Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is a 1998 dark comedy film adapted from Hunter S. Thompson’s classic novel of the same name. The work is Thompson’s most famous book and it introduced the world to “Gonzo Journalism,” a style of writing that is a highly subjective blend of fact and fiction as opposed to traditional objective news reporting. It is an energetic first-person narrative writing style in which the author is a protagonist. Use of sarcasm, humor, exaggeration, and profanity is common. The writing style has since been applied to other subjective art forms.

The quasi-true novel first appeared as a two-part series in Rolling Stone magazine in 1971, and in 1972, it was published as a book. It was later adapted into a film of the same name. In 1998, Terry Gilliam (Time Bandits, Brazil and Twelve Monkeys) co-wrote and directed the film adaption, which starred Johnny Depp as Raoul Duke, Thompson’s alter ego, and Benicio del Toro as Dr. Gonzo.

The film also features a large number of cameos and guest stars such as Mark Harmon, Gary Busey, Penn Jillette, Christina Ricci, Cameron Diaz, Flea, Lyle Lovett, Harry Dean Stanton, Ellen Barkin, Tobey Maguire, and Hunter S. Thompson himself.

The film follows Raoul (Johnny Depp) and his attorney Dr. Gonzo (Benicio del Toro) as the two embark on a wild drug-crazed road trip across the Mojave from L.A. to Las Vegas in a red convertible carrying a suitcase with a variety of drugs and alcohol. Duke has an assignment to cover the Mint 400 desert motorcycle race, however, the trip turns out to be more of an exploration of Las Vegas under the effects of strong psychoactive substances.

Fun Fact: Terry Gilliam was not the first director to attempt a film version of Thompson’s book. Others who have tried and given up include Martin Scorsese, Oliver Stone, and Alex Cox. Cox was fired by the film’s producers shortly before Gilliam was brought on board in the Spring of 1997.

Unfortunately, the film was poorly received by critics and a financial failure, but Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas has since become a cult classic film due in large part to its release on DVD, including a Director Approved Special Edition released by The Criterion Collection.

Though the film was a dark comedy, the true origin story behind it is an interesting one. The novel is based on two trips to Las Vegas, Nevada that Hunter S. Thompson took with attorney and Chicano activist Oscar Zeta Acosta in March and April 1971.

Thompson was writing an article for Rolling Stone magazine about the Mexican-American television journalist Rubén Salazar, whom officers of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department had shot and killed with a tear gas grenade fired at close range during the National Chicano Moratorium March against the Vietnam War in 1970.

Because of the racially tense atmosphere in Los Angeles at the time, it was difficult for the two to speak comfortably. Thompson decided to take advantage of an offer from Sports Illustrated to write photograph captions for the annual Mint 400 desert race being held in Las Vegas from March 21-23, 1971.

Thompson wrote that he concluded their March trip by spending some 36 hours alone in a hotel room “feverishly writing in my notebook” about his experiences. These writings became the genesis of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream. You can read the full story here.

Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas | Official Trailer

“Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas – Trailer” by Universal Movies

Sources:
Interview with the director, Terry Gilliam about the making of Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas Production Notes

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