HOPPER HEAD

Pat H. Broeske erroneously says Dennis Hopper has not directed a movie since “The Last Movie” in 1971 (“Who Loves ‘Hoosiers’?--Indiana, That’s Who. . . ,” Nov. 16).

In 1980 he directed “Out of the Blue,” in which he starred with Linda Manz and Sharon Farrell. As Hopper said a few years ago when the movie was screened in Boston, the original director had made such a mess that the producer fired him and asked Hopper to take over, which he did, obtaining full directorial credit.

In my opinion, the result was a seriously flawed but nevertheless powerful film, taking a look one generation down the line from Hopper’s character in “Easy Rider” and seeing the punk rebellion: To each generation its own revolution.

If Hopper does direct the film he is currently negotiating to direct, it will be to the betterment of the American film industry. He is an unjustly underappreciated directorial artist.

JOHN M. LANDSBERG

Santa Barbara