Smokin Joe said:
Easy rider seemed the coolest film I ever saw when it came out. On a re-showing a couple of years ago it was an embarrassing pile of crap.
Peter Fonda's bike, "Captain America", could not be ridden at more than 25mph as the extended forks made it handle like a jelly. It scared the life out of Jack Nicholson who would not get on the pillion sober.
I always thought 'Captain America' was the name Peter Fonda took to himself, not to his bike, but I reckon the same will do for both of 'em! For some years after that film came out, there was a minor craze in 'stretched' bikes of that kind on our roads - even this side of the Atlantic - but I suppose they gradually dropped out of fashion once bikers realised they were all show and no fun to ride! When was the last time anyone saw - or rode - one on our roads? It is of note that Hopper (who was not an experienced biker) insisted that
his bike, in the film, be built to a more conventional design.
Hopper? Not, I must admit, an icon to me, but his
Easy Rider was certainly a revolution. I've never seen
Apocalypse Now so I can't say anything about that. But I recall that he had a mischievous - comical even - side to his performances too - witness
Speed: a very oddball role, I suppose he thought the same himself, but still a thoroughly enjoyable view, albeit a bit silly...
Anyway, RIP.
