[blau911]

Read a few years ago that Peter Fonda made more money off of Easy Rider alone than his Dad made during his whole career. he and Hopper were working on a shoe string budget (Fonda's credit card), and writing the script as they filmed and under heavy drug influence.
1969 was the year that independent counter culture films rocked the industry. Even Midnight Cowboy, an X rated film, wont Oscar for best film in 1969.
McQueen's Les Mans which he financed thru his own film production company, and which he originally tried film with virtually no storyline at all except driving scenes, before the studio made him create a subplot with a love interest, would come out the following year and bankrupt his production company. Film stars back then were ready to roll the dice.