MovieChat Forums > Where the Buffalo Roam (1980) Discussion > Dennis Hopper as HST?

Dennis Hopper as HST?

posted 19 years ago by jong19822004
25 replies | jump to latest

Many years ago, well before the film version of Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas was released, i was talking to my friend about Where The Buffalo Roam and he thought Dennis Hopper should have played Hunter. They do look alike. I'm surprised i have never heard his name when i read about the other candidates considered to play him. Of course he's too old now, but does anyone think he could have played him in Buffalo or if Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas was made in the 1970's?

[–] lilamandas 19 years ago

Depp was great in Fear and Loathing, but I think Dennis Hopper might have been able to do Buffalo better than Bill Murray. Murray was kind of lacking the kind of intensity as HST that Depp had and Hopper might have been able to bring.

[–] Stockade 19 years ago

Come on now. I used to like Hopper. But he has always been over rated. If you think that's an unfair statement just ask yourself if he has, or had, the basic skills to imitate the vocal delivery of HST?

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[–] dafragsta 18 years ago

Depp's character is based on a hybrid fictional character, Raoul Duke. He's a tad bit more intensified than than the real HST, which was actually Hunter's real beef with the book. People always expected him to be Duke. If you watch any of the documentaries, (especially Fear and Loathing in Gonzovision, the BBC film) you can see for yourself that Murray was more true to the character of HST than Depp was.

[–] MC_Keen 18 years ago

In fear and loathing that was supposed to be thompson... read the book. And ofcourse he would be intensified, HE WAS ON A 5 DAY DRUG BINGE, which also did happen although it is slightly exaggerated

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] jonei26 16 years ago

Thompsons life was a drug binge

[–] TimDbase 18 years ago

Funny you bring up Dennis Hopper. I was just thinking that Peter Boyle, as Acosta, looks a lot like Dennis Hopper. It's just that he looks absolutely nothing like Acosta a big mexican "buffalo". So that wouldn't work, and HST? no i do not think he would do a better job then Murray, i even think that murray does a better job then Depp, he only doesn't look like HST, and Depp's performance is funnier and more characteristic then Murray's. But when you look at the real Thompson in the 80's then you will see he behaves exactly like Murphy acts. (at least in my opinion).

[–] dafragsta 18 years ago

Absolutely not. Not in a million years. Some actors either can't portray anyone but themselves, or have rarely tried. Great as he is, Dennis Hopper can only play Dennis Hopper. He's in the same person in Speed, Blue Velvet, and Space Truckers. The only thing that changes are his lines and motivation. Hopper is in a pile of fine actors who haven't done much to shake that image, including Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Gary Busey, Jack Nicholson, Al Pacino, and Burt Reynolds.

To play a character like HST, you need to be a damn good mimic. I think Bill Murray and Johnny "Colonel" Depp proved they are more than capable of capturing the essence of him.

[–] lebezki 18 years ago

How about Robert Forster?

Crispin Glover as the Joker. Period.

[–] sinnva 18 years ago

you forgot george clooney

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] Keithman138 18 years ago

Hell No! Why would you even think such a thing? Thompson is one of my heros. I would hate to see him portrayed by a lame ass like Hoper!

[–] Ninja_Skills 18 years ago

Maybe Dan Aykroyd, back when he was skinny in the 70s.

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[–] lcagold 18 years ago

What both Depp and Murray (though I thought they were both wonderful) lack that Thompson had was an absolute seriousness and conviction in everything he said. You usually knew when Depp and Murray were pulling your leg, but the real Thompson never seemed to give that much away. He always meant what he said, even when he didn't mean what he said.

[–] ancaja123 18 years ago

Hahaha, my friend said he thought that Jim Carrey would be a good choice, and that may be true, but I just wouldn't like the fact that he would play HST. It just doesn't seem as right as Depp(my fave as him) or Murray. But I also have the feeling that if Jim played HST, he would over exaggerate the character a lot, although, after seeing Man on the Moon, I might be wrong!

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] jong19822004 18 years ago

What about Robin Williams?

[–] jong19822004 18 years ago

Lets go out on a limb here. How about Chevy Chase or Clint Eastwood?

[–] photoseller 17 years ago

No One could have played HST better than Bill at the time this film was made, first of all Bill looked very much like an early to mid 1970s version of HST, second he had his speech patterns and mannerisms down pat, if you close your eyes and listen to HST and then listen to Bill from the film it is hard to tell them apart., the movie was a classic and Bil's acting was spot on.

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[–] davospew714 17 years ago

i always thought chevy chase could have been a good contender for playing hunter, and/or the character of raoul duke. this came to me as i was watching a copy of "fletch" one strung-out night. i dunno... anyone?

[–] charliesafari 13 years ago

Yep I've watched Fletch strung out heaps of times and I can see your point :)

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[–] DirtyGrainius 17 years ago

I always thought there were a few people who might of done a great job portraying Hunter if they were given the chance. Names that come to mind are:

Charlton Heston
Jurgen Prochnow
Dominic Monaghan
Jet Li
Bernie Mac
or any one of the Hanson Brothers (of Charlestown Cheifs fame).

Cheers.

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[–] savagegarden197 16 years ago

HA HA HA to even put Dennis Hopper near HST is insane that man couldn't act out of a paper bag. My god are you on crack his acting has the same emotion and dept as a wall. Please

Billy Muray did just fine portraying him and seeing Bill and Johnny together you can def. see some similaries. But Johnny is dead on and when they do decide to film "The Rum Diary" anytime soon Johnny is the only one to play the part doesn't matter if he's playing a 20 something Hunter, he wouldn't want it any other way.

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] amaster88 12 years ago

how is Dennis Hopper a bad choice? The man could have pulled it off. Dennis Hopper had the intensity and the look, he was a decent actor, he may at times been a bit overrated, but still a good actor.