Heart Beat (film)


Heart Beat is a 1980 American drama film written and directed by John Byrum, based on the autobiography by Carolyn Cassady. The film is about seminal figures in the Beat Generation. The character of Ira, played by Ray Sharkey, is based on Allen Ginsberg. The film stars Nick Nolte, Sissy Spacek and John Heard.
The movie received generally mixed reviews, although the soundtrack was met with critical acclaim. According to Box Office Mojo, its worldwide gross receipts were $954,046, making the movie a box-office disappointment.

Plot

The film explores the love triangle of real-life characters Neal Cassady, Jack Kerouac, and Carolyn Cassady in the late 1950s and the 1960s. It chronicles Jack Kerouac writing his seminal novel On the Road, and its effect on their lives.

Cast

It was one of the first movies from the newly formed Orion Productions.

Critical reception

of The Chicago Sun-Times gave the film 2½ out of 4 stars and praised certain aspects of the film:

Musical score and soundtrack

The score was composed by Jack Nitzsche and included the song "I Love Her Too" co-written by Buffy Sainte-Marie and sung by Aaron Neville and the soundtrack prominently featured saxophonist Art Pepper and other West Coast jazz musicians with the soundtrack album released on the Capitol label.

Track listing

All compositions by Jack Nitzsche except where noted.
  1. "On the Road" - 3:16
  2. "Carolyn's Theme" - 1:53
  3. "Adagio for Strings" - 1:58
  4. "Three Americans" - 1:19
  5. "Jack's Theme" - 1:39
  6. "The World Is Waiting for the Sunrise" - 2:10
  7. "I Love Her Too" - 3:50
  8. "Carolyn" - 3:18
  9. "Jam" - 2:28
  10. "Neal's Theme" - 1:55
  11. "901" - 3:01
  12. "Heart Beat" - 1:42

    Personnel