MovieChat Forums > Easy Rider (1969) Discussion > Was Peter Fonda's character gay?

Was Peter Fonda's character gay?

posted 11 years ago by duranduranruler
21 replies | jump to latest

I watched Easy Rider last night on TCM.
Probably the third time I've seen it, but it's been a long time between viewings.
One thing that struck me was that Peter Fonda's character doesn't seem interested in the women at all, while Dennis Hopper is constantly trying to get laid by the women.
When they are at the commune in the desert, several women want Peter, but he keeps distant and shows no sexual interest. They both swim nude with the women, but nothing sexual is shown.
At the diner, Jack Nicholson and Dennis Hopper are attracted to the teenage girls. Peter shows no interest in the girls at all even though they like him.
Even at the brothel in New Orleans, Peter tells the woman (Mary) that he is only there because of his friend. And instead of sex, he'd rather go outside and walk around Mardi Gras and take acid at the cemetery.
Any thoughts?

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] 11 years ago

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[–] yazoostreet 11 years ago

I've watched this movie more than I care to imagine, so here's my thoughts:

Billy represents older values, so in terms of his approach to women he's quite brash and unashamed. If an opportunity presents itself, he'll take it.

Captain America , on the other hand, represents a new, modern and more sophisticated man. He's more respectful of women and is obviously uncomfortable at the brothel because paying for sex (even if it hasn't been paid for directly by him) doesn't fit his moral code. He's cool, the gaggle of girls at the Southern diner wouldn't be of interest either.

If Billy wasn't so hell bent on getting to Mardi Gras, I believe Captain America would have been quite happy to stay at the commune.

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] fxdiamond 9 years ago

every guy is gay who doesn't ogle most women they come across? jeez i think for some reason a lot of people would really love to believe that for their own personal reasons.

shame more guys weren't like this really. hell women barely look at us guys most of the time (and no movies are not an example to prove otherwise).. that mean they are all lesbian?

well i am sure some are not anyway.

as i think someone pointed on above, this behaviour men show to women only shows maturity. funny something you do not see in too many modern movies these days. even the fat girls most guys are chasing for whatever gratification, and that even goes on in the movies now not just real life.

how times have changed.

[–] cjpmak 8 years ago

This.

Simple people want simple games to play in order to come out winners; sexually harassing every female you encounter is a pretty easy way of 'winning'. Even when you don't want women. Ask just about any gay man who grew up in the typical American town.

[–] imadbasayev 11 years ago

Every bloody movie board I check out has some idiot wishing a main character was a fruit. It never ends.

[–] dahoss65 8 years ago

Exactly! These peoples minds are so polluted that they think every character or even the real person themselves just may be gay like them.

[–] Grammaw_Oddree 11 years ago

He wanted to free their mind (and his)! The prostitutes where the perfect example of someone who is bought and sold by the establishment, so by giving them LSD, he would try to free their minds. Fonda's character was the deeper thinker of the two characters. Hopper's character wanted sex, money, drugs etc. his view of freedom was bogus, compared to Fonda's character, who's envisioned a more utopian freedom.

Just my view.

[–] novastar_6 11 years ago

I think you got it right. Wyatt is the deeper thinker. Billy only thinks of the here and now, he figures they got it made because they got the money, Wyatt's the one with the sense to tell him 'we blew it'. This was brought up in a discussion years ago, it's a choice of being happy, like Billy, or being aware and unhappiness is a side effect of that.

[–] heather_m1986 10 years ago

http://www.advocate.com/news/2007/09/13/peter-fonda

From the horse's mouth:

As Captain America in Easy Rider, you became a
sexual icon—including among gay men of the era.

[Easy
Rider costar and cowriter Dennis] Hopper wanted me
to wear white leather. I designed the bikes. I built
them. I designed the costumes. When he wanted me to wear
white leather, I said no. I wanted to appeal to the
gay community. The black leather is going to carry
it—and this great phallic symbol. [Fonda motions
toward his crotch, a smile on his face.] Not
just the gas tank, but the whole goddamn motorcycle and
front end extending out. He thought I was nuts for saying
that, but I knew exactly what I was talking about. In
white leather it just wouldn't have been the same.
With black leather I can cross over borders!

[–] maxzorindresden 10 years ago

Seems to me
you lived your life
like a fruit loop in the wind !

;)

[–] zachanscom 9 years ago

he may have low libido, some people are like that.

the movie makes hints that he used to work for the department of defense, and is essentially a straight guy, a square, albeit with a rebel streak.

he's probably not interested in underage pussy or any other pussy that isn't his steady girlfriend/wife's

[–] 9 years ago

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[–] kenny-164 9 years ago

callum,

Beat me to it. The swimming hole scene went as it did because the shooting schedule conflicted with Fonda being in the hospital. What was shown, meaning not shown, has nothing to with Wyatt's sexuality or lack thereof.

[–] GraceFromSoCal 8 years ago

callum,

Beat me to it. The swimming hole scene went as it did because the shooting schedule conflicted with Fonda being in the hospital. What was shown, meaning not shown, has nothing to with Wyatt's sexuality or lack thereof.

The post you're referring to, kenny-164, has been deleted. Can you, or anyone, explain a bit about the swimming hole scene and Fonda being in the hospital? (Meanwhile, I'll let my good friend Google see what turns up!)

--

http://www.CaliforniaDreamsPhotography.com

[–] johndoe705 9 years ago

sure what else could it be , right . Not all guys are animals