I wonder if the film sank without trace in England because it was deemed anti-British?(I’m English and was 18 when the film was made so I ought to have been aware of it) I’m just guessing it might have appeared anti-British given O’Casey’s Irish nationalism. (“The Wind that Blowsthe Barley” was ill-received in England because of its percieved anti-Englishness.)

If anyone knows how this film fared in Britain please let me know. And secondly Wwhy was Julie Christie’s character called Daisy Battles? – not a very Irish sounding name at all, at all.

I’m someone who has been enchanted by everything I’ve encountered Jack Cardiff‘s talented hand in over the years, from a startling trip to the movies to see The Long Ships to films made before I was born. Knowing that Cardiff was involved led me to my personal discovery of Pandora and the Flying Dutchman (1951), Black Narcissus (1947) and the best adaptation of D. H. Lawrence I’ve ever seen, in Sons and Lovers(1960).

I hope that you’re right about Mr. Taylor’s future casting in more prominent roles as a seasoned actor–if he’s interested in that. Martin Scorsese may surprise us once again, and wouldn’t that be wonderful?

Take Care,

Glenn

This I gotta see. If nothing else, I hope that Mr. Taylor has fun with that part. One of the best things that Quentin Tarantino has done in his films is employ many actors whose work has gone unnoticed since Hollywood moved on to the next flavor of the month, which is quite sad, since most actors become so much better after time and life has rubbed the shininess off them. I’ve enjoyed seeing Pam Grier, Robert Forster, Michael Parks and others in Tarantino‘s films and hope that this one does wonders for Rod too. Thanks for sharing your good news.

I am not at all surprised to hear that Maggie Smith and Rod Taylor may have been an item during The V.I.P.s and Young Cassidy. I agree, they were world’s apart in background, (like Nora and Johnny Cassidy in the Sean O’Casey story), but they did bring out the very best in one another on screen, at least for those two movies. Btw, Taylor, Smith and the befuddled antics of Margaret Rutherford are the only reasons to see The V.I.P.s.
Thanks very much for sharing your news.
And have a Happy Holiday.
Moira

One of the aspects of his talent that Young Cassidy brought out was that the part allowed him to play against type. Inside the “roaring boy” was an actor capable of considerable sensitivity. I find it interesting that Taylor became an actor primarily to finance his art education as a young man–a less remunerative path that, according to some sources, he pursues to this day as a talented painter. Some of Taylor’s work can be seen here.

As an actor, it certainly would be lovely to see Taylor play one more role on screen worthy of his gifts.