25 years ago today, audiences were first introduced to Jeffrey ‘The Dude’ Lebowski.
Played by Jeff Bridges in a career redefining performance of laid-back comic charm, the easy-going protagonist of the Coen Brothers’ feature The Big Lebowski very quickly became an unlikely movie icon.
That the film itself, an eccentric stoner noir about a case of mistaken identity and a botched kidnapping, would gain a devoted cult following after a modest theatrical release is no surprise.
But the way in which the movie’s dedicated fans came to look up to The Dude certainly was – even Joel Coen has been quoted as saying he’s somewhat baffled by his cultural longevity.
Creating The Dude
Universal Pictures
When Bridges first received the screenplay for The Big Lebowski, he was taken aback by how similar The Dude was to himself in the ’60s and ’70s.
It’s part of the reason why the character is so instantly iconic: he has a lived-in quality (right down to Bridges wearing his own clothes) that only comes with perfect casting (we remain relieved that the Coens’ inexplicable original choice for this role, Mel Gibson, turned it down).
Whilst the roles of Walter (John Goodman), Donny (Steve Buscemi), and the mysterious narrator (Sam Elliott) were written with those actors in mind, the identity of The Dude remained something of an enigma to the director duo in the early development stages, even though he was inspired by two people the pair had met.
Universal Pictures
The first of these was the film producer Jeff Dowd, who dressed like Bridges’ character, loved to drink White Russians, and even went by the nickname of ‘The Dude’.
The other was a personal friend of the brothers – a Vietnam War veteran who lived in a filthy apartment, where his only pride and joy was a rug that “really tied the room together”.
The Coens began developing the screenplay in the early ’90s, initially writing a more grounded story of the oddball friendship between the laid-back Dude and the ultra-conservative Walter, before the noir influence of Raymond Chandler transformed the tale.
Universal Pictures
It’s the differences in this dynamic that have intrigued in the years since the film’s release. With the movie taking place in 1990, it’s notable that one sequence features a news broadcast of then-President George H.W. Bush delivering his infamous “this aggression will not stand” speech following the start of the Gulf War.
Some have interpreted the film as a political critique, with The Dude representing a complacent America, placed next to the trigger-happy Walter who is eager to escalate a situation out of his control.
However, as with many of the Coens’ other films, the mythology of Bridges’ character is grounded more in theology than in direct political allegory.
“The Dude Abides”
Universal Pictures
The inspiration for this classic line of dialogue has been cited as everything from a Grateful Dead lyric to a 1940s sci-fi novel titled Earth Abides.
But if you’re a close observer of the Coens’ work and how their dark comedies often reflect narratives from biblical tales, you’ll likely conclude that the main influence can be found in holy scripture.
In the Bible verse Ecclesiastes 1:4, it is written that “one generation passes away and another generation comes: but the Earth abides forever”.
With Lebowski being set at the start of a new decade, allegorically depicting the conflict between a relaxed past and a warmongering future, this seems to set up the idea of Bridges’ character being a man of a bygone era, unsuited to the challenges of the present day.
But a closer inspection reveals The Dude to be a much more powerful entity through his slacker ways, with the ease with which he rolls through life ensuring he remains a constant despite the drama unfolding around him.
No matter what is going on in the world, The Dude abides forever.
From A Dude To A Deity
Universal Pictures
The Dude may not be a particularly aspirational figure, but his existence as a semi-spiritual presence within the film seems to have subconsciously struck a chord with a growing cult of viewers, who dub themselves ‘Achievers’.
In 2005, journalist Oliver Benjamin founded the Church Of The Latter Day Dude, an organisation that promotes the teachings of a new religion dubbed ‘Dudeism’. Yes, it really brings a whole new meaning to the phrase “cult following”.
However, much like its patron saint, there’s nothing formal about this belief system – the philosophy is built entirely around relaxing, going with the flow, being nice to others, staying calm in the face of trouble, and enjoying every simple pleasure life brings.
Universal Pictures
As Benjamin himself put it: “Life is short and complicated, and nobody knows what to do about it. So don’t do anything about it, just take it easy, man… that is to say, abide.”
It’s a worldview that has proved to chime more and more in increasingly turbulent times, with the Dudeism website claiming that 600,000 people have become ordained as Dudeist priests, spreading the word of the most unlikely philosopher of our times.
Several holy books spreading this word and the theological power of The Big Lebowski, have been published, with Bridges himself having even gotten into the act, via his 2013 book The Dude And The Zen Master, which explored how the slacker’s worldview is surprisingly enlightening.
That many have found a positive, life-affirming message via a character whose biggest achievement was being a roadie for Metallica has likely not been lost on the Coens.
Universal Pictures
Any nods to religious allegory in their films since have been considerably more punishing, from A Serious Man appearing to be their take on the Book Of Job, to disaster striking a production of a biblical epic in their Old Hollywood parody Hail, Caesar!.
The Dude’s laid-back approach to the world couldn’t be more at odds with the more cynical view other Coen Brothers’ characters have. There’s no wonder why the cult of the Dude is one that keeps on growing.
