Dawn’s Highway

Dawn’s Highway traces and seeks to validate Jim Morrison’s story about his family encountering a deadly accident in the New Mexico desert when he was a young boy.  This story first surfaced on An American Prayer, an album of Morrison’s poetry.  Frank Lisciandro, who originally recorded the story, recounts his experience of working with Morrison in this short documentary film.

 

The film approaches Morrison’s story through the lens of history.  Central to the film’s presentation is a 1947 newspaper account of the accident.  The driver of the truck and a witness to the aftermath of the accident are interviewed.  Three prominent New Mexico historians share their perspectives.

 

Dawn’s Highway attempts to substantiate a rock and roll mystery.  Did Jim Morrison invent or embellish his story, or did he actually remember in vivid detail this early childhood event?