MovieChat Forums > Electra Glide in Blue (1973) Discussion > Posts criticize cop's treatment of hippi...

Posts criticize cop's treatment of hippies, but hippies were killers.

posted 12 years ago by mcintyro
10 replies | jump to latest

Yeah, these were not the fun loving, musical hippies of Billy Jack. Many of them were drug dealers who would kill if they had to.

That's why people miss the point of EASY RIDER. Those two were doomed from the beginning. They were DRUG DEALERS. They had to die. They did not deserve or earn the American Freedom dream.

If anybody did in Easy Rider, it was the hippies living in the commune. They deserved peace and prosperity, and all that.

Fonda's character realized that, when he said, "we blew it, Billy." Fonda's character realized He and Hopper were tainted by what they did to become rich to get the bikes.

Granted they sold cocaine, not heroin to rich record people, but still.

[–] Felixthecat34213 12 years ago

Exactly, what's interesting about the hippies in this film, is that when Wintergreen visits them he's fairly polite and non threatening. The hippies intimidate and badger him. You'll notice how the camera shoots him at a high angle when they surround him, portraying Wintergreen as powerless.

Then when Poole starts interrogating the hippies, he's shot at a low angle and portrayed as threatening, in charge. The film does a great job at portraying power shifts among the characters.

As much as the hippies want to claim not to be a part of it, it's just an inherent part of human nature to assert dominance and intimidate others. Actually Wintergreen is probably the only character you're left having any respect for by the end of this film.

The hippies turn out to be just as scummy as the police officers.

[–] mcintyro 12 years ago

Yeah, every time I see this fine film, I pick up something different. It's on YOUTUBE, widescreen and you can see it in one shot, not 10 parts.

Have seen it 5 more times in 2 weeks.

Blake was amazing in it.

[–] Felixthecat34213 12 years ago

Oh great, I'll have to check it out. I saw it for the first time about a week ago and was blown away by the mise en scene. I definitely have to watch it again, it's unlike any film I've ever seen. I liked how it didn't paint a rosy picture of the counterculture and the hippies. LIke we need another Easy Rider..please. Not dissing it, but films like that from the 70s are like a dime a dozen.

[–] z99 11 years ago

I can't believe the ignorance and bigotry I'm reading here. I know my comment won't add to discussion like this but frankly, I don't have time and patience for people like you, or faith that you would listen in the first place.

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[–] nlualum82 11 years ago

How old are you z99?
The post is not about long-haired kids and other pseudo-hippies that copied the style.
I'm sure there were all kinds, but they are talking about the real hippies, the ones who dropped out of society and lived off the grid, under the radar.
They were frequently draft dodgers, and you may have some peacenik philosophy that justifies that, but they were criminals.
They had no means of support but they had clothes, food, vehicles and often a roof over their heads. Most also had illegal substances.
They survived by stealing and dealing drugs commonly.

[–] z99 11 years ago

I'm in my thirties, so obviously I have not experienced the "hippy-era" but that's not the point here. I am referring to the notion that drugs are evil and drug dealers equal murderers, as laid out by the very first comment.

Dare to say the drug use is a basic human right, and it is the prohibition that have criminalized the users, and in many cases forced them to take part in dealing. Then of course there are subcultures notorious for drug trade including hippies but apart from the mafia and gangs most dealers are just trying to make a living and get by the law unscathed.

Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think most of the hippies were cold-blooded murderers -- the kind who would kill a guy just for fun or to get ahead.

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[–] nlualum82 11 years ago

Drugs are illegal. They are harmful and can be fatal.
At least one political party wants to make them legal. As close as I come to supporting that would involve a total overhaul of our government.
A person should be responsible for their choices, not the taxpayers. If a person chooses to use lsd then he should accept the risk. The only safety nets should be those supported by donations given willingly. Churches, charities, family members if they want, not taxpayers.
As far as people involved in the drug culture, some will go to extreme measures to eat, to feed a habit, to stay out of jail, etc. This often means victimizing others.

[–] z99 11 years ago

Exactly, a person should be responsible for their choices -- and be given the freedom of choice to start with.

Agreed, some will go to extreme measures, yes -- not majority but some. Just like some will go to extreme measures for just about anything (lost/unanswered love, religion, patriotism, crazy hobbies etc). True, drugs can test one's integrity and will-power more than lots of other things. Still, there are laws in place for those victimizing others REGARDLESS their drug habits. But then, most of the need for victimizing others is because drugs are such low quality and expensive due to them being illegal.. Also due to them being illegal, users are automatically made outlaws, have to deal with criminals, are looked down upon by the society, and themselves victimized by the police, therefore it is easy for them to hurt those very people who have pushed them away, and justify themselves in doing so.

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[–] JReb865 11 years ago

Hmmm, drug errr bad, m'kay...

[–] 11 years ago

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