In 1969, Columbia Pictures released a fantastic film about two bikers who drive across America while carrying the proceeds of a drug deal. Entitled, 'Easy Rider', it was directed by the filmmaker, Dennis Hopper, and stars Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper, and Jack Nicholson. Today, we're going to take a look at some of the locations featured in the aforementioned film, which includes an interactive map for each one. Please enjoy.
(La Contenta Bar)
When the film begins, we see the two main characters, Wyatt and Billy (as played by Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper respectively), outside a bar in Mexico, named, the La Contenta Bar, buying a bag of cocaine from a drug dealer called Jesus (as played by the flamenco guitarist, Antonio Mendoza). They then sell it to their connection in America (as played by the infamous record producer, Phil Spector), who they meet, outside Los Angeles International Airport. In reality, the bar previously mentioned wasn't located in Mexico, but rather, El Prado, New Mexico, which is currently a vibrant area populated by houses and shops.
(Jail)
After completing their successful drug deal, Wyatt and Billy decide to get on their motorbikes and drive across America. Along the way, they interact with a number of rather colorful characters, such as a nice mixed-race family and a commune of hippies. But none of them are as colorful as a drunken lawyer called George Hanson (as played by Jack Nicholson), who they befriend when they're both thrown in jail for joining a parade without a permit. In real life, this jail was based in two different locations. The interior of the jail was shot inside a building located at 121 Kit Carson Road, Taos, New Mexico, which is now Bryans Gallery, whereas the exterior of the jail was shot outside a building located at 157 Bridge Street, Las Vegas, New Mexico, which for many years was Tito's Gallery until it closed down in 2023.
(Cemetery)
Once they get out of jail, the two men eventually find themselves in a brothel with two prostitutes, Mary and Karen (as played by Toni Basil and Karen Black respectively), who they decide to take to the local Mardi Gras festival. After a while, though, they all get bored with the festival, so to turn things around, they ingest some LSD in a nearby cemetery. This cemetery is one of the oldest cemeteries in New Orleans, Saint Louis Cemetery No. 1, and it contains burial sites for many of the famous locals, including the Voodoo priestess, Marie Laveau, the first mayor of New Orleans, Étienne de Boré, and the architect and engineer, Benjamin Latrobe.
(The End of the Road)
At the end of the film, Wyatt and Billy encounter two men in a pickup truck (as played by David C. Billodeau and Johnny David) who take an instant disliking to them. So much so, in fact, that one of these men decides to shoot Wyatt and Billy, which causes them to fall off of their respective motorbikes and then land on the ground. But as soon as this occurs, the view changes as we're whisked up into the air and gradually see a river adjacent to where they fall. This river is called the Atchafalaya River, and it's a 137-mile-long distributary of the Mississippi River and the Red River.
So, there you have it, folks, four film locations featured in the 1969 classic, 'Easy Rider'. More articles featuring famous film locations will be coming soon, but before then, please feel free to leave your thoughts in the comment section below.
FOUR FILM LOCATIONS FEATURED IN EASY RIDER
Reviewed by David Andrews
on
November 04, 2024
Rating:
Reviewed by David Andrews
on
November 04, 2024
Rating:
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