Sweet Bird of Youth

Audience Reviews

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Alain E A magnificent rendering of the Tennessee Williams play about trying to hold on to youth, the lies we tell ourselves and southern politics. This was Elizabeth Taylor’s last starring role and has held very well. Obviously , a brave choice to interpret a faded movie actress trying to cling on. Very nice color photography that we can appreciate today much more than with the primitive color TV sets available when it was made in 1989. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/28/24 Full Review Audience Member Anytime I sit down to watch a movie and the only thing I want to happen is for the picture on the screen to end you know it holds almost no merit. Sweet Bird of Youth is one of those movies. Elizabeth Taylor proves again that she lives off of the myth that she is a great actress as her acting in Sweet Bird of Youth is laughably bad as is the entire cast. Fake accents, melodramatic acting, a bland story and self important direction makes Sweet Bird of Youth one of the worst movies I have seen in a while. Rated 0.5/5 Stars •  Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 01/27/23 Full Review Audience Member SE PUEDE AMAR YA EN LA PLENITUD DE LA VIDA?.....PARA REFLEXIONAR Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/16/23 Full Review Audience Member SE PUEDE AMAR YA EN LA PLENITUD DE LA VIDA?.....PARA REFLEXIONAR Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/21/23 Full Review Audience Member The 1962 Paul Newman film had to be better than this. Despite the fine talents of Taylor and Harmon, this Tennessee Williams play is just plain depressing. The immoral relationship of Elizabeth Taylor and Mark Harmon is pretty disgusting. Harmon plays the part of some southern playboy and hustler. [img]https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRVXohOZu5Vv2P466VWaPUnUSwiB5K0vlD8JuXWbdMJJ97LDFXzJA[/img] 1989 version [img]https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRyFgE3oNs6ila1v7A7glq3KFEGcT-YGpEsH_NrccWwq49UGgMVHg[/img] 1962 original Its rather sad that Taylor plays such a part that could be her last. While no big fan of Elizabeth Taylor, seeing her overweight condition in nightgowns was not helping matters. Her personality however is the same as ever. Based on the play by Tennessee Williams, it focusses on the relationship between a drifter and a faded movie star. SEE the 1989 trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnXIHyiY93M SEE the 1969 trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nybbP_21wes As an aging actress realizing she is over the hill, Taylor gets involved with Mark Harmon, a struggling actor. Harmon wants help getting ahead in Hollywood but must pay a humiliating price. Can't say I would recommend this except to Taylor or Harmon fans. Also, if you like slow, southern dramas of interpersonal relationships common to Williams plays. I had hopes this film would be more engrossing, but all I wanted to do was get through it. [img]https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR1YCTcaW9cfaw4J7PblPOZyKQXKqPw898FQAW1pTaNLSmlIAwoLw[/img] 1989 version [img]https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT3v7BUR5yPbWwQm_77yDXW0bedcm2oWydPTBLfMU0PV_Tx-j00kA[/img] 1962 original Notes: 1 It won the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Ed Begley), and was nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role (Geraldine Page) and Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Shirley Knight). 2 According to MGM records, the film lost $627,000 [img]https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS-_Kjav2Pt6TQ73pK-cSqBSZ7ky3aJ_xHLXYiW2DLU0NA5qM9k8g[/img] [img]https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR7O99MQ7egB9xux2GPY8OsaczriLrEpS0d0-0rZ6uddEfb7voi[/img] 1962 original Paul Newman as Chance Wayne Geraldine Page as Alexandra Del Lago Shirley Knight as Heavenly Finley Ed Begley as Tom Boss Finley Rip Torn as Thomas Tom J. Finley, Jr. Mildred Dunnock as Aunt Nonnie Madeleine Sherwood as Miss Lucy Philip Abbott as Dr. George Scudder Corey Allen as Scotty Barry Cahill as Bud Dub Taylor as Dan Hatcher James Douglas as Leroy Barry Atwater as Ben Jackson Charles Arnt as Mayor Henricks Dorothy Konrad as Mrs Maribelle Norris James Chandler as Professor Brutus Haven Smith Mike Steen as Deputy Kelly Thordsen as Sheriff Clark Edith Atwater as Undetermined Minor Role Robert Burton as Director William Forrest as Bennie Taubman Roy Glenn as Charles Sydney Guilaroff as Hairdresser Regis Parton as Man in Car Davis Roberts as Fly Eddy Samuels as Jackie Jeffrey Sayre as Man at Political Rally Les Tremayne as Trailer Narrator (voice) Dale Van Sickel as Dissenter in Car [img]https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT9JqPAYCz1VcGYr-15pQRI7a3V1erJqBVyywhOJZFLyIG4w5J3[/img] [img]https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSFSPka5Ka2LRT_0aaP0PQXURnIy1S_LD6rfx-neu7hr0VkZtXM[/img] 1962 original Directed by Richard Brooks Produced by Pandro S. Berman Written by Richard Brooks Music by Bronislau Kaper Cinematography Milton R. Krasner Distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Release dates March 21, 1962 Running time 120 minutes Country United States Language English 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[/img] 1989 [img]https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSgCha5_6DNmQ6JkGFVbTeUymaUZymF8aQyXV2PVz3yik9Av40ftg[/img] 1962 original Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/19/23 Full Review Audience Member In the original film version of "Sweet Bird of Youth" Geraldine Page made the role famous opposite the stunningly cast Paul Newman. It was a great film of a great Broadway hit. Why make it again many may wonder? How could you top that gem in the MGM lexicon of late 50's Tennessee Williams filmed versions of his master works. Cut to the 1980's and Elizabeth Taylor who in many ways at the time was not so big a movie star as she had been but was much in demand on television. Slimmed down and revitalized after the 1970's age of fat she was in her final bloom of beauty and at the top of her talent. A woman playing a star who really understood more than anyone alive what being a star of mega wattage meant. She had lived it, survived it and was triumphing over it. She was the anti Alexandra Delago who nearly had become Alexandra Delago but somehow managed to swerve and avoid that porcupine in the road of fame and live to tell about it. She was perfect casting for this T.V. movie of the play. And she had an understanding of Williams' poetry having done, "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof", "Suddenly Last Summer" and "Boom". The supporting cast turns in some fine performances. In particular, Rip Torn, and Valerie Perrine shine in their roles. Mark Harman is just the right age to play Chance Wayne a gigolo on the edge of losing his looks and too obsessed with the past to take the one last opportunity Alexandra offers him to become what he thinks he wants to be, a star. But it is Taylor's movie all the way. From her incredible early close-ups at the beach cabana to her final scene she commands the role as no other actress of her generation could. She inhabits the roll with a worldly understanding that under the monster that Alexandra has become there is still a human being who can reach out to help another even if it is too little too late. She also brings to the film a reality from her real life that no other actress, even the best method actresses around could muster. This adds a glittering and chilling edge to the performance. It is brilliant work in a lesser medium by a star and actress who was the master of blending fact and fiction as no one else quite can. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/22/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Sweet Bird of Youth

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