Easy Rider: Shaking the Cage

"Easy Rider," directed by Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper, is a 1969 American counterculture film that became a defining work of the New Hollywood era. The film follows two bikers, Wyatt (Fonda) and Billy (Hopper), as they travel across the American South, encountering various people and situations that reflect the social tensions of the time. The documentary explores the film's origins, including how it was developed by Fonda and Hopper during a cross-country motorcycle trip, and how the project was initially met with skepticism from major studios. Ultimately, Roger Corman, known for low-budget productions, financed the film with a modest budget of $397,000. The film's success, both critically and commercially, was unexpected, grossing over $20 million and becoming one of the most influential movies of the late 1960s. The documentary also delves into the cultural impact of "Easy Rider," its role in launching the careers of Fonda and Hopper, and its lasting legacy in American cinema.