BEEN DOWN SO LONG IT LOOKS LIKE UP TO ME (1971)

Title: BEEN DOWN SO LONG IT LOOKS LIKE UP TO ME

Year of Release: 1971

Director: Jeffrey Young

Genre: Drama

Synopsis: Beatnik student Gnossos Pappadopoulis makes waves, and rubs many people up the wrong way in an American college in 1958.

Within a film history context: Movies which feature a beatnik protagonist were present to a small degree in cinema before 1971. One of the first was Howard Koch's UNTAMED YOUTH (1957). In this movie, two unruly young women are sentenced, and sent to a farm to straighten out after indulging in illicit activities in this irreverent film. Another movie in a similar style was DADDY-O (1958), directed by Lou Place. Here, an unconventional young man working as a truck driver is challenged by a young woman in a sports car to a race, but is arrested and loses his license. He then begins work singing in a nightclub, and becomes caught up in intrigue and drug dealing. More blatant in its intent was Charles Haas' THE BEAT GENERATION (1959). A misogynistic beatnik responsible for the rapes of women in Los Angeles is pursued by a detective who becomes obsessed with catching him at all costs. Slightly different in mood was A BUCKET OF BLOOD (1959), directed by Roger Corman. Featuring a number of beatnik characters, it was about a busboy who, after seeing the clay statue of a dead cat, begins to carry out murderous acts to produce further works of sick art, in this black comedy. Exploitation was also prevalent in Julian Roffman's THE BLOODY BROOD (1959). The story of a psychotic beatnik who becomes mixed up in mayhem, and murder, with other beatniks gave Peter Falk a showy lead role. Another wild film about beatniks was in the form of A COOL SOUND FROM HELL (1959), directed by Sidney J. Furie. A young beatnik becomes enmeshed in drug dealing and other activities, pining for a promiscuous eatnik young woman, while his true love lays low for him. Into the 1960s, further movies about beatniks and their adventures were on cinema screens.

Ranald MacDougall's THE SUBTERRANEANS (1960) had a male novelist fall for a beautiful beatnik, and become involved with her crowd, with romantic problems occurring due to their incompatibility.  The lead character of WILD FOR KICKS (1960), directed by Edmond T. Greville, was a viper whose dealings with beatniks brought her nothing but trouble. A humorous look at beatniks, though, was in Henry Koster's TAKE HER, SHE'S MINE (1963). A young American woman in Paris studying at college hooks up with beatnik friends, as described to her father in her letters to him, and he determines to extricate her from them, with many moments of hilarity unravelling. At the other end of the spectrum was THE FAT BLACK PUSSYCAT (1963), directed by Harold Lea. Revolving around the murders of three young women, linked by their wearing of high heels, and the investigator attempting to solve the case, but finding difficulties dealing with the world of beatniks into which he is plunged in the process. 

The positing of beatniks as evil was evident in Guy Hamilton's THE PARTY'S OVER (1965). In a similar manner to TAKE HER, SHE'S MINE, but lacking its comedy angle, a young American woman falls in with beatniks in England, the lines blurring between fantasy and reality, which leads to tragedy. The exploitation BLOOD BATH (1966), directed by Jack Hill and Stephanie Rothman, had a number of beatnik characters, with their café hangout one of the locales in this horror movie. Thoroughly contrasting was George Seaton's unconventional WHAT'S SO BAD ABOUT FEELING GOOD? (1968). This film had a beatnik man living a wacky life in a New York loft, and having many zany adventures along the way. In comparison to the majority of movies dealing with beatnik themes, BEEN DOWN SO LONG IT LOOKS LIKE UP TO ME was of a more serious nature.

It lacked the sensationalism that marked films such as UNTAMED YOUTH, DADDY-O, and THE BEAT GENERATION, and many others which had beatniks involved in mayhem, murder, and other illicit, and illegal activities. While Gnossos, the protagonist of BEEN DOWN SO LONG IT LOOKS LIKE UP TO ME, creates controversy with his actions and behaviour, as the saying goes, stirring the proverbial pot wherever he is, the film is a character-driven piece more than one founded on spectacle, or eye-catching set pieces. The viewer gets to know Gnossos on an intimate level, and while one may not agree with what he does, and says in many instances, there is an innate understanding as to why he acts as he does. It is a deep, intense characterization than the more casual, shallow interpretations of beatniks in titles such as A BUCKET OF BLOOD, which oftentimes can be two-dimensional in scope. Related features of BEEN DOWN SO LONG IT LOOKS LIKE UP TO ME set it apart from other movies about beatniks.

The concentration upon a central character is something that other entries such as A COOL SOUND FROM HELL, WILD FOR KICKS, and THE PARTY'S OVER share, but in BEEN DOWN SO LONG IT LOOKS LIKE UP TO ME there is a broadening of narrative events which displays Gnossos in many different lights. BEEN DOWN SO LONG IT LOOKS LIKE UP TO ME has a blend of romance, drama, tragedy, student politics, political intrigue, and whimsy, that moves beyond trapping its beatnik character as being either good or bad, nice or nasty. It is a much more ambitious storyline than others in the genre, taking in a variety of events, and away from stereotypical views of beatniks as just people who read poetry, and take recreational drugs. While there are some scenes of Gnossos using drugs, these are the sequences that are possibly the most out there in the movie, utilizing psychedelic colour schemes and fuzzy camerawork. These scenes, though, are in the minority overall. A film with some thoughtful moments, BEEN DOWN SO LONG IT LOOKS LIKE UP TO ME is an interesting movie which tries to make its beatnik character a more fully-rounded person than previous pictures in the genre.

Overview: Jeffrey Young was an American director of a sole feature film, being BEEN DOWN SO LONG IT LOOKS LIKE UP TO ME. As this is the case, this overview shall concentrate on Mr Young's directorial contribution on this movie. In looking at the picture overall, Jeffrey Young has done a satisfactory job with BEEN DOWN SO LONG IT LOOKS LIKE UP TO ME. Adapted from Richard Farina's 1966 novel, it is about a radical student attending a conservative college in the late 1950s, and his clashes with almost everyone in the story, due to his counterculture ideals. Mr Young has made a film that has a nice flow to it, and a solemn mood that provides the movie a pensive atmosphere which assists it. The scenes are suitable in length, deftly delving into not only the mindset of its protagonist but also, the supporting characters. While the film does have a number of favorable points, there are certain weaknesses discerned when the movie is examined in further detail.

In trying to cover all the bases, BEEN DOWN SO LONG IT LOOKS LIKE UP TO ME, unfortunately, becomes overloaded. Possibly this has occurred as the director has attempted to be as true to the book as he could, but the sheer number of elements renders the film ubiquitous. This takes place many times in cinema and is probably not the intention of the filmmakers, but excising segments would have considerably strengthened the movie. BEEN DOWN SO LONG IT LOOKS LIKE UP TO ME is at its best when it follows Gnossos, particularly during the parts where he rebels against the conventions of the college, indulging in student politics, and his romance with Kristin, which has a touching ring to it. His intimate conversations with other such as Beth are also interesting, and add dimension to the life of Gnossos. These are the scenes that have the most weight in the movie. 

The more humorous scenes such as Gnossos seducing a young woman at the beginning, his part with Father Pettis, and Gnossos cooking in the nude worked on another level, giving the character depth, and not only being a non-conformist in a confrontational manner. What does not work as well is the opening sequence, where the viewer is led to believe that they are in AMERICAN GRAFFITI-style nostalgia territory, and the film's last scenes of political intrigue, set in Cuba. This last stretch is the most threadbare of the entire film, and does nothing for it. What distinguishes this segment is that there is no sense of tragedy present, or that the lead character has really learned anything here. It goes off on a tangent, without any real effect. If the film could have ended earlier, such as Gnossos leaving the college, and having a big emotional scene, it would have worked better. As it is, the film leads nowhere at the end, which is a disappointment. A movie bursting with aspiration, but not able to deliver an entirely coherent viewing experience, BEEN DOWN SO LONG IT LOOKS LIKE UP TO ME is notable as a movie that could have been much better with suitable streamlining.

Acting: BEEN DOWN SO LONG IT LOOKS LIKE UP TO ME is a film with great performances, and others where, unfortunately, some actors are not fully utilized. Barry Primus is excellent as Gnossos Pappadopoulis, the protagonist of the movie. An actor able to project many emotions, creating a thoroughly rounded, realistic character, his acting propels the movie, making what is at times a turgid film into one with power. Linda De Coff, as Kristin, Gnossos' girlfriend, perfectly matches with Mr Primus, their relationship one of the brightest spots of the movie. Her relaxed Kristin is a contrast to the passionate, intense Gnossos, and works. As Beth, Cynthia Harris provides some striking moments in her brief screen time as Gnossos' friend, who imparts some home truths to him. Marian Clarke, as Pamela Watson-May, the woman Gnossos tantalizes at the film's start, is played with sincerity and charm by the actress. On the other hand, Bruce Davison is wasted in a small role as Fitzgore, one of Gnossos' friends. While he does very well in his part, one wishes that he would have been showcased more in the film. Susan Tyrrell succumbs to a similar fate in a tiny role as Jack, an acquaintance of Gnossos. An actress with a distinctive look and manner, as with Bruce Davison, there is a definite yearning to see more of her in the movie, as she could have contributed further than what appeared in the finished product.

Soundtrack: BEEN DOWN SO LONG IT LOOKS LIKE UP TO ME has a lean soundtrack, mainly consisting of musical pieces at the beginning and end of the movie. There are some diegetic 1950s tunes played at the start of the film which give a nice feel of the era without being too overpowering.

Mise-en-scene: The picture employs both its indoor, and outdoor locations very well. Cinematography by Urs Ferrer is subtle, neither washed out, nor too bright, but properly measured, suiting the movie's thoughtful tone. The indoor scenes of Gnossos and his friends at the university, and in his small bohemian apartment, all appear authentic, his home especially reflective of Gnossos and his wayward life. Location filming is also excellent, with college milieu effectively conveyed to the viewer, and the lakeside sequences of Gnossos and Kristin are beautifully shot and executed.

Notable Acting Performances: Barry Primus, Linda De Coff, Cynthia Harris, Bruce Davison, Marian Clarke.

Suitability for young viewers: No. Infrequent coarse language, male nudity, adult themes.

Overall Grade: C

Link: IMDB Page