Sweet Bird of Youth
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Movie Reviews of Sweet Bird of Youth
Movie Review: This film is very sweet indeed...
Summary: 5 Stars
It's become common knowledge to me that playwright Tennessee Williams has never been able to have his plays accurately transferred from stage to screen. He is just too extreme for the time period in which he lived. The very idea of castration, syphilis or racism (and that's just this play) was just too much for 60's cinema. Regardless though, his films still managed to be effortless and poignant and dramatically outstanding. `Sweet Bird of Youth' is just one of many (`Cat on a Hot Tin Roof' and `A Streetcar Named Desire' being his best film adaptations). Whether or not it was able to tackle everything Williams' wanted it to, the fact remains that it is a stellar production that I am sure made him proud.
The film follows Chance Wayne, a dreamer of sorts who is trying to make it big in Hollywood. He left his hometown girlfriend Heavenly behind in order to pursue a career for himself and solidify their future, but in his absence her father, Boss Finley, has promised her hand to another. When Chance returns home with washed up actress Alexandra Del Lago, Boss and his temperamental son Tom Jr. set out scheming a way to get Chance out of town, for good.
As always, secrets from their past bubble forth to expose the foundation for their hatred of one another, thus creating some very tense and equally steamy moments.
The performances are outstanding across the board, especially by the two leads. I have made it very clear that I consider Paul Newman that greatest actor of all time, and I stand by that still. He embodies Chance with his natural charm, but he adds these touching layers of vulnerability that make Chance a very understandable and sympathetic young man. He uses those around him, but his acts are far from selfish. Geraldine Page is phenomenal here, completely and utterly unforgettable. I have mentioned before how I feel Newman is the perfect co-star, and he definitely works his magic at aiding Page in delivering an outstanding performance. He just seems to naturally fit with whoever is sharing the screen with him. Page feeds off that to infuse her character with an almost reluctant charm, which is refreshing and intoxicating.
The supporting cast is all stellar, with Shirley Knight, Ed Begley, Madeleine Sherwood and Rip Torn all delivering top notch performances; especially Rip Torn, who is dastardly as the young and impetuous son of the Boss, searching and striving for approval.
`Sweet Bird of Youth' is a cautionary tale about the blessings and maledictions that come with age. Youth is a sweet bird, but bitter sweet really. Looking at both the characters of Chance and Alexandra we see the opposing sides of that argument. Chance is young and foolish and thus winds up suffering from his own immaturity, while Alexandra is older, more world-wise and yet she suffers from a society that rejects age as if it were an illness.
Startling and absorbing, `Sweet Bird of Youth' is an outstanding example of enthralling cinema; a film that grabs you and never lets you go. With fantastic performances, a strong script and a delicate hand behind the camera (Brooks works with Williams well, as he proved with 58's `Cat on a Hot Tin Roof' and cemented with this gem), this is a must-see film for any and everyone.
Movie Review: Chance's last desperate chance
Summary: 5 Stars
Paul Newman is stunning based on both his thespian proficiency and handsome screen presence as Hollywood never has been Chance Wayne in the Tennessee Williams drama "Sweet Bird of Youth". Williams again shows a great aptitude for crafting a wonderful piece based on the complex interrelationships existent between his characters. The film transposed well from the stage thanks to both the writing and directorial expertise of Richard Brooks. The Deep South based film features an impressive array of acting performances from its players.
Newman returns back to his Gulf Coast hometown of St. Cloud having failed repeatedly to make it into show business. He is serving as a chauffeur/gofer/sex toy for fading and alcoholic screen siren Alexandra Del Lago played wonderfully by Geraldine Page, who is accompanying him. He hopes to reconnect with his hometown sweetheart Heavenly Finley played by Shirley Knight. Wayne, however grew up on the wrong side of the tracks. Heavenly's father Tom Finley is a powerful Southern political boss played superbly by deserved Oscar winner Ed Begley. "Boss" Finley had banished Newman many years ago from St. Cloud to remove him from daughter Heavenly's world.
Newman's return to town forces Begley and his minions including his kowtowing son Tom Jr. played nicely by Rip Torn to again force him out of town. We find out however that Heavenly had become pregnant by Chance during a secret tryst some months previously.
Newman desperately tries to both secure a professional commitment from the drunken and insecure Page and consumate his feelings for his true love Knight.
Movie Review: Another Good Tennessee Williams Film Adaptation
Summary: 5 Stars
Tennessee Williams' plays often adapt well to the cinema; "Sweet Bird of Youth" is no exception. Starring Geraldine Page as Alexandra Del Lago and Paul Newman as Chance Wayne in the role they created on Broadway, the film is chock full of what we expect from Mr. Williams: fragile beautiful women, handsome flawed men and a story fraught with more Southern gothicism than a lesser writer could have handled. Alexandra is a fading actress in the company of Wayne, her gigolo/driver, as they return to the Southern town that Wayne has left where his old girlfriend Heavenly's-- do you believe that name?-- father is the mayor. Even though the censors sacked the veneral disease and castration in the original Williams play and added a Hollywood happy ending, there are still enough kinks remaining to go around.
While all the actors give decent performances-- Ed Begley won a supporting actor Oscar for his portrayal as the mayor-- Geraldine Page is simply magnificent as the over-the-hill substance abusing actress. Newman plays well the role he has done over and over, the handsome brooding stud who cannot keep his shirt on.
If we ever doubted that the sweet bird of youth flies away quickly, we need look no further than the interviews with some of the actors included with the DVD. Shirley Knight who plays the peaches-and-cream beauty Heavenly had aged so much that I didn't recognize her at first.
Williams' cast of characters are as memorable and American as Willie Loman and the characters in "Our Town." We will still be watching his works years from now as they have long been American classics.
Movie Review: White-washed Williams; still shows power & style...
Summary: 5 Stars
I am thrilled that this film will finally be released on DVD in May, 2006. I'm among the greatest of Geraldine Page's fans, and the only better news I could get would be that "Summer & Smoke" will be out soon. Indeed, Williams' play was toned down for the studio sensibilities of the 60's. Newman was very fine, as was Shirley Knight, Madeline Sherwood, Ed Begley & Rip Torn. But it's Page who carries this amazing film about depravity, disappointment and hopelessness. Page did the role many times on stage, and Paul Newman was an excellent choice for Chance Wayne. Page, Knight & Begley were all nominated for Oscars (Begley a winner); Knight was nominated 2 years earlier for "The Dark at the Top of the Stairs", another brilliant film adaptation of a play by the great American playwright, William Inge. I hope Warner Bros. has the sense to release that soon. A wonderful film. So much drivel is being released on DVD. It's unfortunate that the quality stuff has been put on the back shelf. Will they ever realize that there is a public out here, waiting for real quality?Movie Review: TENNESSEE WROTE THIS WITH TALLULAH BANKHEAD IN MIND...
Summary: 5 Stars
THIS MOVIE, DISAPPOINTED TENNESSEE WILLIAMS, BECAUSE OF THE CHANGES MADE BY THE CENSORS. THE FILM DOES CONVEY THE ACTUAL PERSONALITY OF THIS POSSIBLY GREATEST OF ALL AMERICAN PLAYWRIGHTS. A REAL INSIGHT INTO THE INNER PSYCHE OF MR. WILLIAMS, OFTEN REFERRED TO AS A "POET OF THE EMOTIONS".
THE CHARACTER OF ALEXANDRA DE LAGO MIRRORED THE PERSONALITY OF MR. WILLIAMS, IN THAT HE HAD EXPERIENCED A BRILLIANT CAREER, AND WAS GETTING OLDER, AND SUFFERING MORE HEALTH PROBLEMS. THE CHANCE WAYNE CHARACTER PLAYED BY PAUL NEWMAN, ILLUSTRATES THE TYPE OF MAN MR. WILLIAMS WAS MOST EMOTIONALLY ATTRACTED TO IN LIFE. GERALDINE PAGE GIVES AN INTERESTING PERFORMANCE, BUT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A MUCH BETTER FILM, IF INDEED TALLULAH BANKHEAD COUD HAVE PLAYED THIS PART, ESPECIALLY WRITTEN FOR HER BY MR. WILLIAMS, AND ONE HE WANTED HER TO PLAY.
TALLULAH BANKHEAD TURNED THE PART DOWN BECAUSE SHE FELT IT WAS THE STORY OF ANOTHER DEGRADED SOUTHERN WOMAN. ED BEGLEY STEALS THE SHOW IN THIS FILM, AND DESERVEDLY WON AN OSCAR FOR HIS PERFORMANCE.