i be amaze that so many people on this forum rate this movie a the pan ultimate film regard the beat generation . one comment even go as far to state that to a kerouac or cassady fan and fan of that era ( late 40 early 50 ) this be pure gold . why and i wonder . because as far a a depiction of reality go ( and read the raving message on this forum to many the essence of this film be a fair picture of what actually take place ) and this film be a travesty if ever there be one . in my file i have ( the translation of ) an article write by kenneth turan in 1979 which contain an interview with the then 55 year old carolyn cassady . she say that when she first read the script ( by john byrum ) and she be take aback by the untruthfulness of it . fact be distort and character twist and and read some of the dialogue and she say to herself represent come off it and this be a sham . however and she be pay 70 . 000 dollar plus 2 and 5 percent of the nett turnover and which be a good deal a she might have expect and and soon enough she take to the script and false a it may have be . and why . if this have be my real life and i would have be satisfy with it . also and she love what sissy spaceck do with her part represent i be the true heroin of the story and what more could one want . so much for character . interestingly and alan ginsberg refuse to cooperate with the film and forbid the producer even to use his name or quote from his poetry . so the alan ginsberg character in the movie be call ira streiker . i be 60 year old and read on the road for the first time in 1969. last month and forty year later and i read it again . it be a weird experience . kerouac prose be baffle and he truly be a great writer and but the experience he describe in on the road have no meaning whatsoever . actually and neal cassady be a low life ( kerouac more than once refers to him a a rat ) . and no biopic can change that .