In the cult film “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas,” Johnny Depp drives through the surrounding area of the famous metropolis in an iconic red car. But the car wasn’t just any car, it belonged to the eccentric writer of the novel.
What film is it about? Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is now considered a cult film. It was released in 1998 and was the film adaptation of the novel of the same name. The author behind the book was Hunter S. Thompson, himself a legendary figure who became known for his extraordinary reports during the hippie era.
He also wrote novels, including the autobiographical book Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. It’s about the sports journalist Raoul Duke, who goes to Las Vegas with his lawyer. He is supposed to report on a race there.
The problem is that the two men have a suitcase full of drugs with them. And not only are they carried around well, but they are also consumed to a large extent.
The story was filmed by Terry Gilliam, who himself made several cult films such as Brazil, 12 Monkeys and Time Bandits. With Johnny Depp in the lead role, all the elements seemed to come together for an iconic film experience. His appearances in other films sometimes cost a lot of money.
So the story, the director and the main actor were decided. All that was missing was the right car, which you can see in this excerpt:
The crazy car ride from “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas”
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Through the desert in a convertible
What was wrong with the car? Johnny Depp and his co-star Benicio del Toro spend a certain part of the film in a stylish, red convertible. They race along the straight desert highway around Las Vegas.
The film production first had to find such a car. Surprisingly, the author of the original, Hunter S. Thompson, offered his own car. After all, the plot of the film was based on my own experiences. So why not drive the real car?
The red Chevrolet was nicknamed “Red Shark” and contributed significantly to the film’s now iconic images. After filming ended, Johnny Depp personally drove the car back to its owner’s house. The actor and the writer were good friends after all.
Fans of scary stories can find seven more films with Johnny Depp on MeinMMO.
Does the author himself appear in the film? Your own experiences, your own car – all that’s missing is an actual appearance by the writer. There’s that in the film too.
In a party scene, Johnny Depp as Duke is staggering across the dance floor when he notices a gentleman dressed almost identically. This man is Hunter S. Thompson himself. Because Johnny Depp’s character is very intoxicated at this moment, he thinks he is a hallucination. You can see the scene on YouTube here.
In general, there are clear parallels between Depp’s costume and the appearance of the real person Hunter S. Thompson.
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is a film in which the spirit of its creator can be felt throughout. Have you seen the film? What do you think? Write it to us in the comments. Disney paid Johnny Depp $68 million for a seven-minute appearance.