One of my favorite movies has always been Two Lane Blacktop, a 1971 flick directed by Monte Hellman starring James Taylor and Dennis Wilson, which for those who haven't seen it, can be quickly described as Easy Rider with muscle cars instead of choppers. But there's a scene in the movie where they're cruising a local hangout at night scoping the hot rods out, all the while "Moonlight Drive" is playing in the background. As far as I know, this is the only movie to have featured a Doors song while Morrison was alive, and was wondering if anyone here knows how The Doors became involved or if there is any connection to the director or the two stars with the band, being they are all L.A.-based. Any input would be appreciated, but anyway, here's a clip to the scene I'm referring to, and the "Moonlight Drive" part starts a little after the 2:00 point.
Moonlight Drive in Two Lane Blacktop
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"Moonlight Drive" in the movie "Two Lane Blacktop"
Started by crazyhorse80, Aug 17 2012 05:50 PM
11 replies to this topic
#2
mizscarlett43
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Posted 17 August 2012 - 08:01 PM
crazyhorse80, on 17 August 2012 - 05:50 PM, said:
One of my favorite movies has always been Two Lane Blacktop, a 1971 flick directed by Monte Hellman starring James Taylor and Dennis Wilson, which for those who haven't seen it, can be quickly described as Easy Rider with muscle cars instead of choppers. But there's a scene in the movie where they're cruising a local hangout at night scoping the hot rods out, all the while "Moonlight Drive" is playing in the background. As far as I know, this is the only movie to have featured a Doors song while Morrison was alive, and was wondering if anyone here knows how The Doors became involved or if there is any connection to the director or the two stars with the band, being they are all L.A.-based. Any input would be appreciated, but anyway, here's a clip to the scene I'm referring to, and the "Moonlight Drive" part starts a little after the 2:00 point.
Moonlight Drive in Two Lane Blacktop
Moonlight Drive in Two Lane Blacktop
Terrific post, thanks for that. I haven't seen Two Lane Blacktop since it was first released not long after Jim's death, but you've got me all fired up to see it again...Yo, Netflix!
When I met Hendrix we just talked about the weather. When I met Jim Morrison we sat around looking at girls’ legs and discussing who had the best ass.
------Patti Smith
------Patti Smith
#3
mizscarlett43
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Posted 17 August 2012 - 08:29 PM
mizscarlett43, on 17 August 2012 - 08:01 PM, said:
Terrific post, thanks for that. I haven't seen Two Lane Blacktop since it was first released not long after Jim's death, but you've got me all fired up to see it again...Yo, Netflix!
P.S. I have a faint flicker of a memory that Jim and Dennis Wilson were friends*, but I've gotta run and don't have time to Google it right now. Maybe Salli will weigh in?
*IIRC this is not a personal memory, but something that seems to have been common knowledge back in the day. I do have personal knowledge of Jim's high opinion of The Beach Boys for the complexity and beauty of their music but not so much for the lyrics (cough).
When I met Hendrix we just talked about the weather. When I met Jim Morrison we sat around looking at girls’ legs and discussing who had the best ass.
------Patti Smith
------Patti Smith
#4
crazyhorse80
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Posted 17 August 2012 - 09:03 PM
mizscarlett43, on 17 August 2012 - 08:29 PM, said:
P.S. I have a faint flicker of a memory that Jim and Dennis Wilson were friends*, but I've gotta run and don't have time to Google it right now. Maybe Salli will weigh in?
*IIRC this is not a personal memory, but something that seems to have been common knowledge back in the day. I do have personal knowledge of Jim's high opinion of The Beach Boys for the complexity and beauty of their music but not so much for the lyrics (cough).
*IIRC this is not a personal memory, but something that seems to have been common knowledge back in the day. I do have personal knowledge of Jim's high opinion of The Beach Boys for the complexity and beauty of their music but not so much for the lyrics (cough).
Just read your post and took it upon myself to Google "Jim Morrison and Dennis Wilson," and one of the first few links that popped up was one to an LA Weekly article on the LA Woman 40th Anniversary release, whereupon the writer casually stated that "Morrison and Dennis Wilson once picked up Charles Manson on Sunset and dropped him off at producer Terry "Turn Turn Turn" Melcher's house on Cielo Drive." Amazing how these little factoids just appear without any reference or prior confirmation. So apparently, according to this this well-researched article, Morrison and Dennis Wilson were friends, but they also used to cruise around with Charlie Manson--and this shit was actually published? Wow. That must have been one hell of a car-ride, according to this writer's imagination. Anyway, here's a link to the article, in case anyone thinks I'm bullshitting, and I wasn't trying to hijack my own thread, was really just wondering about The Doors' involvement in Two Lane Blacktop, but this was too funny not to mention. So, please, replies to both are more than welcome...
L.A. Woman Was the Doors' Bluesy Masterpiece, and Jim Morrison's Kiss-Off to L.A.
#5
Encuentro
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Posted 17 August 2012 - 10:34 PM
I've never heard of it, but based on your endorsements, I requested it from my library. I can't say I was a huge fan of Easy Rider, but maybe I'll like this one.
#6
Pedro Kazit
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Posted 18 August 2012 - 07:24 AM
Hey crazy the first movie with Doors song is "Who´s that knocking at my door" in 1968 and song "The End". Is the first film of Martin Scorsese(in this film one young Harvey Keitel actor). Link of film with this song(posted in others years in thread of Doors fan Roughie with title "Doors/Jim references in films/TV´s programmes"):
#7
mizscarlett43
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Posted 18 August 2012 - 06:09 PM
Pedro Kazit, on 18 August 2012 - 07:24 AM, said:
Hey crazy the first movie with Doors song is "Who´s that knocking at my door" in 1968 and song "The End". Is the first film of Martin Scorsese(in this film one young Harvey Keitel actor). Link of film with this song(posted in others years in thread of Doors fan Roughie with title "Doors/Jim references in films/TV´s programmes"):
Mil gracias, Pedro. I'll have to check it out.
When I met Hendrix we just talked about the weather. When I met Jim Morrison we sat around looking at girls’ legs and discussing who had the best ass.
------Patti Smith
------Patti Smith
#8
Just Another Dark Witness
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Posted 19 August 2012 - 12:34 AM
I think I saw a titty. But I can't be sure....
#9
giza
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Posted 19 August 2012 - 07:14 AM
another morrison's friend is gone, over then that 2 silly next? 
Edited by giza, 19 August 2012 - 11:44 AM.
91 interview with steven Wheeler
LISCIANDRO: Sugerman's book offended those who knew Morrison best, according to Lisciandro. "Many of Jim's closest friends find that book very objectionable. I call it 'Nothing Here But Lots Of Lies,' because it's full of bullshit. You have to realize that despite what he says, Danny Sugerman did not know Jim Morrison. If you think that a fourteen-year-old can go in a bar and drink with someone, you're crazy. That never happened.
"I know for a fact that Jim did not like Danny," he goes on to say. "Jim told me on numerous occasions that Danny was a nuisance. But because Jim was a nice guy, he was kind enough to give Danny a few minutes of his time. Danny was always pestering Jim. So those stories of Danny having dinner or doing his homework at Jim and Pamela's apartment are hilariously ridiculous. That never happened."
BAM 7th March 1981
PAUL ROTCHILD : Danny Sugarman (co-author of the book) is a fan of The Doors who took Jerry Hopkins' original manuscript and destroyed it. Danny didn't interview me. Jerry did. Danny then changed a lot of my interview to hearsay that other people did. I'm furious about that book and so is everyone else I've talked to who is quoted in it. It's a great piece of sensationalism, very little of which holds to historical fact. The general shape of it is correct, but Jim is sensationalized rather spectacularly, and the best parts of Morrison are not there. The people who really helped The Doors' career are treated in a very cavalier manner, and the only people who come off well in my opinion are the groupies and syocpants who were hanging around the band and close to Danny Sugarman who was a groupie himself".
There's only one thing in the whole process that bothers me, and that is Danny Sugarman's book. If Jim Morrison were alive today, he'd be livid about that book. Not because of the truth it tells, but because of the lies it maintains. Like Sugarman's trying to keep going the myth that Jim might still be alive! That is pure, total, unmitigated bullshit. If Danny had sat there where your sitting and listened to Pam after she came back from Paris, he wouldn't be trying to perpetuate this myth - and that's what it is.
LISCIANDRO: Sugerman's book offended those who knew Morrison best, according to Lisciandro. "Many of Jim's closest friends find that book very objectionable. I call it 'Nothing Here But Lots Of Lies,' because it's full of bullshit. You have to realize that despite what he says, Danny Sugerman did not know Jim Morrison. If you think that a fourteen-year-old can go in a bar and drink with someone, you're crazy. That never happened.
"I know for a fact that Jim did not like Danny," he goes on to say. "Jim told me on numerous occasions that Danny was a nuisance. But because Jim was a nice guy, he was kind enough to give Danny a few minutes of his time. Danny was always pestering Jim. So those stories of Danny having dinner or doing his homework at Jim and Pamela's apartment are hilariously ridiculous. That never happened."
BAM 7th March 1981
PAUL ROTCHILD : Danny Sugarman (co-author of the book) is a fan of The Doors who took Jerry Hopkins' original manuscript and destroyed it. Danny didn't interview me. Jerry did. Danny then changed a lot of my interview to hearsay that other people did. I'm furious about that book and so is everyone else I've talked to who is quoted in it. It's a great piece of sensationalism, very little of which holds to historical fact. The general shape of it is correct, but Jim is sensationalized rather spectacularly, and the best parts of Morrison are not there. The people who really helped The Doors' career are treated in a very cavalier manner, and the only people who come off well in my opinion are the groupies and syocpants who were hanging around the band and close to Danny Sugarman who was a groupie himself".
There's only one thing in the whole process that bothers me, and that is Danny Sugarman's book. If Jim Morrison were alive today, he'd be livid about that book. Not because of the truth it tells, but because of the lies it maintains. Like Sugarman's trying to keep going the myth that Jim might still be alive! That is pure, total, unmitigated bullshit. If Danny had sat there where your sitting and listened to Pam after she came back from Paris, he wouldn't be trying to perpetuate this myth - and that's what it is.
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Posted 23 August 2012 - 06:32 PM
To my knowledge, Jim never met any of the Beach Boys, though it would have been very possible if he wanted to. Brian Wilson did some recording at Sunset Sound (I believe with wunderkind Bruce Botnick) and there were other links as well*. Dennis Wilson tore around the same locales as our Jim, patron saint of WeHo and Venice.
*as detailed in a thread I started a while back, "Did Jim Ever Meet Brian Wilson?" Jim and Brian shared a hair stylist (Jay Sebring) and at least one mutual friend (Stephen Stills)
P.S. Ooh! Someone else shared a Facebook posting from the genius himself: "The Doors. Oh my God, I like all their stuff. I think maybe "Light My Fire" is my favorite. I liked Jim Morrison a lot. - Brian
*as detailed in a thread I started a while back, "Did Jim Ever Meet Brian Wilson?" Jim and Brian shared a hair stylist (Jay Sebring) and at least one mutual friend (Stephen Stills)
P.S. Ooh! Someone else shared a Facebook posting from the genius himself: "The Doors. Oh my God, I like all their stuff. I think maybe "Light My Fire" is my favorite. I liked Jim Morrison a lot. - Brian
Edited by Shelby68, 23 August 2012 - 06:42 PM.
#11
the_manassa_mauler_1919-'26
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Posted 21 November 2012 - 08:37 AM
mizscarlett43, on 18 August 2012 - 06:09 PM, said:
Mil gracias, Pedro. I'll have to check it out.
just another log in the hate fire for lou reed, when he saw this on film in '68. marty a nyc boy, yet he picks the la band as his underground go to score card. perhaps marty had already been talkin to francis. is it any wonder, to this day, lou still loves to take shots at the boys from venice.
Edited by the_manassa_mauler_1919-'26, 21 November 2012 - 08:38 AM.
#12
mizscarlett43
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Posted 01 December 2012 - 05:46 PM
the_manassa_mauler_1919-, on 21 November 2012 - 08:37 AM, said:
just another log in the hate fire for lou reed, when he saw this on film in '68. marty a nyc boy, yet he picks the la band as his underground go to score card. perhaps marty had already been talkin to francis. is it any wonder, to this day, lou still loves to take shots at the boys from venice.
Lou Reed is a jealous NYC azzhole--but Walk On the Wild Side is still one of my all-time favorite tracks.
When I met Hendrix we just talked about the weather. When I met Jim Morrison we sat around looking at girls’ legs and discussing who had the best ass.
------Patti Smith
------Patti Smith
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