How Jim Morrison Inspired Matthew McConaughey’s ‘Dazed and Confused’ Catchphrase
For years now, the easiest way to do a Matthew McConaughey impression has been to imitate his 'Dazed and Confused' character, David Wooderson, by saying "Alright, alright, alright" in a goofy Southern drawl -- something McConaughey himself acknowledged when he uttered those magic words while picking up his Oscar and Golden Globe awards for 'Dallas Buyers Club.' And as it turns out, we have Doors frontman Jim Morrison to thank for all of it.
As McConaughey revealed during a 2011 interview, those words weren't in writer-director Richard Linklater's screenplay. Reflecting on the experience, which was his first major film role, he recalled, "So we go up to the set. I get in the car 'cause I'm nervous. First scene ever on film. And right before we're about to shoot I've got friends in the car and I had been listening to this live Doors album and in between two of the songs Morrison goes, 'Alright! Alright! Alright! Alright!"
Mulling his approach to a scene in which Wooderson would be "trolling for chicks," McConaughey continued, "So right before before we're about to go I go, 'What is Wooderson about?' And I go, 'He's about four things: He's about his car, he's about gettin' high, he's about rock 'n' roll and pickin' up chicks.' I go, 'I'm in my car, I'm high as a kite, I'm listenin' to rock 'n' roll...' Action... and there's the chick. Alright, alright, alright... three out of four."