I Blame Dennis Hopper: And Other Stories from a Life Lived In and Out of the Movies

Written by Illeana Douglas

Narrated by Illeana Douglas

In 1969 Illeana Douglas's parents saw the film Easy Rider and were transformed. Taking Dennis Hopper's words "That's what it's all about man" to heart, they abandoned their comfortable upper-middle-class life and gave Illeana a childhood filled with hippies, goats, free spirits, and free love. Illeana writes, "Since it was all out of my control, I began to think of my life as a movie, with a Dennis Hopper-like father at the center of it."



I Blame Dennis Hopper is a rollicking, funny, at times tender exploration of the way movies can change our lives. With crackling humor and a full heart, Douglas describes how a good Liza Minnelli impression helped her land her first gig and how Rudy Valley taught her the meaning of being a show biz trouper. From her first experience being on set with her grandfather and mentor—two-time Academy Award–winning actor Melvyn Douglas—to the moment she was discovered by Martin Scorsese, to starring in movies alongside Robert DeNiro, Nicole Kidman, and Ethan Hawke, to becoming an award-winning writer, director, and producer in her own right, I Blame Dennis Hopper is an irresistible love letter to movies and filmmaking.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tantor Media, Inc
• Release date: Dec 22, 2015
• ISBN: 9781494588625

Reviews for I Blame Dennis Hopper

[kslade-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Interesting memoir of actor and star who was raised by hippie parents in poverty and was the granddaughter of the great actor Melvyn Douglas. She went on to be in many films and other projects and was influenced by her boyfriend, Martin Scorsese, and others. I enjoyed it. She is also quite a film buff like me.

[kaethe_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I Blame Dennis Hopper: And Other Stories from a Life Lived In and Out of the Movies - Illeana Douglas Prior to reading this book I probably couldn't have named two Illeana Douglas movies. I loved Grace of My Heart, but I don't actually remember her other performances that I know I've seen. Perhaps that's an indication of what an amazing actor she is: she inhabits a character so fully that you don't notice the actor at all. Maybe she just hasn't gotten enough big roles. I don't know. What I do know now is how much she loves movies. Wow, does she love movies. She's seen all of them, apparently, and can discuss every aspect of film-making and -viewing with equal ease. And also, she know how to tell a story.Reiterating more or less what I must have written before when reading John Cleese: this is exactly what I want from a memoir. Weird and funny details about making movies (so many movies), anecdotes from encounters with famouser people, but mostly just the sheer delight of sharing her enthusiasm. She's really a very skilled writer who manages to make it all seem effortless and natural and intimate without ever being indiscreet. It would be an honor to find one's self in the index.Library copy

[br77rino · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I've seen her in many movies, and she was an engaged and interesting guest on the Jon Favreau "Dinner for Five" video. But I did not know a lot about her, and this telling is really interesting.

She grew up poor, but also is the granddaughter of 1950s actor Melvyn Douglas!! Her dad wanted to BE Dennis Hopper. Her mom was Italian. She has great stories about getting into show business. She dated Martin Scorcese for a long time. They spent time with Marlon Brando.

Very worthwhile read. As good as the bio's by Carol Burnette and Diane Keaton.