The Subterraneans (1960)

Hey everyone! Happy new year!
Please forgive my 6 month absence from posting.
Life sort of took off for me in September.
I had spent August and September planning the first two episodes for my podcast "Not Just Yesterday: The Roddy McDowall Podcast" which I had created for Roddy.
Many weeks were involved in preparing for both shows. The creation of the shows involved lots of research and preparation and I had deadlines for both. The second being Roddy's 89th birthday on September 17th.
After both shows had been posted my life kind of rocketted into existence.
I began taking acting classes on September 5th, and on September 25th I became employed for the first time in a year and a month.
So the last few months I've been working steadily both at my sales job and as a voice over actress.
I'm currently involved in several projects which have been taking up my time. But my schedule for my sales job is pretty decent now (I was working full time; now I'm only part time and it's much better for getting things done!) so I can begin getting back into the things I love doing again, which is; taking care of this website for my darling Roddy and working on my podcasts again.

But tonight, as my return to blogging has now taken place I would like to take the opportunity to talk about Roddy's performance in a beautiful film I've just seen called "The Subterraneans".


                                                                       

Roddy plays a character called "Yuri"; who is very close to Roddy's own personality in that he is a deeply loving, sympathetic, empathic and geniunely sweet character.
He is head over heels in love with Mardou (played by Leslie Caron); a french woman with a psychological inability to give of herself completely to those she loves, despite having a desperate need to love and be loved at all times.



                                                                             

Yuri seems to be the rock at the center of her life. A good friend who is good at turning at up to cheer her up when the going gets rough.
and he has some beautiful scenes with her.
I found myself getting very saucer eyed each time Roddy came on the screen (which is not unusual for me, I often open my eyes wide when I see him to ensure that I miss nothing of him. Every moment of screen time is a precious gift!)
Towards the end of the film he shows his true colors as a beautiful person by attempting to bring Mardou together with the man she loves, despite the fact that he (Yuri) really wants Mardou for himself. Though it breaks his heart, and even after telling Mardou repeatedly that he truly loves her with his entire being; he lets her go. And he is the last thing we see at the end of the film, walking away with a rose that Mardou gave him, cradled lovingly, as though it were a rare jewel, in his hands.


                                                                         

I found myself screaming "I LOVE YOU! I LOVE YOU! I LOVE YOU! I LOVE YOU!" Inside my soul when the end of the film came and Roddy was exuding such gorgeous emotions at every turn and camera angle. He was just simply marvelous!
But then again, since when is this anything new? He's always marvelous!


                                                                             

Roddy had such a genuine something about him. He was always captivating, no matter what age he was. Whether he was 11 years old as Huw in How Green was my Valley, or 67 as the Barber in The Grass Harp; he always had a sparkle and shine to him. He lit up the entire room where ever he was and whatever he was playing. There was a natural, genuine beauty to him that no one else has ever had. Roddy was so special. and there isn't enough information available on the internet about him for fans such as myself to enjoy. Many of his movies are either lost or hard to come by which is a real shame.  He was a national treasure. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't wish I had access to some sort of time machine, so that I could go back in time and meet him. There are few people in the world that I connect with on every level, spiritual, physical, emotional, etc.
Roddy is one of those people that, despite my never being able to meet him before he died, I feel as though I know him personally. and I feel such a strong connection and personal love for him because of this. It was his personality that drew people in. Every one he ever knew, even accidentally brushed past loved him with all of their hearts and souls. He was just a love. The Subterraneans is a strange film. It's based on the book of the same title written by Jack Kerouac. But the gentle, loving nature that Roddy brought to it made a weird film into a beautiful work of art.
The characteristics he portrays, the genuine love with which he handles everyone around him in the picture, as well as his undying devotion to Mardou; paints a real life portrait of the soul within the man behind the mask of his character. He had the ability to shine through all masks he wore. Whether they were human, or ape. Roddy McDowall was a true star.

If you haven't seen the Subterraneans before, it is available to watch on Daily Motion in two parts.
You can find the links below.

Have a great day guys.
Keep smilin'!
~Zoe.

The Subterraneans Part 1

The Subterraneans Part 2