On the... set?

Published in 1957, the autobiographical novel by Jack Kerouac, “On the Road” captured the spirit that was brewing underneath the conformity of the 1950s. The book was a overnight sensation; detailing a semi-fictional exploration of the freedom and longing that is a core part of human nature. It helped coin the phrase “Beat Generation” to denote the new-found rebelliousness and restlessness found in contemporaries of that era. Now, after 37 years of careful contemplation and precise planning, world-renowned producer/director Francis Ford Coppola is ready to bring “On the Road” to the theatres and treat a new generation of progressive citizens to a work of visual and intellectual splendor, extracted from the mind of the great Jack Kerouac.

“The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars..."
-- Jack Kerouac's semi-autobiographical character Sal Paradise in "On the Road"

Myth has it that he typed it non-stop for three weeks, using one long continuous sheet of paper. It has been said, however, that the piece went through several drafts after that, but it still holds the immediacy of that marathon typing session, the staccato rhythm of the words creating improvised rhythm across the page with little, if any punctuation. The fury of Kerouac’s original typing session can be compared to that of a jazz musician, improvising using the excitement of spontaneous creation as the fuel for his masterpiece.

The narrator, Sal Paradise, is on an epic quest, one that takes him back and forth across the country with Dean Moriarity who is based on the real-life person, and Kerouac friend, Jack Cassady. Dean, the reform school escapee who specializes in stealing cars, is Sal's mentor. Their automobile is their chariot, which keeps them in constant motion.

Dean's madness is glorified, as is his ability to do whatever he pleases. Women drift in and out of the story, usually as one of Dean's lovers who he treats terribly. Dean treats everyone terribly though, abandoning Sal on several occasions, including once when Sal was suffering from dysentery while they were in Mexico. Sal, however, always forgives Dean, seeing him as a god-like hero, no matter what he does.

“I tried to make it, but couldn’t get the money. Now it keeps becoming more important.” -- Francis Ford Coppola

During a Parisian interview back in 1997, Coppola reveled that he originally wanted to shoot “On the Road” in black and white using 16mm film; unfortunately, a lack of means gave way to a shelved result and the would-be film sat for another eight years.

Now Coppola has the support of Universal Pictures’ Focus Features, Pathe International and his own production company American Zoetrope, along with a slew of motion picture professionals to help the project along. “The Motorcycle Diaries” executive producer Rebecca Yeldham will produce, Walter Salles will direct, Jose Rivera will compose the screenplay and Robert Rock, John H. Williams and Coppola will all serve as executive producers.

“The book is inherently difficult to adapt to the screen, and we’ve never quite found the right combination of director and writer to do it justice until now.” -- Francis Ford Coppola

Coppola acquired the rights to produce “On the Road” back in 1968 as a young director - before he made “The Godfather” and “Apocalypse Now.” In the decades that preceded his purchase, Coppola toughed through four screenplay writers until finding a comfortable fit with Jose Rivera, a collaborator in the critically acclaimed 2004 film “The Motorcycle Diaries.”

Originally, “Dispatches” author and “Apocalypse Now” narrator Michael Herr was slated to write the Kerouac screenplay. Then, several years later, Coppola recruited author/screenwriter Barry Gifford to tackle the project. In the early 1990s, Coppola’s son Roman even worked on a potential script, followed by an attempt by novelist Russell Banks (“The Sweet Hereafter,” “Continental Drift”). Ultimately, it was decided Rivera was the best fit for the picture, which goes into the casting and production stages in 2006.

Complementing Rivera’s adaptive writing skills is the directing talent of Walter Salles, who made his English-language directorial debut with 2005s “Dark Water.” According to Salles, “‘On the Road’ is a seminal book that gave voice to a whole generation—capturing its hunger for experience, unwillingness to accept imposed truths and dissatisfaction with the status quo. It is as modern today as it was four decades ago.”

“Dean, don’t drive so fast in the daytime...ah hell, Dean, I’m going in the back seat, I can’t stand it anymore, I can’ look."
-- Jack Kerouac's semi-autobiographical character Sal Paradise in "On the Road”

Some may question if the sometimes tortured-artist mind of Kerouac would want to see his novel come to life on the big screen. His desires for a film version to be made were recently unearthed when collection of Marlon Brando’s personal items were auctioned off in New York. Among the relics was a personal letter from Kerouac to the movie star. The note, which sold for an impressive $33,600, read:

“I’m praying that you’ll buy “On the Road” and make a movie of it…Don’t worry about the structure, I know [you will have] to compress and rearrange the plot a bit to give a perfectly acceptable move-type structure: making it into one all-inclusive trip instead of the several voyages coast-to-coast in the book, one vast round trip from New York to Denver to Frisco to Mexico to New Orleans to New York again. I visualize the beautiful shots could be made with the camera on the front seat of the car showing the road (day and night) unwinding into the windshield, as Sal and Dean yak. I wanted you to play the part because Dean (as you know) is no dopey hot-trotter but a real intelligent (in fact Jesuit) Irishman. You play Dean and I’ll play Sal (Warner Bros. mentioned I play Sal) and I’ll show you how Dean acts in real life…we can go visit him in Frisco or have him come down to L.A, [he’s] still a real frantic cat… Come on now Marlon, put up your dukes and write!”

“All things are like visions beyond the reach of the human mind.” -- Jack Kerouac

"On the Road" and Jack’s other novels have made a significant impact on American literature. His “spontaneous prose” told tales of the Beat generation, making him the talented and reluctant spokesman for the hip youth of the 1950s.

Jack Kerouac's "On the Road" is a wandering narrative told in a continuous block of text and is a relic of a literary phenomenon. The “On the Road” scroll was sold at an auction for $2.4 million and is currently on a four-year world tour of museums and libraries.

Stay tuned to JackKerouac.com or more details on the “On the Road” movie, including casting choices and release date information.

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