NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (film)

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is a 1998 film adaptation of Hunter S. Thompson's 1971 novel Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream. The film, directed by Terry Gilliam, stars Johnny Depp as Raoul Duke and Benicio del Toro as Dr. Gonzo. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Terrence Vance Gilliam (born November 22, 1940) is an American-born British filmmaker, animator, and member of the Monty Python comedy troupe. ... Tony Grisoni is a screenwriter. ... Alexander Morton Cox (b. ... Tod Davies (born 1955, San Francisco) is a screenwriter and producer. ... Hunter Stockton Thompson (July 18, 1937 â€“ February 20, 2005) was an American journalist and author. ... John Christopher Depp II[1] (born June 9, 1963) is an American actor, best known for his frequent portrayals of offbeat and eccentric characters such as Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy and the titular character of Tim Burtons Edward Scissorhands. ... John Christopher Depp II[1] (born June 9, 1963) is an American actor, best known for his frequent portrayals of offbeat and eccentric characters such as Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy and the titular character of Tim Burtons Edward Scissorhands. ... Benicio Monserrat Rafael Del Toro Sanchez (born February 19, 1967, in San GermÃ¡n, Puerto Rico) is an Academy Award winning Puerto Rican actor. ... Christina Ricci (born February 12, 1980) is a [[Golden Globe and Emmy Award-nominated American actress. ... Ray Cooper Ray Cooper (born August 19, 1942 in Watford, Hertfordshire) is an English musician. ... Nicola Pecorini (10 August 1957, Milan, Lombardy, Italy) Founded, with Garrett Brown, inventor of the steadicam, the Steadicam Operators Association, Inc. ... Universal Pictures is the main motion picture production/distribution arm of Universal Studios, a subsidiary of NBC Universal. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... is the 142nd day of the year (143rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The year 1998 in film involved some significant events. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... USD redirects here. ... USD redirects here. ... The year 1998 in film involved some significant events. ... This article is about motion pictures. ... Hunter Stockton Thompson (July 18, 1937 â€“ February 20, 2005) was an American journalist and author. ... Year 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1971 Gregorian calendar, known as the year of cyclohexanol. ... For the 1998 film adaptation of the novel, see Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (film). ... Terrence Vance Gilliam (born November 22, 1940) is an American-born British filmmaker, animator, and member of the Monty Python comedy troupe. ... John Christopher Depp II[1] (born June 9, 1963) is an American actor, best known for his frequent portrayals of offbeat and eccentric characters such as Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy and the titular character of Tim Burtons Edward Scissorhands. ... Raoul Duke was the pseudonym used by Hunter S. Thompson for the character based on him in his book Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. ... Benicio Monserrat Rafael Del Toro Sanchez (born February 19, 1967, in San GermÃ¡n, Puerto Rico) is an Academy Award winning Puerto Rican actor. ... Dr. Gonzo is a name invented by Hunter S. Thompson, as a nickname for himself (although in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, it became the pseudonym for Oscar Zeta Acosta); hence, the phrase gonzo journalism. ...

Previous attempts to adapt the book into a film included Jack Nicholson and Marlon Brando as Duke and Gonzo. At one point, Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi were considered for the duo; John Cusack was also almost cast. Animator/filmmaker Ralph Bakshi, Martin Scorsese, and Oliver Stone all tried unsuccessfully to direct an adaptation. Thompson met Depp and was convinced no one else could play him. Filmmaker Alex Cox was eventually hired to direct with Depp and Del Toro committed to starring in the film, but the filmmaker had "creative differences" with Thompson over the script treatment as documented in the documentary Breakfast with Hunter. Gilliam was subsequently hired and made the film with the writer's approval. John Joseph Nicholson (born April 22, 1937), known as Jack Nicholson, is a three time Academy Award-winning American actor internationally renowned for his often dark-themed portrayals of neurotic characters. ... Marlon Brando, Jr. ... Daniel Edward Aykroyd CM (born July 1, 1952) is an Academy Award-nominated and Emmy Award-winning Canadian/American comedian, actor, screenwriter, and musician. ... John Adam Belushi (January 24, 1949 â€“ March 5, 1982) was an Emmy Award-winning American comedian, actor and musician, notable for his work on Saturday Night Live, National Lampoons Animal House and The Blues Brothers. ... This article is about the actor. ... Ralph Bakshi (October 29, 1938) is an American director of animated and occasionally live-action films. ... Martin Marcantonio Luciano Scorsese (IPA: AmE: ; Ita: []) (b. ... William Oliver Stone (born September 15, 1946), known simply as Oliver Stone, is a three-time Academy Award-winning American film director and screenwriter. ... Alexander Morton Cox (b. ... Breakfast with Hunter:documentary about the everyday life of gonzo-writer Hunter S. Thompson by Wayne Ewing. ...

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas was a box office failure, grossing USD $10.6 million at the North American box office, well below its $18.5 million budget. It also received mostly negative reviews from film critics. It has since become a cult classic due in large part to its release on DVD, including a Special Edition released by the Criterion Collection. The United States dollar is the official currency of the United States. ... A cult film is a film that has acquired a highly devoted but relatively small group of fans. ... The Criterion Collection is a joint venture between Janus Films and The Voyager Company that was begun in the mid 1980s for the purpose of releasing authoritative consumer versions of classic and important contemporary films on the laserdisc and DVD formats. ...

Plot

Journalist Raoul Duke (Depp) and his attorney Dr. Gonzo (del Toro) travel to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1971 to cover the Mint 400 motorcycle race for a sports magazine, and enjoy a haphazardly-planned vacation. The vacation turns highly irresponsible and reckless as the two consume copious amounts of illegal drugs, commit various acts of fraud, and generally wreak havoc upon the citizens of Las Vegas. The film is a fictionalized account of Thompson and attorney Oscar Zeta Acosta's actual trip to Las Vegas around the same time period. John Christopher Depp II[1] (born June 9, 1963) is an American actor, best known for his frequent portrayals of offbeat and eccentric characters such as Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy and the titular character of Tim Burtons Edward Scissorhands. ... Raoul Duke was the pseudonym used by Hunter S. Thompson for the character based on him in his book Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. ... For further information, see Las Vegas metropolitan area and Las Vegas Strip. ... This article is about the U.S. State of Nevada. ... Year 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1971 Gregorian calendar, known as the year of cyclohexanol. ... Mint 400 was also an album by Australian trio Ammonia. ... An assortment of psychoactive drugs A psychoactive drug or psychotropic substance is a chemical substance that acts primarily upon the central nervous system where it alters brain function, resulting in temporary changes in perception, mood, consciousness and behavior. ...

Cast

Thompson also has a brief cameo in the film while Duke has a flashback to a San Francisco music club, The Matrix, where Thompson can be seen sitting at a table as Depp walks by narrating his inner monologue, "There I was... Mother of God! There I am!" John Christopher Depp II[1] (born June 9, 1963) is an American actor, best known for his frequent portrayals of offbeat and eccentric characters such as Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy and the titular character of Tim Burtons Edward Scissorhands. ... Raoul Duke was the pseudonym used by Hunter S. Thompson for the character based on him in his book Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. ... Benicio Monserrat Rafael Del Toro Sanchez (born February 19, 1967, in San GermÃ¡n, Puerto Rico) is an Academy Award winning Puerto Rican actor. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... Tobias Vincent Maguire (born June 27, 1975) is an American actor. ... Ellen Rona Barkin (born April 16, 1954) is an Emmy Award-winning and Golden Globe Award-nominated American actress. ... William Gary Busey (born 29 June 1944) is an Academy Award- and Golden Globe Award-nominated American film and stage actor. ... Christina Ricci (born February 12, 1980) is a [[Golden Globe and Emmy Award-nominated American actress. ... For the musician of the same name, see Mark Harmon (musician). ... Cameron Michelle Diaz (born August 30, 1972) is an American actress and former fashion model. ... Katherine Marie Helmond (July 5, 1928, Galveston, Texas) is an American film, theater and television actress. ... Michael Jeter (August 26, 1952 - March 30, 2003) was a Tony and Emmy award winning American actor, well known for his work on stage and screen. ... Penn Fraser Jillette (born March 5, 1955 in Greenfield, Massachusetts) is an American comedian, illusionist, juggler and writer known for his work with fellow illusionist Teller in the team known as Penn & Teller. ... Craig Bierko (born August 18, 1964 in Rye Brook, New York, USA) is an American actor most famous for his role as Max Baer in the film Cinderella Man. ... Lyle Lovett, from the cover of 1996s The Road to Ensenada Lyle Lovett (born in Klein, Texas on November 1, 1957) is an American singer-songwriter. ... Michael Peter Balzary (born October 16, 1962 in Melbourne, Australia), better known by his stage name Flea, is the bassist for the alternative rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers. ... Laraine Newman (born March 2, 1952) is an American comedian and actress, from Los Angeles, California. ... Christopher Peter Meloni (born on April 2, 1961) is an American Emmy-nominated actor known for his near opposite roles as the protective and committed Det. ... Harry Dean Stanton (born July 14, 1926 in West Irvine, Kentucky, USA) is an American actor. ... Troy Evans (b. ... A cameo role or cameo appearance (often shortened to just cameo) is a brief appearance of a known person in a work of the performing arts, such as plays, films, video games and television. ... In literature, film, television and other media, a flashback (also called analepsis) is an interjected scene that takes the narrative back in time from the current point the story has reached. ... This page is a candidate for speedy deletion. ... The Matrix was a club in San Francisco in the late 1960s. ... A monologue, pronounced monolog, is a speech made by one person speaking his or her thoughts aloud or directly addressing a reader, audience, or character. ...

Production and history

Basis for characters

Dr. Gonzo is based on Thompson's friend Oscar Zeta Acosta, who disappeared sometime in 1974.^[1] Thompson changed Zeta Acosta's ethnic identity to "Samoan" to deflect suspicion from Zeta Acosta, who was in trouble with the L.A. Legal Bar. He was the "Chicano lawyer" notorious for his party binges. This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ...

Previous attempts

During the initial development to get the film made, Jack Nicholson and Marlon Brando were originally considered for the roles of Duke and Gonzo but he and Brando both grew too old.^[2] Afterward, Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi were considered for the duo, but that fell apart when Belushi died. John Malkovich was later considered for the role of Duke, but he too grew too old. At one point John Cusack was almost cast, but after Hunter S. Thompson met with Johnny Depp he became convinced that no one else could play him. Cusack had previously directed the play version of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, with his brother playing Duke.^[3] John Joseph Nicholson (born April 22, 1937), known as Jack Nicholson, is a three time Academy Award-winning American actor internationally renowned for his often dark-themed portrayals of neurotic characters. ... Marlon Brando, Jr. ... Daniel Edward Aykroyd CM (born July 1, 1952) is an Academy Award-nominated and Emmy Award-winning Canadian/American comedian, actor, screenwriter, and musician. ... John Adam Belushi (January 24, 1949 â€“ March 5, 1982) was an Emmy Award-winning American comedian, actor and musician, notable for his work on Saturday Night Live, National Lampoons Animal House and The Blues Brothers. ... John Gavin Malkovich (born December 9, 1953) is an Academy Award-nominated American actor, producer and director. ... This article is about the actor. ... Hunter Stockton Thompson (July 18, 1937 â€“ February 20, 2005) was an American journalist and author. ... John Christopher Depp II[1] (born June 9, 1963) is an American actor, best known for his frequent portrayals of offbeat and eccentric characters such as Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy and the titular character of Tim Burtons Edward Scissorhands. ...

Animator/filmmaker Ralph Bakshi tried to convince a girlfriend of Hunter S. Thompson to let him do Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas as an animated movie, done in the style of Ralph Steadman's illustrations for the book. Bakshi is quoted as saying: "Hunter had given the rights to a girlfriend of his. I spent three days with her trying to talk her into me animating it - she wanted to make a live action of it - I kept telling her that a live action would look like a bad cartoon but an animated version would be a great one. She had a tremendous disdain for animators because it wasn't considered the top of Hollywood. Hunter also could not make her change her mind. So she made the pic with Johnny Depp, and got the film I told her she would get - it would have been more real in a cartoon using Steadman's drawings."^[4] Ralph Bakshi (October 29, 1938) is an American director of animated and occasionally live-action films. ... Ralph Steadman (born Wallasey, May 15, 1936) is a British cartoonist and caricaturist. ...

Martin Scorsese and Oliver Stone each tried to get the film off the ground, but were unsuccessful and moved on.^[5] Martin Marcantonio Luciano Scorsese (IPA: AmE: ; Ita: []) (b. ... William Oliver Stone (born September 15, 1946), known simply as Oliver Stone, is a three-time Academy Award-winning American film director and screenwriter. ...

Rhino Films began work on a film version as early as 1992.^[6] Head of Production and the film's producer Stephen Nemeth originally wanted Lee Tamahori to direct, but he wasn't available until after the January 1997 start date.^[6] Rhino appealed to Thompson for an extension on the movie rights but the author and his lawyers denied the extension. Under pressure, Rhino countered by green-lighting the film and hiring Alex Cox to direct within a few days.^[6] According to Nemeth, Cox could "Do it for a price, could do it quickly and could get this movie going in four months."^[6] Lee Tamahori, born 1950 in Wellington, New Zealand, is best known as a film director although he got his start as a commercial artist and photographer in the late 1970s. ... Alexander Morton Cox (b. ...

Cox started writing the screenplay with Tod Davies, a UCLA Thompson scholar. Johnny Depp and Benicio del Toro then committed to starring in the film.^[6] During pre-production, Cox and producer Laila Nabulsi had "creative differences" and she forced Rhino to choose between her and Cox.^[6] She had an arrangement with Thompson to produce the movie and the studio fired Cox and paid him $60,000 in script fees. Thompson's disapproval of the Cox/Davies script treatment is documented in the film Breakfast with Hunter, in which he rails against the writers for planning an animated portrayal of the "wave speech," which he considered "probably the finest thing [he'd] ever written."^[7] Binomial name Ucla xenogrammus Holleman, 1993 The largemouth triplefin, Ucla xenogrammus, is a fish of the family Tripterygiidae and only member of the genus Ucla, found in the Pacific Ocean from Viet Nam, the Philippines, Palau and the Caroline Islands to Papua New Guinea, Australia (including Christmas Island), and the... Breakfast with Hunter:documentary about the everyday life of gonzo-writer Hunter S. Thompson by Wayne Ewing. ...

Pre-production

Rhino hired Terry Gilliam and was granted an extension from Thompson but only with the stipulation that the director made the movie. Rhino did not want to commit to Gilliam in case he didn't work out.^[6] Thompson remembers, "They just kept asking for more [time]. I got kind of agitated about it, because I thought they were trying to put off doing it. So I began to charge them more... I wanted to see the movie done, once it got started."^[6] The studio threatened to make the film with Cox and without Depp and del Toro. The two actors were upset when Nabulsi told them of Rhino's plans.^[6] Universal Pictures stepped in to distribute the film and Depp and Gilliam were paid $500,000 each but the director still did not have a firm deal in place. In retaliation, Depp and Gilliam locked Rhino out of the set during filming.^[6] Terrence Vance Gilliam (born November 22, 1940) is an American-born British filmmaker, animator, and member of the Monty Python comedy troupe. ... Universal Pictures is the main motion picture production/distribution arm of Universal Studios, a subsidiary of NBC Universal. ...

The decision was made to not use the Cox/Davies script which gave Gilliam only ten days to write another.^[8] The director enlisted the help of Tony Grisoni and they wrote the script at Gilliam's home in May 1997. Grisoni remembers, "I'd sit at the keyboard, and we'd talk and talk and I'd keep typing."^[8] One of the most important scenes from the book that Gilliam wanted to put in the film was the confrontation between Duke and Dr. Gonzo and the waitress of the North Star Coffee Lounge. The director said, "This is two guys who have gone beyond the pale, this is unforgivable - that scene, it's ugly. My approach, rather than to throw it out, was to make that scene the low point."^[9]

The lead actors undertook extraordinary preparations for their respective roles. Del Toro gained more than 45 pounds (18 kg) in nine weeks before filming began, and extensively researched Acosta's life.^[1]^[10] In the Spring of 1997, Depp moved into the basement of Thompson's Owl Farm home and lived there for four months, doing research for the role as well as studying Thompson's habits and mannerisms.^[11] The actor went through Thompson's original manuscript, mementos and notebooks that he kept during the actual trip.^[11] Depp remembers, "He saved it all. Not only is [the book] true, but there's more. And it was worse."^[12] Depp even traded his car for Thompson's red Chevrolet Impala convertible, known to fans as The Great Red Shark, and drove it around California during his preparation for the role.^[13] Many of the costumes that Depp wears in the film are genuine articles of clothing that Depp borrowed from Thompson, and the writer himself shaved Depp's head to match his own natural male pattern baldness.^[11] Other props, such as Duke's cigarette filter (a TarGard Permanent Filter System), Hawaiian shirts, hats, a patchwork jacket, a silver medallion (given to him by Oscar Acosta) and IDs, belonged to Thompson.^[13] In Parmigianinos Madonna with the Long Neck (1534-40), Mannerism makes itself known by elongated proportions, affected poses, and unclear perspective. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Chevrolet (IPA: - French origin) (colloquially Chevy) is a brand of automobile, produced by General Motors (GM). ... Saab 900 Convertible 1962 Rambler American 1981 AMC Eagle 4-WD convertible Convertible can also refer to a convertible security A convertible (sometimes called cabriolet in British English) is a car body style with a folding or retracting roof (aka soft top or top in USA, hood in UK). ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... Baldness (formally alopecia) is the state of lacking hair where it usually would grow, especially on the head. ... A cigarette filter has the purpose of reducing the amount of smoke, tar, and fine particles as combustion products from a cigarette, being inhaled. ...

Initially, the studio wanted Gilliam to update the book for the 1990s which he considered, "And then I looked at the film and said, 'No, that's apologizing. I don't want to apologize for this thing. It is what it is.' It's an artifact. If it's an accurate representation of that book, which I thought was an accurate representation of a particular time and place and people."^[14]

Principal photography

According to Gilliam, there was no firm budget in place when filming started.^[15] Cinematographer Nicola Pecorini was hired based on an audition reel he sent Gilliam that made fun of the fact that he had only one eye (he lost the other to retinal cancer).^[16] According to Pecorini, the look of the film was influenced by the paintings of Robert Yarber that are "Very hallucinatory: the paintings use all kinds of neon colors, and the light sources don't necessarily make sense."^[16] According to Gilliam, they used him as a guide "While mixing our palette of deeply disturbing fluorescent colors."^[17] Nicola Pecorini (10 August 1957, Milan, Lombardy, Italy) Founded, with Garrett Brown, inventor of the steadicam, the Steadicam Operators Association, Inc. ... Robert Yarber (born Dallas, Texas, 1948) is an American painter and Distinguished Professor of Art at Pennsylvania State University. ...

Shooting on location in Las Vegas began on August 3, 1997 and lasted 56 days. The production ran into problems when they wanted to shoot in a casino. They were only allowed to film between two and six in the morning, given only six tables to put extras around and insisted that the extras really gamble."^[8] Exterior shots of the Bazooko Casino were filmed in front of the Stardust hotel/casino with the interiors constructed with a Warner Brothers Hollywood soundstage.^[16] In order to get the period look of Vegas in the 1970s, Gilliam and Pecorini used rear-projection footage from the old television show, Vega$. According to the cinematographer, this footage heightened the film's "already otherworldly tone an extra notch."^[16] is the 215th day of the year (216th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ... Warner Bros. ... Rear projection effect is an in-camera special effects technique in film production for combining foreground performances with pre-filmed backgrounds. ... Vega$ was a TV show that aired on ABC between 1978 and 1981. ...

For the desert scenes, Pecorini wanted a specific, undefined quality without a real horizon in order to convey the notion that the landscape never ended and to emphasize, "A certain kind of unreality outside the characters' car, because everything that matters to them is within the Red Shark."^[16] With the scene where Duke hallucinates a lounge full of lizards, the production was supposed to have 25 animatronic reptiles but they only received seven or eight.^[16] The production used motion-control techniques to make it look like they had a whole room of them and made multiple passes with the cameras outfitting the lizards with different costumes each time.^[16]

Gilliam felt that it was not a well-organized film and said, "Certain people didn't... I'm not going to name names but it was a strange film, like one leg was shorter than the other. There was all sorts of chaos."^[8] While Depp was on location in Los Angeles, he got a phone call from comedian Bill Murray who had played Thompson in Where the Buffalo Roam. He warned Depp, "Be careful or you'll find yourself ten years from now still doing him...Make sure your next role is some drastically different guy."^[18] Flag Seal Nickname: City of Angels Location Location within Los Angeles County in the state of California Coordinates , Government State County California Los Angeles County Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (D) Geographical characteristics Area City 1,290. ...

While making the movie, it was Gilliam's intention that it should feel like a drug trip from beginning to end. He said in an interview, "We start out at full speed and it's WOOOO! The drug kicks in and you're on speed! Whoah! You get the buzz - it's crazy, it's outrageous, the carpet's moving and everybody's laughing and having a great time. But then, ever so slowly, the walls start closing in and it's like you're never going to get out of this fucking place. It's an ugly nightmare and there's no escape."^[13]

To convey the effects of the various drugs, Gilliam and Pecorini assembled a list of "phases" that detailed the "cinematic qualities" of each drug consumed.^[16] For ether, Pecorini said they used a "loose depth of field; everything becomes non-defined"; for adrenochrome, "everything gets narrow and claustrophobic, move closer with lens"; mescaline was simulated by having "colors melt into each other, flares with no sources, play with color temperatures"; for amyl nitrite, the "perception of light gets very uneven, light levels increase and decrease during the shots"; and for LSD, "everything extremely wide, hallucinations via morphs, shapes, colors, and sound."^[16] Adrenochrome, chemical formula C9H9NO3, is an oxidation product of adrenaline. ... Mescaline (3,4,5-trimethoxyphenethylamine) is a psychedelic alkaloid of the phenethylamine class. ... Amyl nitrite is the chemical compound with the formula C5H11ONO. A variety of isomers are known, but they all feature an amyl group attached to the nitrito functional group. ... Lysergic acid diethylamide, commonly called LSD, LSD-25, or acid. ...

Writers credit dispute with WGA

When the film approached release, Gilliam learned that the Writers Guild of America (WGA) would not allow Cox and Davies to be removed from the credits even though none of their material was used in the production of the film. According to WGA rules, Gilliam and Grisoni had to prove that they wrote 60% of their script. The director said, "But there have been at least five previous attempts at adapting the book, and they all come from the book. They all use the same scenes."^[19] Gilliam remarked in an interview, "The end result was we didn't exist. As a director, I was automatically deemed a 'production executive' by the guild and, by definition, discriminated against. But for Tony to go without any credit would be really unfair."^[20] David Kanter, agent for Cox and Davies, argued, "About 60 percent of the decisions they made on what stays in from the book are in the film - as well as their attitude of wide-eyed anarchy."^[20] According to the audio commentary by Gilliam on the Criterion Collection DVD, during the period where it appeared that only Cox and Davies would be credited for the screenplay, the movie was to begin with a short scene in which it is explained that no matter what is said in the credits, no writers were involved in the making of the movie. When this changed in early May 1998 after the WGA revised its decision and gave credit to Gilliam and Grisoni first and Cox and Davies second, the short was not needed.^[9] Angered over having to share credit, Gilliam publicly burned his WGA card at a May 22 book signing on Broadway.^[9] The Writers Guild of America (WGA) is the collective bargaining representative, or labor union, for writers in the motion picture and television industries in the United States. ... A view of Broadway in 1909 Broadway, as the name implies, is a wide avenue in New York City. ...

Reception

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas underwent preview test screenings - a process that Gilliam does not enjoy. "I always get very tense in those (test screenings), because I'm ready to fight. I know the pressure from the studio is, 'somebody didn't like that, change it!'"^[12] The filmmaker said that it was important to him that Thompson like the movie and recalls the writer's reaction at a screening, "Hunter watched it for the first time at the premiere and he was making all this fucking noise! Apparently it all came flooding back to him, he was reliving the whole trip! He was yelling out and jumping on his seat like it was a roller coaster, ducking and diving, shouting 'SHIT! LOOK OUT! GODDAMN BATS!' That was fantastic – if he thought we'd captured it, then we must have done it!"^[13] Thompson himself stated, "Yeah, I liked it. It's not my show, but I appreciated it. Depp did a hell of a job. His narration is what really held the film together, I think. If you hadn't had that, it would have just been a series of wild scenes."^[21]

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas debuted at the Cannes Film Festival and Gilliam said, "I'm curious about the reaction...If I'm going to be disappointed, it's because it doesn't make any waves, that people are not outraged."^[22] The film opened in wide release on May 22, 1998 and grossed $3.3 million in 1,126 theaters on its first weekend. The film went on to gross $10.6 million, well below its budget of $18.5 million but it was not considered a financial disaster.^[23] The Cannes Film Festival (French: le Festival de Cannes), founded in 1939, is one of the worlds oldest, most influential and prestigious film festivals. ... is the 142nd day of the year (143rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ...

Critical reaction to the film was mostly negative. It currently has a 45% rating (and a 0% "Cream of the Crop" designation) on Rotten Tomatoes. In the New York Times, Stephen Holden wrote, "Even the most precise cinematic realizations of Mr. Thompson's images (and of Ralph Steadman's cartoon drawings for the book) don't begin to match the surreal ferocity of the author's language."^[24] Stephen Hunter, in his review for the Washington Post, wrote, "It tells no story at all. Little episodes of no particular import come and go...But the movie is too grotesque to be entered emotionally."^[25] Mike Clark, of USA Today, found the film, "simply unwatchable."^[26] In The Guardian, Gaby Wood wrote, "After a while, though, the ups and downs don't come frequently enough even for the audience, and there's an element of the tedium usually found in someone else's druggy experiences."^[27] This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... The New York Times is an internationally known daily newspaper published in New York City and distributed in the United States and many other nations worldwide. ... ... USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. ... For other uses, see Guardian. ...

Michael O'Sullivan gave the film one of its rare positive reviews in the Washington Post. "What elevates the tale from being a mere drug chronicle is the same thing that lifted the book into the realm of literature. It's the sense that Gilliam, like Thompson, is always totally in command of the medium, while abandoning himself utterly to unpredictable forces beyond his control."^[28] Gene Siskel's "thumbs-up" review at the time also noted the movie successfully captured the book's themes into film, adding "What the film is about and what the book is about is using Las Vegas as a metaphor for - or a location for - the worst of America, the extremes of America, the money obsession, the visual vulgarity of America."^[29] Gilliam wanted to provoke strong reactions to his film as he said in an interview, "I want it to be seen as one of the great movies of all time, and one of the most hated movies of all time."^[12] Eugene Gene Kal Siskel (January 26, 1946 â€“ February 20, 1999) was one of the worlds most successful film critics. ... For other uses, see Las Vegas (disambiguation) and Vegas (disambiguation). ... For other uses of terms redirecting here, see US (disambiguation), USA (disambiguation), and United States (disambiguation) Motto In God We Trust(since 1956) (From Many, One; Latin, traditional) Anthem The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City National language English (de facto)1 Demonym American...

Differences from the novel

In the opening scene of the book, it is stated that Duke and Dr. Gonzo had a tape of "Sympathy for the Devil" that they played over and over again as loud as possible "as a kind of demented counterpoint to the radio". In the film they just listen to the radio, and the Rolling Stones song is nowhere to be heard. This was because of the high royalty price, see below. However they do listen to the radio in the book until Dr. Gonzo starts singing along to "One Toke Over the Line". This article is about the song. ...

The coconut-smashing scene toward the end of the film was not originally in the book. Thompson wrote the scene for the novel and then omitted it.

In the movie Duke states that his blood is too thick for Nevada, in the book Duke states that his blood is too thick for California.

At the Mint 400 pit, a refreshment stand is seen with a sign that reads "Coffee And Dough Nuts". In the book, on the sign at the stand, coffee is spelled with a "k" and in all capital letters (KOFFEE AND DOUGH NUTS).

The adrenochrome scene and the DA's drug conference scene are in reverse order in the movie than in the book. Adrenochrome, chemical formula C9H9NO3, is an oxidation product of adrenaline. ...

During the check-in scene in the lobby at the Mint Hotel, a man in a white suit can be heard speaking on a pay phone saying: "They chopped her head off right there in the parking lot. Drilling her full of holes, probably looking for the pineal gland." In the book Dr. Gonzo says this to a man in the bar at the district attorneys' drug convention (presumably to perturb the man as he's obviously making up the story). This scene was actually filmed for the movie and was added to the DVD as a deleted scene. The pineal gland (also called the pineal body or epiphysis) is a small endocrine gland in the brain. ...

The ending of the film is different from the novel. The book tells of Duke getting on a plane and flying to Denver. After landing he wanders into a drug store and buys a box of amyls, uses it in front of the clerk, and curses at two Marines. The only thing from the ending that stayed in the film is the last paragraph, which Depp narrates. Denver redirects here. ... Amyl nitrite is the chemical compound with the formula C5H11ONO. A variety of isomers are known, but they all feature an amyl group attached to the nitrito functional group. ... The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is a branch of the United States military responsible for providing power projection from the sea,[1] utilizing the mobility of the U.S. Navy to rapidly deliver combined-arms task forces. ...

Also in the book, Duke and Gonzo spend a great deal of time searching for the American Dream only to end up being led to a burnt down psychiatric office. This scene was completely omitted from the film. For other uses, see American Dream (disambiguation). ...

Soundtrack

The soundtrack contains songs used in the film with clips of the movie before each song. So considering this each song starts about 30 seconds later than it would normally. The soundtrack contains the music of that time with one exception being the Dead Kennedys rendition of "Viva Las Vegas". The Rolling Stones song "Jumping Jack Flash" is heard at the conclusion of the film as Thompson drives out of Las Vegas. Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... In film formats, the soundtrack is the physical area of the film which records the synchronized sound. ... The term Various Artists is used in the record industry when numerous singers and musicians collaborate on a song or collection of songs. ... is the 139th day of the year (140th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... For other uses, see Rock music (disambiguation). ... In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. ... Geffen may refer to: Geffen, Hebrew word ×’Ö¶Ö¼×¤Ö¶×Ÿ gephen (pl. ... The All Music Guide (AMG) is a metadata database about music, owned by All Media Guide. ... Image File history File links 3_stars. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Rolling Stones redirects here. ... Jumpin Jack Flash is a song by The Rolling Stones, written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards and released as a single on May 24, 1968. ...

Gilliam could not pay $300,000 (half of the soundtrack budget) for the rights to "Sympathy for the Devil" by the Rolling Stones, which plays a prominent role in the book.^[6] This article is about the song. ...

Track listing

Big Brother and the Holding Company is an American rock band that formed in San Francisco in 1965 as part of the psychedelic music scene that also produced the Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane. ... Brewer & Shipley were a folk rock duo comprised of Mike Brewer and Tom Shipley. ... For other uses, see Tom Jones (disambiguation). ... For Your Love is the first U.S. album (second album overall) by British blues rock band The Yardbirds, released in August 1965. ... Not to be confused with Yard Birds. ... White Rabbit is a psychedelic rock song from Jefferson Airplanes 1967 album Surrealistic Pillow. ... Jefferson Airplane is an American rock band from San Francisco, a pioneer of the psychedelic rock movement. ... Tomoyasu Hotei (å¸ƒè¢‹å¯…æ³° Hotei Tomoyasu, born on February 1, 1962 in Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture) is a Japanese musician, guitarist and actor. ... Ray Cooper Ray Cooper (born August 19, 1942 in Watford, Hertfordshire) is an English musician. ... Get Together, also known as Lets Get Together, is the name of a song written by Chet Powers in 1963. ... The Youngbloods was an American folk rock band consisting of Jesse Colin Young (vocals, bass), Jerry Corbitt(lead guitar)www. ... Mama Told Me Not to Come was a 1970 song by acclaimed songwriter Randy Newman. ... Three Dog Night is an American rock and roll band, best known for their work from 1968-1975 but still making live appearances as of 2007. ... This article is about the recording artist. ... Booker T. & the M.G.s is a soul band, most prominent in the 1960s and 1970s. ... Magic Moments is a popular song. ... Pierino Ronald Como (May 18, 1912 â€“ May 12, 2001) was an American crooner. ... Tomoyasu Hotei (å¸ƒè¢‹å¯…æ³° Hotei Tomoyasu, born on February 1, 1962 in Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture) is a Japanese musician, guitarist and actor. ... Ray Cooper Ray Cooper (born August 19, 1942 in Watford, Hertfordshire) is an English musician. ... Tammy is a popular song. ... Debbie Reynolds (born April 1, 1932) is an American actress, dancer and singer. ... Tomoyasu Hotei (å¸ƒè¢‹å¯…æ³° Hotei Tomoyasu, born on February 1, 1962 in Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture) is a Japanese musician, guitarist and actor. ... Ray Cooper Ray Cooper (born August 19, 1942 in Watford, Hertfordshire) is an English musician. ... Buffalo Springfield was a short-lived but influential folk rock group that served as a springboard for the careers of Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Richie Furay and Jim Messina and is most famous for the song For What Its Worth. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The Dead Kennedys are a hardcore punk band from San Francisco, California. ...

DVD

By the time Fear and Loathing was released as a Criterion Collection DVD in 2003, Thompson showed his approval of the Gilliam version by recording a full-length audio commentary for the movie and participating in several DVD special features.^[30] Image File history File links Fear_and_Loathing_in_Las_Vegas_(DVD_cover). ... Image File history File links Fear_and_Loathing_in_Las_Vegas_(DVD_cover). ... DVD (also known as Digital Versatile Disc or Digital Video Disc) is a popular optical disc storage media format. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

On an audio commentary track in the Criterion edition of the DVD, Gilliam expresses great pride in the film and says it was one of the few times where he did not have to fight extensively with the studio during the filming.^[31] Gilliam chalks this up to the fact that many of the studio executives read Thompson's book in their youth and understood it could not be made into a conventional Hollywood film. However, he does express frustration with the advertising campaign used during its initial release, which he says tried to sell it as wacky comedy.^[31]

References

^ ^a ^b Doss, Yvette C. "The Lost Legend of the Real Dr. Gonzo", Los Angeles Times, June 5, 1998.
^ Nathan Lee (2006-05-12). Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Retrieved on 2007-01-04.
^ Laila Nabulsi. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas audio commentary [DVD].
^ Ralph Bakshi. your thoughts on the passing of hunter s thompson. Ralph Bakshi Forum. Retrieved on 2007-01-02.
^ David Morgan (1999). The Making of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Retrieved on 2006-12-15.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k Ebner, Mark. "Fear and Bleating in Las Vegas: Hunter Thompson Goes Hollywood", Premiere, January 1998.
^ Ewing, Wayne. "Breakfast with Hunter", Premiere, 2003. Retrieved on 2007-06-02.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Gale, David. "Cardboard Castles and Chaos", Icon, June 1998, pp. 102-105.
^ ^a ^b ^c Smith, Giles. "War Games", The New Yorker, May 25, 1998, pp. 74-79.
^ Elias, Justine. "Behind the Scenes: Terry Gilliam", Us Weekly, June 1998.
^ ^a ^b ^c Brinkley, Douglas. "Johnny, Get Your Gun", George, June 1998, pp. 96-100; 109-110.
^ ^a ^b ^c McCracken, Elizabeth. "Depp Charge", ELLE, June 1998.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Holden, Michael; John Perry, Bill Borrows. "Fear and Loathing", Loaded, December 1998.
^ Rowe, Douglas J. "Terry Gilliam Can Fly Without Acid", Associated Press, May 29, 1998.
^ Houpt, Simon. "Going Gonzo with Fear and Loathing", Globe and Mail, May 21, 1998, pp. D1-D2.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ Pizzello, Stephen. "Gonzo Filmmaking", American Cinematographer, May 1998, pp. 30-41.
^ Pizzello, Stephen. "Unholy Grail", American Cinematographer, May 1998, pp. 42-47.
^ Brinkley, Douglas. "Road to Ruin", Sunday Mail, July 26, 1998.
^ McCabe, Bob. "One on One", Empire, December 1998, pp. 120-123.
^ ^a ^b Willens, Michele. "How Many Writers Does it Take…?", New York Times, May 17, 1998.
^ Johnston, Ian. "Just Say No", Neon, December 1998, pp. 44-49.
^ Kirkland, Bruce. "The Gonzo Dream: The Long, Strange Trip of Filming Hunter S. Thompson's '"Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas", Toronto Sun, May 17, 1998.
^ "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas", Box Office Mojo. Retrieved on 2008-01-24.
^ Holden, Stephen. "A Devotedly Drug-Addled Rampage Through a 1971 Vision of Las Vegas", New York Times, May 22, 1998.
^ Hunter, Stephen. "Fear and Loathing", Washington Post, May 22, 1998.
^ Clark, Mike. "Fear is a Bad Trip for the '90s", USA Today, May 22, 1998.
^ Wood, Gabby. "Night of the Hunter", The Guardian, November 13, 1998.
^ O'Sullivan, Michael. "Fear: Worth the Trip", Washington Post, May 22, 1998.
^ Siskel, Gene. "At the movies Review.", At the Movies with Ebert & Roeper, May 22, 1998. Retrieved on 2008-01-24.
^ "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas", Criterion Collection. Retrieved on 2008-01-24.
^ ^a ^b Gilliam, Terry. "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas DVD audio commentary", Criterion Collection.

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Premiere is an American and New York City-based film magazine published by Hachette Filipacchi MÃ©dias, beginning publication in 1987. ... January * January 1998 - A massive ice storm, caused by El Niño, strikes New England, southern Ontario and Quebec, resulting in widespread power failures, severe damage to forests, and a number of deaths. ... Premiere is an American and New York City-based film magazine published by Hachette Filipacchi MÃ©dias, beginning publication in 1987. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 153rd day of the year (154th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1998 is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... For other uses, see New Yorker. ... is the 145th day of the year (146th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... Us Weekly (a. ... 1998 is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... Cover of inaugural issue of George George was a glossy politics-as-lifestyle monthly magazine co- founded by John F. Kennedy, Jr. ... 1998 is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... ELLE is a worldwide magazine that focuses on womens fashion, beauty, health, and entertainment. ... 1998 is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... 1998 is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... The Associated Press, or AP, is an American news agency, the worlds largest such organization. ... is the 149th day of the year (150th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... The Globe and Mail is a large Canadian English language national newspaper based in Toronto. ... is the 141st day of the year (142nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... American Cinematographer is a monthly journal published by the American Society of Cinematographers. ... 1998 is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... American Cinematographer is a monthly journal published by the American Society of Cinematographers. ... 1998 is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... is the 207th day of the year (208th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... Empire is a British film magazine published monthly by Emap Consumer Media since July 1989. ... 1998 is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... The New York Times is an internationally known daily newspaper published in New York City and distributed in the United States and many other nations worldwide. ... is the 137th day of the year (138th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... Neon was a British film magazine published monthly by Emap Consumer Media from December 1996 to February 1999. ... 1998 is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... The Toronto Sun is an English language daily newspaper published in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. ... is the 137th day of the year (138th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 24th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... The New York Times is an internationally known daily newspaper published in New York City and distributed in the United States and many other nations worldwide. ... is the 142nd day of the year (143rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... ... is the 142nd day of the year (143rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. ... is the 142nd day of the year (143rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... For other uses, see Guardian. ... is the 317th day of the year (318th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... ... is the 142nd day of the year (143rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... At the Movies with Ebert & Roeper is a movie review television program featuring film critic Roger Ebert and columnist Richard Roeper, both of the Chicago Sun-Times. ... is the 142nd day of the year (143rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 24th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Criterion Collection is a joint venture between Janus Films and The Voyager Company that was begun in the mid 1980s for the purpose of releasing authoritative consumer versions of classic and important contemporary films on the laserdisc and DVD formats. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 24th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Criterion Collection is a joint venture between Janus Films and The Voyager Company that was begun in the mid 1980s for the purpose of releasing authoritative consumer versions of classic and important contemporary films on the laserdisc and DVD formats. ...

Contents

Plot

Cast

Production and history

Basis for characters

Previous attempts

Pre-production

Principal photography

Writers credit dispute with WGA

Reception

Differences from the novel

Soundtrack

Track listing

DVD

References

See also

External links

Contents

Plot var ACE_AR = {Site: '756743', Size: '300250'};

Cast

Production and history

Basis for characters

Previous attempts

Pre-production

Principal photography

Writers credit dispute with WGA

Reception

Differences from the novel

Soundtrack

Track listing

DVD

References

See also

External links

Plot