I think Jack held his own very well against the taunts of Hecht. Jack acted like a gentleman and was able to laugh at himself like a true Bhodisvata. Thank you for this. It is wonderful to hear Jack's voice.

Jack is so soft spoken. It's pretty cool to hear him speak. He uses a lot of patience with Ben. I think he is a decent interviewer, however, I don't believe that he understands Jack. The questions he asks could have been more important, and he replies to Jacks answers in a way that I believe shows he didn't understand him on a certain level. However, I found that Jack answered the questions beautifully. Damn I love everything that man ever had to say.

Wow, never got to hear Jack laugh before.

yeah read bout Jack, born in USA to french canadian parents,Kerouacs and Levesques, and his athletisism helped him get a start @ Columbia U. He liked to write and in 1954 read Dwight Goddard's A Buddist Bible, and he immersed himself into religion. He was a politically coservative Catholic and supported Vietnam war. He died in 1969 @ 47 due to heavy drinking issues ! RIP, Mr. Kerouac !

I don't practice religion, but what he says about everyone going to heaven and praying to all the gods, because, according to him, they are all real. In a world with religious fanaticism, Prop. 8, and intelligent design in public schools, an ideology like his can probably fix a lot of the hate going around. Thoughts and comments welcome

Awesome interview, Clarice!!

It is true that there is a lack of understanding in this interview. But you have to bear in mind the Hecht was an embittered cynic about the world around him and Kerouac was an idealist. Ultimately, given the what happened to Kerouac, his idealism was what cost him dear and maybe led him to become somewhat embittered himself. However, for someone like Hecht, he would never appreciate the world in such a profound spiritual way which is also somewhat sad. The interview seems to reflect this.

I agree. But it's a sad fact that not many people who interviewed the Beats were very accepting of the "movement" and did the same things Hecht does in this interview. They asked patronizing questions, twisted words around, and didn't always study their material. This took place in the mid-20th century where conservative thinking was popular. The idea that these young men didn't think like the rest was considered scandalous, and so it became a topic for satire.

This guy who is interviewing him is asking him some strange questions....he took it all in stride

when was this interview done? this is cool. Ben Hecht had such an active mind. yes, not the greatest interviewing skills where you let the interviewee express his or her self, but very interesting to hear Hecht's view of the beats at that time. HEre was a guy ,born in 1894 dissing eisenhower.

Poor Jack with this obnoxious, rude, SNARKY ignoramus. D r a m a Bums? ? Please. (Roll eyes)

I gotta agree with you here. The way he talks is almost condescending while Jack was just being Jack. I don't know if they knew each other before the interview. I'm still too young to know, ladydawn197Eternity. I don't want to start a fight. That's just my view from watching both parts of the interview. If I hear something I didn't before in Hecht's voice that proves otherwise, then I'll revise this comment. But for now, I have to agree with grainofsandfan.

Very nice comment. You may be right. :)

I'm not sure what's with the interviewer now. He's single minded and angry, but hes not really closed minded to Jack. I started out angry at Hecht for wasting the interview, but it turned out telling me a lot about both of them. Its interesting, too, how Jack's religious beliefs seem confused, but are also grounded at the same time.

funny

Well...it can but the bigger problem is not that, but the media in regard different relgions. There is no problem I think when it comes to this ideas you told about which Jack means but the hatred has started from the times media took tool on it..

Many claim that..Did he persoanlly knew Kerouac before the interview ?

I like his indifferent attitude toward homosexuals. "They can do what they want." That's the kind of attitude we should have in congress. Gay people aren't freaks of nature like you want to believe they are. They work, they have friends, and they pay taxes. Should they be discriminated against for loving someone different?

Hecht completely misunderstands Kerouac's earlier remark about being a 'Zen Catholic' (not a 'Gin Catholic'). No wonder Kerouac did not answer- Hecht is a pretentious dolt.

Kerouac not even interested in sparring on the tabloidified beat here and coming across as you say lucid and intelligent. Later he would comment that Hecht wanted him to come out "against everybody" like the Pope and God etc.

"In a world with religious fanaticism...." What world didn't have religious fanaticism? You think Prop 8 and intelligent design in public schools is hardcore? Are you for real? Try Muslim Conquests, Crusades, Inquisition, etc.

Kerouac comes across as neither overly cogent nor very bright nor profound in any way - but a wonderful writer nevertheless. A phenomenon that always fascinates me - e.g., how Ezra Pound was a great poet but also an egregious fool.