Chappaqua (1966)

Chappaqua is a 1966 cult film written and directed by Conrad Rooks. Click on the image above to watch it in full. The film is based on Rooks' experiences with drug addiction and includes cameo appearances by William S. Burroughs, Swami Satchidananda, Allen Ginsberg, Moondog, Ornette Coleman, The Fugs, and Ravi Shankar. Rooks had commissioned Coleman to compose music for the film, but his score, which has become known as the Chappaqua Suite was not used (see below for full album). Ravi Shankar then composed a score.

The film briefly depicts Chappaqua, New York, a hamlet in Westchester County, in a few minutes of wintry panoramas. In the film, the hamlet is an overt symbol of drug-free suburban childhood innocence. It also serves as one of the film's many nods to Native American culture. The word "chappaqua" derives from the Wappinger (a nation of the Algonquian peoples) word for "laurel swamp."

 Peter Orlovsky and Allen Ginsberg sing for their supper in Chappaqua (1966)

Cast:

Jean-Louis Barrault as Dr. Benoit 

Conrad Rooks as Russel Harwick 

 William S. Burroughs as Opium Jones 

 Allen Ginsberg as Messie 

 Ravi Shankar as Dieu du Soleil 

 Paula Pritchett as Water Woman 

 Ornette Coleman as Peyote Eater 

 Swami Satchidananda as The Guru 

 Moondog as The Prophet 

 Ed Sanders as The Fugs 

 Rita Renoir Hervé Villechaize

Directed by Conrad Rooks
Produced by Conrad Rooks
Written by Conrad Rooks
Starring Jean-Louis Barrault
William S. Burroughs
Allen Ginsberg
Swami Satchidananda
Ornette Coleman
Music by Ravi Shankar
Cinematography Étienne Becker
Robert Frank
Eugen Schüfftan
Editing by Kenout Peltier
Studio Minotaur
Distributed by Universal Pictures
Release dates November 5, 1967 (USA)
Running time 82 mins
Country USA
Language English