Sweet Bird of Youth (1962)

Sweet Bird of Youth (1962)

Directed by Richard Brooks (Elmer Gantry (1960)) who also wrote the screenplay for this Tennessee Williams (who has two screenplay Oscar nominations to his credit) play this above average drama with Paul Newman in the title role features Ed Begley’s Academy Award winning Supporting Actor performance (on his only nomination); Geraldine Page (The Trip to Bountiful (1985)) received a Best Actress nomination and Shirley Knight (The Dark at the Top of the Stairs (1960)) received her second Best Supporting Actress nomination.

Paul Newman plays a former young stud who returns to the Southern town of his youth after years of failing while attempting to make it as an actor in the movies. He’s got a former frequently drunk &/or high aging actress (Page) in tow. As her gigolo & driver he’s still trying to use her to get what he wants in the film industry trading on his looks and sex for her connections. Once home however he seeks out his former girlfriend (Knight) who happens to be the daughter of the biggest man in town and one of the biggest in the whole state Tom ‘Boss’ Finley (Begley). Finley more or less ran Newman’s character out of town all those years ago and with help from his son Tom Jr. (Rip Torn) won’t hesitate to do it again. I won’t spoil the reason why nor reveal what happens in the end. Though neither is pleasant it’s the kind of delicious just deserts that Williams always has for his flawed protagonists. Begley is terrific as the hypocritical moralist and Page is a kick especially after her character regains her self-confidence. Madeline Sherwood plays ‘Boss’ Finley’s mistress and twice Supporting Actress nominee Mildred Dunnock plays his sister.

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