Corso: The Last Beat

Corso The Last Beat is a 2009 documentary film, with onscreen narration by Ethan Hawke and appearances by Patti Smith, Allen Ginsberg, William Burroughs and Gregory Corso.

Gregory Corso who unlike his compatriot Allen Ginsberg, avoided publicity and promotion of the Beat label, refused all film and biography requests. Allen Ginsberg introduced Corso to filmmaker Gustave Reininger, and after a lengthy quiz on Gilgamesh, Heraclitus, and St. Clement of Alexandria, Corso decided to allow Reininger to make a film. Reininger had made feature films and created network television but had never attempted nonfiction. Corso proved a challenge. Ginsberg offered to rein in Corso, known for his boisterous and confrontational antics, however a month after Corso agreed, Ginsberg became ill and died precipitously. Corso, with the loss of his best friend and literary alterego, became nearly catatonic. Beat fans would accost him, saying Hey, Youre the Last Beat Burroughs died shortly after Ginsberg. Corso, angered would always shoot back, Is that your myth or mine. Reininger considered returning his funding for the film, raised privately, as Corso was nonresponsive. Reininger though had an inspiration to take Corso back to Europe, Paris in particular, where the Beats had emerged, working in a small rundown hotel on the Left Bank, on Rue Git Le Coeur. Corso named it The Beat Hotel.Once in Europe, Corso came alive and led Reininger and his film crew on a madcap tour of France, Italy and Greece. The film is shot in the verite style, without much exposition. Corsos street theater antics kept the films serious tone light ironic. Corsos poetry is woven into the film, with different voices. Discussions are underway with Bob Dylan to read a Corso poem, Destiny, and with Bono to read At Oscar Wildes Tomb. ........

Source: Wikipedia