What happened to the Mulholland "King of the Hill" RSR?

[Noah930]

You're the one who told me about it.

[lfot]

Yeah yeah... I forget stuff.

[Banning]

Dennis Hopper who played Cal (a character based on Charley Woit/Crazy Charley) in the movie King of the Mountain has died. RIP



Dennis Hopper, creator of hit 'Easy Rider,' dies
CHRISTOPHER WEBER
From Associated Press
May 29, 2010 5:23 PM EDT
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Dennis Hopper, the high-flying Hollywood wild man whose memorable and erratic career included an early turn in "Rebel Without a Cause," an improbable smash with "Easy Rider" and a classic character role in "Blue Velvet," has died. He was 74.

Hopper died Saturday at his home in the Los Angeles beach community of Venice, surrounded by family and friends, family friend Alex Hitz said. Hopper's manager announced in October 2009 that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer.

The success of "Easy Rider," and the spectacular failure of his next film, "The Last Movie," fit the pattern for the talented but sometimes uncontrollable actor-director, who also had parts in such favorites as "Apocalypse Now" and "Hoosiers." He was a two-time Academy Award nominee, and in March 2010, was honored with a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame.

After a promising start that included roles in two James Dean films, Hopper's acting career had languished as he developed a reputation for throwing tantrums and abusing alcohol and drugs. On the set of "True Grit," Hopper so angered John Wayne that the star reportedly chased Hopper with a loaded gun

He married five times and led a dramatic life right to the end. In January 2010, Hopper filed to end his 14-year marriage to Victoria Hopper, who stated in court filings that the actor was seeking to cut her out of her inheritance, a claim Hopper denied.

"Much of Hollywood," wrote critic-historian David Thomson, "found Hopper a pain in the neck."

All was forgiven, at least for a moment, when he collaborated with another struggling actor, Peter Fonda, on a script about two pot-smoking, drug-dealing hippies on a motorcycle trip through the Southwest and South to take in the New Orleans Mardi Gras.

On the way, Hopper and Fonda befriend a drunken young lawyer (Jack Nicholson, whom Hopper had resisted casting, in a breakout role), but arouse the enmity of Southern rednecks and are murdered before they can return home.

"'Easy Rider' was never a motorcycle movie to me," Hopper said in 2009. "A lot of it was about politically what was going on in the country."

Fonda produced "Easy Rider" and Hopper directed it for a meager $380,000. It went on to gross $40 million worldwide, a substantial sum for its time. The film caught on despite tension between Hopper and Fonda and between Hopper and the original choice for Nicholson's part, Rip Torn, who quit after a bitter argument with the director.

The film was a hit at Cannes, netted a best-screenplay Oscar nomination for Hopper, Fonda and Terry Southern, and has since been listed on the American Film Institute's ranking of the top 100 American films. The establishment gave official blessing in 1998 when "Easy Rider" was included in the United States National Film Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."

Its success prompted studio heads to schedule a new kind of movie: low cost, with inventive photography and themes about a young, restive baby boom generation. With Hopper hailed as a brilliant filmmaker, Universal Pictures lavished $850,000 on his next project, "The Last Movie."

The title was prescient. Hopper took a large cast and crew to a village in Peru to film the tale of a Peruvian tribe corrupted by a movie company. Trouble on the set developed almost immediately, as Peruvian authorities pestered the company, drug-induced orgies were reported and Hopper seemed out of control.

When he finally completed filming, he retired to his home in Taos, N.M., to piece together the film, a process that took almost a year, in part because he was using psychedelic drugs for editing inspiration.

When it was released, "The Last Movie" was such a crashing failure that it made Hopper unwanted in Hollywood for a decade. At the same time, his drug and alcohol use was increasing to the point where he was said to be consuming as much as a gallon of rum a day.

Shunned by the Hollywood studios, he found work in European films that were rarely seen in the United States. But, again, he made a remarkable comeback, starting with a memorable performance as a drugged-out journalist in Francis Ford Coppola's 1979 Vietnam War epic, "Apocalypse Now," a spectacularly long and troubled film to shoot. Hopper was drugged-out off camera, too, and his rambling chatter was worked into the final cut.

He went on to appear in several films in the early 1980s, including the well regarded "Rumblefish" and "The Osterman Weekend," as well as the campy "My Science Project" and "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2."

But alcohol and drugs continued to interfere with his work. Treatment at a detox clinic helped him stop drinking but he still used cocaine, and at one point he became so hallucinatory that he was committed to the psychiatric ward of a Los Angeles hospital.

Upon his release, Hopper joined Alcoholics Anonymous, quit drugs and launched yet another comeback. It began in 1986 when he played an alcoholic ex-basketball star in "Hoosiers," which brought him an Oscar nomination for best supporting actor.

His role as a wild druggie in "Blue Velvet," also in 1986, won him more acclaim, and years later the character wound up No. 36 on the AFI's list of top 50 movie villains.

He returned to directing, with "Colors," ''The Hot Spot" and "Chasers."

From that point on, Hopper maintained a frantic work pace, appearing in many forgettable movies and a few memorable ones, including the 1994 hit "Speed," in which he played the maniacal plotter of a freeway disaster. In the 2000s, he was featured in the television series "Crash" and such films as "Elegy" and "Hell Ride."

"Work is fun to me," he told a reporter in 1991. "All those years of being an actor and a director and not being able to get a job — two weeks is too long to not know what my next job will be."

For years he lived in Los Angeles' bohemian beach community of Venice, in a house designed by acclaimed architect Frank Gehry.

In later years he picked up some income by becoming a pitchman for Ameriprise Financial, aiming ads at baby boomers looking ahead to retirement. His politics, like much of his life, were unpredictable. The old rebel contributed money to the Republican Party in recent years, but also voted for Democrat Barack Obama in 2008.

Dennis Lee Hopper was born in 1936, in Dodge City, Kan., and spent much of his youth on the nearby farm of his grandparents. He saw his first movie at 5 and became enthralled.

After moving to San Diego with his family, he played Shakespeare at the Old Globe Theater.

Scouted by the studios, Hopper was under contract to Columbia until he insulted the boss, Harry Cohn. From there he went to Warner Bros., where he made "Rebel Without a Cause" and "Giant" while in his late teens.

Later, he moved to New York to study at the Actors Studio, where Dean had learned his craft.

Hopper's first wife was Brooke Hayward, the daughter of actress Margaret Sullavan and agent Leland Hayward, and author of the best-selling memoir "Haywire." They had a daughter, Marin, before Hopper's drug-induced violence led to divorce after eight years.

His second marriage, to singer-actress Michelle Phillips of the Mamas and the Papas, lasted only eight days.

A union with actress Daria Halprin also ended in divorce after they had a daughter, Ruthana. Hopper and his fourth wife, dancer Katherine LaNasa, had a son, Henry, before divorcing.

He married his fifth wife, Victoria Duffy, who was 32 years his junior, in 1996, and they had a daughter, Galen Grier.



Here is one of my favorite scenes from King of the Mountain where The Mulholland Racecourse is clearly visible in the backround while Dennis Hopper is blazing thru.

Brings back the memories...

[lfot]

R.i.p... D.h.

[oceanvue]

He sat 2 rows in front of me at the Clippers game for 10 years. I'm bummed, he always called me by my name.

[Noah930]

Originally Posted by oceanvue

He sat 2 rows in front of me at the Clippers game for 10 years. I'm bummed, he always called me by my name.

You had season tix to the Clippers for 10 years?! Wow. Talk about diehard.

[oceanvue]

Actually 15 or 16 years the whole time they were at the Sports Arena and still a big fan

[VZ935]

Dennis was an awesome and diverse character and talent......

[Heel n Toe]

Chris, did Charley's 'Vette have a similarly "unfinished" look? Flared wheel wells? Small block? Suspension mods?

Just curious... can't remember if a photo (or description) of it is posted in this thread.

[Netspeed]

Originally Posted by vz935

dennis was an awesome and diverse character and talent......

+1

[Banning]

Originally Posted by Heel n Toe

Chris, did Charley's 'Vette have a similarly "unfinished" look? Flared wheel wells? Small block? Suspension mods?

Just curious... can't remember if a photo (or description) of it is posted in this thread.

Chevy Marina Blue with primered grey flared wheel wells. "Big" Good Year Blue Streak tires extended beyond the flared wheel wells. Big black side pipes along and below the door sills, open exhaust and real loud. And I mean real LOUD! 427 cubic inch racing engine built by Charley himself at the 3rd and Crecent Heights Gas Station where he worked for years. I met him there when he worked on my SCCA Camaro Racecar.

Funny thing about the suspension mods, Charley sat in front of Dick Guldstrand in Dick's office getting the best mods and racing info for his Vette, just as I did a few years later for my A Sedan Camaro. Dick Guldstrand remembers this in a video that we took at the book signing at the Petersen Automoitive Museum. It has not been released yet. And there's more to tell...

Quite facinating really!

[Banning]

Photos from last Weekend's event, Euro Sunday.

[Banning]

Photos courtesy Larry O'Rourke

[TRE Cup]

Team Mulholland did well this past saturday at Tribute to Le Mans in the 4 hour enduro
John Norris (CRE) , Mark Mitchell (ACR) co drove a signal green boxster spec to a top ten finish with smooth consistent fast laps. The car was crewed by Scott Call (TVL) doing pit duty

Further back, after overcoming some pre and early race difficulties, yours truly (CRE), partnered with a couple friends in a navy blue 993 gt2 LOOK (really an sc with a 3.6 in it) started 34th (dead and i mean dead! last) and pedaled our way up to 13th by the time the checker flew.

Though not run in usual to us (darn ) night time with cars coming the other way , we all adapted quite well to the high speed circuit and proved that even generations later, the HILL's inspiration is alive and well

[lfot]

Originally Posted by TRE Cup

Team Mulholland did well this past saturday at Tribute to Le Mans in the 4 hour enduro
John Norris (CRE) , Mark Mitchell (ACR) co drove a signal green boxster spec to a top ten finish with smooth consistent fast laps. The car was crewed by Scott Call (TVL) doing pit duty

Further back, after overcoming some pre and early race difficulties, yours truly (CRE), partnered with a couple friends in a navy blue 993 gt2 LOOK (really an sc with a 3.6 in it) started 34th (dead and i mean dead! last) and pedaled our way up to 13th by the time the checker flew.

Though not run in usual to us (darn ) night time with cars coming the other way , we all adapted quite well to the high speed circuit and proved that even generations later, the HILL's inspiration is alive and well

Congrats!

[TRE Cup]

True story about Charley and the vette. He had been pounding around with the car, getting all sideways, and had not heard of Guldstrand yet. He stopped one night (he rarely did as the lapd was always looking out for this vette that would out run them ) on Bowmont to chat. I asked him if he knew about the Grand Sports. He did not but listened intently as i outlined how chevy had built these super vettes that would kill the cobras at nassau and other open class events. Vents, open headlamps, cut outs, flares, etc.. Told him about Traco and Guldstrand on Jefferson Bl- how there was this guy over there that used to road race corvettes.
So... Charley goes down there and gets an earful of education on how to set up the car. For front springs, custom wound high rate units would cost dearly, but heck a chevy pick up truck at the junk yard donated to the cause. He bought a bushing kit from Dick and made his own simple mudflaps.... er flares by radiusing the wheel wells to accomodate the 13" wide rear mags, then pop riveting on black painted alu sheet to keep John Law happy. They were not happy with the open side pipes or slicks fitted, so hence his wise decision not to stick around parked up there.

I think i outlined the story earlier of a couple of us CRE regulars trying to stay with charley in the RAIN up there one night. Full slicks and he wasted us in the tight stuff

[Jeremy Cottrell]

Originally Posted by TRE Cup

Team Mulholland did well this past saturday at Tribute to Le Mans in the 4 hour enduro
John Norris (CRE) , Mark Mitchell (ACR) co drove a signal green boxster spec to a top ten finish with smooth consistent fast laps. The car was crewed by Scott Call (TVL) doing pit duty

Further back, after overcoming some pre and early race difficulties, yours truly (CRE), partnered with a couple friends in a navy blue 993 gt2 LOOK (really an sc with a 3.6 in it) started 34th (dead and i mean dead! last) and pedaled our way up to 13th by the time the checker flew.

Though not run in usual to us (darn ) night time with cars coming the other way , we all adapted quite well to the high speed circuit and proved that even generations later, the HILL's inspiration is alive and well

Even the TVL mascot kicked some butt at the POC Autocross on Sunday.

Shows how even another generation of driver's got just about all their "training" on the Hill.

[Banning]

Originally Posted by TRE Cup

Team Mulholland did well this past saturday at Tribute to Le Mans in the 4 hour enduro
John Norris (CRE) , Mark Mitchell (ACR) co drove a signal green boxster spec to a top ten finish with smooth consistent fast laps. The car was crewed by Scott Call (TVL) doing pit duty

Further back, after overcoming some pre and early race difficulties, yours truly (CRE), partnered with a couple friends in a navy blue 993 gt2 LOOK (really an sc with a 3.6 in it) started 34th (dead and i mean dead! last) and pedaled our way up to 13th by the time the checker flew.

Though not run in usual to us (darn ) night time with cars coming the other way , we all adapted quite well to the high speed circuit and proved that even generations later, the HILL's inspiration is alive and well

Most excellent Dave, Jim, Mark, Scott, and Jeremy.

Keep up the image boys, you are doing a great job.

I'm sure that the spirit of Mulholland is most pleased.

[Banning]

Originally Posted by TRE Cup

True story about Charley and the vette. He had been pounding around with the car, getting all sideways, and had not heard of Guldstrand yet. He stopped one night (he rarely did as the lapd was always looking out for this vette that would out run them ) on Bowmont to chat. I asked him if he knew about the Grand Sports. He did not but listened intently as i outlined how chevy had built these super vettes that would kill the cobras at nassau and other open class events. Vents, open headlamps, cut outs, flares, etc.. Told him about Traco and Guldstrand on Jefferson Bl- how there was this guy over there that used to road race corvettes.
So... Charley goes down there and gets an earful of education on how to set up the car. For front springs, custom wound high rate units would cost dearly, but heck a chevy pick up truck at the junk yard donated to the cause. He bought a bushing kit from Dick and made his own simple mudflaps.... er flares by radiusing the wheel wells to accomodate the 13" wide rear mags, then pop riveting on black painted alu sheet to keep John Law happy. They were not happy with the open side pipes or slicks fitted, so hence his wise decision not to stick around parked up there.

I think i outlined the story earlier of a couple of us CRE regulars trying to stay with charley in the RAIN up there one night. Full slicks and he wasted us in the tight stuff

Now that is really interesting Dave!

I always wondered who gave Charley "the bug" about making his Vette like a Grand Sport. I heard him talk about it at his station more than once, and Johnny Mul (John Hall) remembers hearing Charley talk about modifying his car to be like a Grand Sport.

And yes I also remember hearing Dick Guldstrand talk about Charley wanting to make a Grand Sport from his Corvette, and Dick did help Charley as you said.

Unreal!

It's a small world after all...

[Jeff Hail]

Jeez, I actually was able to log in after 4 months of no log in. Must be all those pics I posted 2 years ago that sucked up Wayne's bandwith. I thought I was banished? Maybe not as this thread means a lot to all of us.

Dave (TRE) Congrats on the entry and its infamous drivers. As far as the underdog that was a fast move up in the line up. No complaints here. Respectable!!!

Still cant post pics. Not sure whats up with that? Maybe I exceeded my lifetime allotment. :0