2019 update – Regrettably, the video above does not chime with the text below. The original Radio Canada footage to which this text refers was taken down. We have, however, taken the opportunity to insert equivalent Radio Canada footage – Kerouac interviewed (and with English translation, no less!). Hope that you enjoy
We’ve actually spotlighted this before (in the context of Lawrence Ferlinghetti’s birthday – there’s a young Ferlinghetti here – but there’s also rarely-seen Kerouac – and more). The date is 1964, the source, Radio-Canada. En Francais (but, even those without French should get something, in fact, quite a good deal, from it). Filmed predominantly in San Francisco, the clarity and straightforwardness of Ferlinghetti and Kerouac as spokespersons cuts through the more superficial sociological documentarian overlay. Not to suggest that black-and-white footage of ‘Sixties hipsters isn’t interesting in and of itself!
“Pauvre mais joyeux” (poor but happy) is how Kerouac describes the Beat reality to the earnest inquiring reporter. Ferlinghetti points out the contempt built into the journalistic word “beatnik”, speaks of San Francisco’s radical tradition(s), and of the city’s then (1964) present activity. The tape, be forewarned, ends somewhat abruptly.. mais très intéressant, n’est-ce pas?