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Sweet Bird of Youth (1962)

3.7 of 5 from 49 ratings
1h 55min
Unavailable
  • General info
  • Available formats
Synopsis:
Drifter Chance Wayne (Paul Newman) returns to his hometown after many years of trying to make it in the movies. Arriving with him is a faded film star he picked up along the way, Alexandra Del Lago (Geraldine Page). While trying to get her help to make a screen test, he also finds the time to meet his former girlfriend Heavenly, the daughter of the local politician Tom 'Boss' Finley (Ed Begley), who more or less forced him to leave the town many years ago.
Actors:
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Directors:
Producers:
Pandro S. Berman
Writers:
Tennessee Williams, Richard Brooks
Genres:
Classics, Drama
Collections:
Elvis Presley on Screen, People of the Pictures
Awards:

1963 Oscar Best Supporting Actor

BBFC:
Release Date:
Not available for rental
Run Time:
115 minutes
Languages:
English
DVD Regions:
Region 2
Formats:
Pal
Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen 2.35:1
Colour:
Colour

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Reviews (1) of Sweet Bird of Youth

Williams Classic. - Sweet Bird of Youth review by Steve

Spoiler Alert
01/01/2023

The role of film diva Alexandro Del Lago, seeking refuge from the reality of her lost youth, has become a favourite for female stars of a certain age. Geraldine Page played the 'princess' first on stage and screen and she's pretty definitive. It's a familiar Tennessee Williams persona, a vulnerable artist running away, and running out of time.

The princess is burning up on drugs and booze after her screen comeback ran aground on a disastrous close up. She finds herself serviced by an ambitious gigolo who aims to use her to break into Tinseltown; Paul Newman as the ominously named Chance Wayne! He takes her to his hometown where he has unfinished business with Heavenly (Shirley Knight), the daughter of a shady politician.

The best part of the film is the interplay between Page and Newman... two monsters who claw at each other in pursuit of sordid self interest. The lesser subplot concerns the schemes of the hypocritical, Trump-like Boss Finlay (Ed Begley) who corrupts everyone and everything. It's a cynical film about the American dream, its imperious winners and downtrodden victims.

Inevitably there were problems with the Production Code which undermined the ferocity of the message, but it's still surprisingly frank in places and its political and existential themes survive. It has a beautiful look too. It's not as intense as most Williams adaptations but there is characteristic poetry in the lines and Page and Newman make a volatile screen duo.

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