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Sweet Bird of Youth

Play trailer Poster for Sweet Bird of Youth Released Mar 21, 1962 2h 0m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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74% Tomatometer 19 Reviews 72% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
After unsuccessfully trying his luck in Hollywood, charming gigolo Chance Wayne (Paul Newman) wanders back to his hometown, accompanied by Alexandra Del Lago (Geraldine Page), a movie star on the wane. Chance quickly falls back into his old rut -- he's still smitten with his former sweetheart, Heavenly Finley (Shirley Knight), but her thuggish brother (Rip Torn) and her crooked politician father (Ed Begley) both hate him. When Alexandra leaves town, Chance is left with little more than trouble.
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Sweet Bird of Youth

Critics Reviews

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Empire Magazine Page and Newman are fantastic. Apr 8, 2008 Full Review Variety Staff Variety It's a glossy, engrossing hunk of motion picture entertainment, slickly produced by Berman. Apr 8, 2008 Full Review Jonathan Rosenbaum Chicago Reader Offers little indication of what made the original play interesting (especially in Elia Kazan's stage production), despite the fact that Paul Newman and Geraldine Page are called on to reprise their original roles. Apr 8, 2008 Full Review Janet Graves Photoplay Here are Paul and Shirley playing true love gone wrong (in the shape of two pretty stupid types), while Geraldine portrays fallen grandeur with superb dash. Dec 15, 2020 Full Review Otis Stuart OutWeek The play is all broad strokes, and even worse, the film does its damndest to sanitize them. May 20, 2020 Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Once again, Hollywood proved to be more constrictive than Broadway -- a shocking castration gets replaced by a savage beating -- but the Southern discomfort of its characters keeps this torrid melodrama humming. Rated: 3/4 May 16, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Leah S Tennessee Williams is my favorite playwright. I expectd his usual magic in revealing the layers of the darker side of the human condition. There was little depth regarding the motivations, drives, passions and agendas of the characters. For example: the princess, portrayed from the beginning as a desperate and drug/alcohol addled women resigned to her fate bounces back, like a jack-in-the box, after she learns her latest endeavor recieved rave reviews. I didn't hate it but it lacked Mr. Williams usual thought provoking, controversial take on flawed human beings. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 09/18/24 Full Review Jeff S Covers some profound themes and yet is hilarious at times. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/21/24 Full Review CodyZamboni Movie was not what I thought it would be. Set in Florida in the early 60s, it's a tale of gettting old, missing your big chance in life, trying to regain lost fame and love, and political corruption. Terrific performances by Paul Newman, Shirley Knight, and Geraldine Page as a faded movie star. I liked how the story points were emphasized through the visual themes of birds and a lighthouse. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 07/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Very dramatic, the story is ok. The aesthetics are peak WASP so I love it. Great background movie. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/25/23 Full Review Audience Member Tennessee Williams goodness! Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 04/28/21 Full Review Audience Member this is easily one of Paul Newman's Best Performances EVER! he honestly should've won The Oscar here! such a Dramatically-Entertaining yet Emtionally-Draining film! i'd LOVE To see what they could do with a remake! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/24/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Sweet Bird of Youth

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Movie Info

Synopsis After unsuccessfully trying his luck in Hollywood, charming gigolo Chance Wayne (Paul Newman) wanders back to his hometown, accompanied by Alexandra Del Lago (Geraldine Page), a movie star on the wane. Chance quickly falls back into his old rut -- he's still smitten with his former sweetheart, Heavenly Finley (Shirley Knight), but her thuggish brother (Rip Torn) and her crooked politician father (Ed Begley) both hate him. When Alexandra leaves town, Chance is left with little more than trouble.
Director
Richard Brooks
Producer
Pandro S. Berman
Screenwriter
Tennessee Williams, Richard Brooks
Distributor
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co
Roxbury Productions
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 21, 1962, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 21, 2016
Runtime
2h 0m
Sound Mix
Mono
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