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

Prologue -- I blame Dennis Hopper -- They came from within: love and romance at the drive-in -- Camelot -- In the key of Liza -- Chance encounters -- Me doing Dreyfuss doing Tracy -- Screaming for Marty -- What's it like to work with Robert De Niro? -- Happy just to be alive -- Uncle Roddy -- A director to die for -- A woman's picture -- You're a tuning fork -- The roulette wheel of insanity -- Easy to assemble -- Epilogue.;"In 1969, Illeana Douglas' parents saw the film Easy Rider. Like many folks of that generation, the groundbreaking film transformed them. Taking Dennis Hopper's words, "That's what it's all about man", to heart, they abandoned what Illeana had hoped would be her comfortable upper middle class life for 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. Years later I would work with Dennis Hopper on the film Search and Destroy"--

From award-winning actress Illeana Douglas comes a memoir about learning to survive in Hollywood while staying true to her quirky vision of the world.


In 1969 Illeana Douglas' 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 testament to the power of art and the tenacity of passion. It 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 for her blood-curdling scream and cast in her first film, 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. Writing from the perspective of the ultimate show business fan, Douglas packs each page with hilarious anecdotes, bizarre coincidences, and fateful meetings that seem, well, right out of a plot of a movie.

I Blame Dennis Hopper is the story of one woman's experience in show business, but it is also a genuine reminder of why we all love the movies: for the glitz, the glamor, the sweat, passion, humor, and escape they offer us all.

From award-winning actress Illeana Douglas comes a memoir about learning to survive in Hollywood while staying true to her quirky vision of the world. In 1969 Illeana Douglas' 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 testament to the power of art and the tenacity of passion. It 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 for her blood-curdling scream and cast in her first film, 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. Writing from the perspective of the ultimate show business fan, Douglas packs each page with hilarious anecdotes, bizarre coincidences, and fateful meetings that seem, well, right out of a plot of a movie. I Blame Dennis Hopper is the story of one woman's experience in show business, but it is also a genuine reminder of why we all love the movies: for the glitz, the glamor, the sweat, passion, humor, and escape they offer us all. In 1969, Illeana Douglas' Parents Saw The Film Easy Rider. Like Many Folks Of That Generation, The Groundbreaking Film Transformed Them. Taking Dennis Hopper's Words, That's What It's All About Man, To Heart, They Abandoned What Illeana Had Hoped Would Be Her Comfortable Upper Middle Class Life For 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. Years Later I Would Work With Dennis Hopper On The Film Search And Destroy-- Prologue -- I Blame Dennis Hopper -- They Came From Within: Love And Romance At The Drive-in -- Camelot -- In The Key Of Liza -- Chance Encounters -- Me Doing Dreyfuss Doing Tracy -- Screaming For Marty -- What's It Like To Work With Robert De Niro? -- Happy Just To Be Alive -- Uncle Roddy -- A Director To Die For -- A Woman's Picture -- You're A Tuning Fork -- The Roulette Wheel Of Insanity -- Easy To Assemble -- Epilogue. Illeana Douglas. "In 1969, Illeana Douglas' parents saw the film Easy Rider. Like many folks of that generation, the groundbreaking film transformed them. Taking Dennis Hopper's words, "That's what it's all about man", to heart, they abandoned what Illeana had hoped would be her comfortable upper middle class life for 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. Years later I would work with Dennis Hopper on the film Search and Destroy"-- Provided by publisher In 1969, Illeana Douglas' parents saw the film Easy Rider. Like many folks of that generation, the groundbreaking film transformed them. Funny and poignant, I Blame Dennis Hopper is a testament to the power of art, the tenacity of passion and a portrait of a fascinating life, all with Dennis Hopper to blame for every glorious moment. "How our experiences as parents can become the path to transcendence"-- Provided by publisher