in some of the archive footage and interviews. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/15/23 Full Review Audience Member Interesting and enlightening to the times of the Beat generation but a few too many fruit-loops and wafflers for my liking! I guess that makes for a great doco though...but Corso was stupidly annoying. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/20/23 Full Review Audience Member the old footage of Kerouac drunk and openly mocking some pretentious british talk show host are great...otherwise no great revelations. Also the filmmaking itself just seemed amateurish. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/14/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      What Happened to Kerouac?

      What Happened to Kerouac? (1986) What Happened to Kerouac? (1986) What Happened to Kerouac? (1986) What Happened to Kerouac? (1986) What Happened to Kerouac? (1986) What Happened to Kerouac? (1986) View more photos

      Movie Info

      Synopsis Filmmakers Richard Lerner and Lewis MacAdams explore the unfulfilled promise of Beat Generation icon Jack Kerouac, covering the period from the publication of his notorious novel "On the Road" in 1957 to his alcohol-related death 12 years later. The film features extensive interviews with friends and fellow writers, including the widow of Neal Cassady, who feels that her husband's attempts to live up to the legend of Dean Moriarty, the Kerouac character he inspired, led to his own early death.
      Director
      Richard Lerner, Lewis MacAdams
      Producer
      Richard Lerner
      Screenwriter
      Jack Kerouac
      Genre
      Documentary
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      May 23, 1986, Limited
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Oct 29, 2013
      Runtime
      1h 36m
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