The Life and Times of Allen Ginsberg is a 1993 film by Jerry Aronson chronicling the poet Allen Ginsberg's life from his birth and early childhood to his thoughts about death at the age of 66. The film has been completed and released a number of times due to changing technologies and world events. The first release of the film was in 1993 at the Sundance Film Festival after which it enjoyed an international festival run and USA theatrical run. At the time, Allen was still alive. When Mr. Aronson showed the film to Ginsberg, the poet is reported to have nodded his head thoughtfully and said, "So, that's Allen Ginsberg."
When Allen passed in 1997, Jerry Aronson decided to update the ending of the film to include the poet's passing, one shot of Ginsberg's headstone in New Jersey and a new recording of Paul Simon singing Allen's "New Stanzas for Amazing Grace" for closing credits.
The new DVD, released on July 2007 by New Yorker Video, includes interviews with Bono, Paul McCartney, Yoko Ono, Johnny Depp, Hunter S. Thompson, Andy Warhol, Patti Smith, Joan Baez, Michael McClure, Norman Mailer, Amiri Baraka, Ken Kesey, William S. Burroughs, Anne Waldman and Timothy Leary - all of whom considered Allen a good friend.
In addition to the documentary, the DVD release contains a number of bonus features. These include behind-the-scenes footage with the likes of Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, and Neal Cassady; excerpts from a Ginsberg memorial; and extended and updated interviews.
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—Dudley Nichols (1895–1960)
“I felt more than ever the necessity of my mission. But I went home out of spirits, I hardly know why. I must work by myself all life long.”
—Elizabeth Blackwell (1821–1910)
“There were times when I felt that I could bear no more. It was the Emergency Ward which almost broke me. I stood one night beside a man who had been caught in a flywheel, and whose body felt like jelly. I wanted him to die quickly, not to go on breathing. Oh, stop breathing. I can’t stand it. Die and stop suffering. I can’t stand it. I can’t.”
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For the wise men and the fools
I got nothing, Ma, to live up to.”
—Bob Dylan [Robert Allen Zimmerman] (b. 1941)
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—Allen Ginsberg (b. 1926)