I was on a Methadone Clinic with Mr. Burroughs at KU Medical Center in Kansas City, he was very friendly and would talk to us and answer questions no matter how ridiculous they were, he would also sign books 📚 if asked, he was a wonderful person and is missed , when he was done at KU he would go to Nichols Lunch and eat breakfast, when he would see me at Nichols Lunch he would always say hello or tip his hat , RIP Mr. Burroughs
@@tonywalton1052 Were you on the morning or afternoon clinic, what was nice about KU is that you were treated like a normal person and not a convict or a person with a disease, it was amazing how the clients changed through the years, when I first got on the clinic it was mostly Vietnam Vets and Black Mafia, then in the late 1990s it changed to people doing Dilaudid, in the early days everyone was doing heroin, anyway, KU was a good clinic, I was on a clinic in Austin Texas and they were mean, they talked to you like you were in prison, it was like Cool Hand Luke , " shaking it up here boss " if you gave one dirty urine , they would kick you off
@@tonywalton1052 Hey Tony, who was your nurse at KU Methadone Center , do you still live in Kansas City, give me a text , I would like to hear from you
@@tonywalton1052 Burroughs always went to Nichols Lunch after he left the clinic, he also had at least one, sometimes two assistants that helped him, I can't imagine Bill leaving KU Methadone Clinic and going to McDonald's, we went on the same days and he always went to Nichols Lunch, I know because after I was dosed I would go there also and get breakfast, Burroughs was like clockwork, he got dosed , got his carryouts ,then headed to Nichols Lunch
Every time one of our friends would stop by unexpectedly with dope, all of us would say "God Bless you son, may you go to heaven," as a tribute to WSB. It never got old.
Burroughs. A writer, junky, poet, prophet, humorist, social commentator, homosexual, satirist, "schizo," philosopher, etc.... But most importantly, a very special human being. This film (along with "Trainspotting," "Fear and Loathing," "A Scanner Darkly" and "Requiem for a Dream") dig deep beneath the surface of the "just say no"/D.A.R.E. mentality that my generation and others were made to grow up with, exploring not only the dark, seedy underbelly of the drug culture but also exposing the underlying hypocrisies that permeate through the various cultures that denounce such vices. Most important of all, these films do not simply glamorize or condemn drug usage, rather they offer reasons as to why people get caught in the vicious cycle of addiction in the first place. The ultimate truth is this; in the end, we are all fragile. We are all human. (Way too preachy but I think you get where I'm coming from).
Lucas Davis Saw this film at the theater when it came out. The 1st Gus Van Sant film I can recall. Love the way it was shot along w/ Matt Dillion's standout performance as well as Bill's cameo. For me the best drug movie ever made on the planet earth.
Well written analysis 🧐. Great realistic drug movie of the 1980s. Matt Dillion did ☝️ one hell of a acting job portraying a cross country drug addict. BRAVO 👏!!!!!!!!!
I had the privilege of spending 3 days with Burroughs' best friend, John Giorno. Giorno was with William when he passed away. He told me that near the very end Burroughs had reached a state that the Zen Buddhists call kensho. There is no direct translation for the Japanese word kensho to English but it approximately means a state of spiritual enlightenment. The world misses your wisdom, Mr. Bill.
After getting fucked over by my pharmacy today regarding my pain medication that I need for my chronic migraines due to Lyme disease I agree with William S Burroughs 100%
A man who shot his wife in the head and spent two weeks or so in jail for it would not normally be liked, never mind be recognized as a literary pioneer. He wrote his way out of the Ugly Spirit of his guilt, showing that literature is truly redemptive and world changing.
I think his life story shows the fact that most horrible things happen because people are high. Him shooting his wife, Hitler, and many famous murderers
One of the last great films of the 1980's. I still have the framed poster. A nice double feature for this film would be "Rush" with Jennifer Jason Leigh.
Mr. Burroughs was fortunate for many things besides the fact he lived into his 80's and was able to remain active for as long as he did. It makes me think his decision to turn to the criminal networks for inspiration was his comment on the variable foolishness of treating a deviant as violent and vice versa. A person who thinks differently doesn't necessarily pose a threat and desire you dead.
Harrison Thompson who hasn't thought that at the clinic? I for damn sure have. Everyone has. Hell weve all let people go ahead of us in line so we could go to another nurses window at the clinic if we end up at the "Junkie Nurses" window so we dont get shorted watered down bullshit. You all know Its true!
This was a really great movie that almost went completely overlooked by moviegoers back then, in a time when huge blockbusters were the only thing people started caring about. Still, this movie was a brilliant story ahead of its time. Seems very relevant now, especially with the opiate epidemic and pharma drug problem we face in this country.
I felt the exact opposite. All the people that should have saw this film did so The theaters were packed here in Chicago. Those in the know were extremely excited. It was an extremely popular indie flick that had a rabid following. This wasn’t a film for squares.
I hate the catch phrase opiate epidemic. The only thing that has changed is China and Mexico have flooded the states with cheap fentanyl analogs. Thanks to the US government abandoning the afghan poppy fields thereby opening the floodgates for a stronger cheaper drug designed to kill. Big pharma is a convenient scapegoat. Very few heroin addicts back in the day started because of an oxy addiction. We live in a shit world filled with ghouls.
When the patron Saint of junkies asks you if you are holding you don't wanna answer in the negative. However our boy was able to make up for it before the end. The Immaculate Fix.
Saw this movie coming down from a (hungover) LSD trip at an art-house cinema in Milwaukee, 1989. It changed my life so much I wrote James Fogle (the screenwriter who this movie is based on) soon after to thank him. He was incarcerated in the WA State Penn in Walla Walla. He wrote back, and we corrssponded for a year or two. This ( 4:50 ) was my favorite scene in the movie.
garyd044 Im sorry but burroughs, jack kerouac, are far from 'shakespeares' imo the only one with some real talent was Ginsberg, especially his "Howl", but its hard to read a poem written by a guy who likes young boys. The best american writers imo, are those from the 19 and 18th century. (Emerson, Poe, etc) Beat generation.... i cant believe burroughs came up with this 'cutt and paste' technique lol. Thats just silly, afcourse sometimes u get an interesting sentence, but i mean, come on ;) lol.
@@SimplyLimbo I think it's hard to compare Burroughs and Kerouac with Allen Ginsberg, the first two being writers and Allen a poet. Too, I think Ginsberg had 2 TRULY great works; "HOWL" and "Kaddish"...of course, there many gems in his body of work. It is futile (to say nothing of ill-advised) to allow your views on morality come into play when it comes to literature. We'd have NO literature at all if the morality yardstick was applied. Having said that, some of Ginsberg's poems turn me off with the focus on pederasty. Take care.
Joachim Peiper SS Love Drugstore Cowboy as well. Uncle Bill was no less than a prophet...one of only a few writers that In my opinion were possessed of the gift, the other two main ones are George Orwell and Aldous Huxley...Ray Bradbury deserves a nod for "Fahrenheit 451". But Bill's words (and make no mistake, he made these pronouncements in the '50's) spoken during 3:17 to 4:34...are prophetic warnings that have come to pass...as we all know...especially we who are afflicted with "The Sickness". Be well.
@@1060michaelg i have the same thing. When i read "Howl", and the gay bjts come along i skip them.;) But i read Howl once in a blue moon. I forgot to name two other great amerixan piets. Ezra Pound and T. S Eliot. Love these two !
How right BURROUGHS was. How right BURROUGHS is. It kills me a little inside to know that my favorite writers were correct. Only because they are correct. I am scared to know what I am gonna have to go through when I am his age (here) and know that I will receive very little help. Years of pain and complaining and telling my grandkids how it used to be or: HOSPICE for a week of bliss...
@@daisychainmilk An Indulgence is a monetary donation to the church to improve one's or one's family member or friend's placement in heaven upon their judgement. This scene is very funny because Burroughs is saying his gift of dilaudid is so great that Bob has surely earned himself a place in heaven.
my favorite part in the movie other than the hat in the bed is when hes like "that shits for squares" it always makes me laugh and I tell the same thing to people that offer me vicodin and percocet. pretty good for a murderer LOL
Acidbath, i hated that line, there were times i would have killed for just darvocet!, Ive never known a junkie to turn down anything! But of course he was on methadone so i guess he didn't get to " ahead of schedule ".
Watching this now gives me fond memories of the old downtown Portland, such a beautiful place in the summertime. Back when junkies and straights had their own lanes and for the most part the boundaries were respected --- now the utter hopelessness and lifeless void of drug addiction runs around rampant. Its toxicity and osmosis affecting every Portlander and visitor. What was such a great and special place, now merely a husk of its old self.
Man! As a recovering addict i can identify with " getting a little bit ahead of schedule ", even when i got on methadone ( pills for pain, actual pain). I,d take to many and come up short and sick!
I do junky math to stay on schedule. But as Bill says you always justify an exception and you get a head of your schedule. I love the way he meticulously describes the reduction cure - and then says it has never been known to work.
those who spent any time in a catholic school years ago should be rolling on the floor at that line burroughs says at 5:38...."this should earn you an indulgence"
Did you cop anything after hearing that line? No matter how it turned out, mate, I wish you all the best. From an old, tired and almost dead dope fiend...
I gave this Dvd to my ex girlfriend for her birthday....outside the methadone clinic.....she had never seen it.....I just wanted to something nice....she remembered me on my birthday...we were bad dopers.
boy I bet burroughs knew a few junkie priests in his day I did ,years ago I much prefer to listen to the sermon of a junkie then the ones that said mass on booze. on the drink
Matt Dillon has to be the coolest looking guy I bet he was honored to work with the pope of Dope in all his beatnik royalty. Burroughs was even old for the beat poets they all looked up to him. Kerouac, and Ginsberg this probably is my favorite Gus Van Sant movie was disappointed with my own private Idaho
Does anyone known what hotel that was on the last scene? I live in Portland Oregon and will gladly go there and perform an invocation (yes I will include the bait.) Thanks for any info.
Matt dillions, americns, character's good actors, n... his times 1980s 1990s, today's he's mights had retired from actions, good jobs, performances dillions, you's can acts so well, also matts dillions, happy birthday's, aging artisited 63s yrs old,
I'm in Portland currently ...I forgot this was filmed here ...it's weird to watch this movie n then go walk around downtown...last night I smoked a joint under the i5 viaducts where Gus shot that artsy scene where they were hiding behind the viaduct poles.... Something to do I spose.... All I know is the same eery vibe from the movie is exactly what I feel here everyday . Portlands fucking weird .
@@calaveen It's implied that it is pure powder, as earlier in the film they steal the pure dilaudid that Matt Dillon's character calculates will be worth thousands on the street.
".... narcotics have been SYSteMAticAlly scapegoated and demonized." well, well, well.... it's important to stay true to your very own demons and avoid getting screwed by the machine.
Bob and the priest....morphine sulfate was the bottom of the barrel... remember the 1st deal?? They kid said he hated that "downtown trash" and that was all bob would trade...he had dilaudid and everything else but the or they "the junkies" hated morphine...they still do till this day...morphine is garbage, especially when your injecting heroin and powdered D(dilaudid)....
I think for me it just shows that he was smart and he applied himself. He was interested in being a writer and he put his mind to it through his studies. That says something in itself I think.
You've misunderstood me. I like William S Burroughs and his writing. But I hated that a guy that I admire could be bought by a sneaker company. And by the way going to Harvard is no big deal. I went to Stanford (graduated 1992).....it's all hype kid.....its the job you get that matters.
He was 70 and needed to pay for his Kansas home. Secondly he even said "If you can sell out do it immediately." And "No real artist gives a shit about being an artist when all we want is a little money and peace"
I cry I love drugs. The Life White drugs Is not beatifull Is a very no good life.But Is a the best Life in the world. I ma Italiano . E vi spiego una cosa,se tu vuoi vivere con lei preparati solo lei avrai,per lei pagherai in soldi,vita galera amori amicizia,tutto SOLO LEI IMPORTA . Se sei disposto a farlo vivrai una vita magica. Ma se anche un qualche cosa nn ti piace,molla o morirai con rimpianto. I LOVE THE DRUGS BUT THE DRUGS LIKE ME
Jackmonster3231: Nah, that was just Burroughs being himself... Nobody said he was an actor, but for the most part, that is what people wanna see. Ever hear him on that one Laurie Anderson record?.. Same deal. Also one Dilaudid over ten of heroin! Any time!..
But are they serving Ice Cream? If it weren't for the wait times... actually my dietary habits are stellar these days, yeah... looks tempting to hit up the soup kitchens for a living.
