Robert Downey Jr., who became one of Hollywood’s most powerful actors following his supersized Iron Man earnings, recently appeared in Christopher Nolan’s summer blockbuster, Oppenheimer. Dedicating himself to something other than his decade-long work with MCU, the actor finally reflected upon his career timeline.
Recalling his first-ever father-son experimental film Pound (1970), Robert Downey Jr. mentioned playing a puppy as a little five-year-old on the set. Reminiscing his experience as a child actor, for the first time, the 58-year-old discussed the wildly creative movie and how it tricked the investors into thinking it was a documentary.
Robert Downey Jr’s Retrospective Movie Pound
Famously known for his eclectic role as MCU’s Iron Man, Robert Downey Jr. has been through a roller coaster ride since five years of age, to venture into mainstream Hollywood. While Downey eventually became one of Hollywood’s most powerful and rich actors, the 58-year-old initially started as a child actor in his father’s experimental film.
Following his recent appearance in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, the actor took some time to reflect upon his career timeline since the 1970s. Appearing for an interview with Vanity Fair, Robert Downey Jr. recalled his first ever film, Pound, as a 5-year-old, where he played the role of a puppy.
Considering it as the first time, the father and son worked together, Downey recalled the movie to be very trippy. Stating that the allegorical film was written and directed by his father, the 58-year-old discussed the plot about a group of dogs waiting to be adopted or euthanized.
Robert Downey Jr’s First Movie Tricked Investors
Taking an inevitable trip to his 1970s movie, Robert Downey Jr. opened up about the concept of the film, where real humans played the role of dogs. While in this day and age, such movies turn out to be live-action animated films with real actors giving voiceovers, the 1970s Pound appeared as a theatrical skit, with humans pretending to be dogs.
“Pound was the first film my dad got financing for. I think the investors thought he was making a documentary about pounds and animal shelters. And then he said, ‘no, no, it’s a live-action thing and I’m casting people to play the dogs’” Robert Downey Jr shared.
While it was quite obvious for people to be confused about such a concept during the 1970s, the movie was a creative work of art. “Next thing you know we’re shooting it, and these character actors of all shapes and sizes are playing various dogs,” the 58-year-old mentioned. He further mentioned, “I played a puppy.”
Reminiscing his memories from the set, the actor shared, “My earliest memories are of cameras, being on sets, being on stages, being on location, to the point where almost…I felt like an outsider”. However, the movie ended up being his first ever stepping stone in Hollywood, which initially launched him as an actor. Ever since then, Downey has been pushing his limits and proving his skills in the ever-changing landscape of cinema.
Watch Pound (1970) on Amazon Prime.
Source: Vanity Fair
