The Subterraneans (film)

The Subterraneans is a 1960 American drama film directed by Ranald MacDougall, based on the 1958 novel The Subterraneans by Jack Kerouac. The film is a heavily fictionalized account of Kerouac's experiences with the Beat Generation in San Francisco.

The plot centers around Leo Percepied (George Peppard), a struggling writer who falls in love with Mardou Fox (Leslie Caron), a young African American woman involved in the city's underground art scene. The film explores their unconventional relationship and the challenges they face due to societal prejudices and their own personal struggles. Other characters include a group of artists, poets, and musicians who represent the Beat subculture.

While the film attempts to capture the spirit of Kerouac's novel and the Beat Generation, it significantly deviates from the source material. Many consider it a sanitized and romanticized portrayal, lacking the raw and experimental nature of the original work. The film's depiction of Mardou Fox's ethnicity also drew criticism for casting a white actress (Leslie Caron) in the role, despite the character being explicitly described as African American in the novel.

The film's score, featuring jazz music, is considered a highlight, with performances by musicians such as Gerry Mulligan, Carmen McRae, and André Previn. Despite criticisms regarding its faithfulness to the source material, The Subterraneans remains a cultural artifact that reflects Hollywood's interpretation of the Beat Generation during the early 1960s.