Directed by
Richard Brooks
USA 1962
Brooks' second involvement with Tennessee Williams has Newman repeating his Broadway role as the no longer quite pristine gigolo who returns to his home town with fading movie queen (Page) in tow, scheming to establish himself as someone in the eyes of the corrupt political boss (Begley) who once ran him out of town for aspiring to marry his daughter (Knight). Like Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, the play gets the glossy clean-up treatment, so that Newman's comeuppance (what he hadn't realized in leaving town was that he also left Knight pregnant) no longer comes through castration, but simply by having his pretty face messed up a bit. It might still have worked, except that Brooks' direction seems a little too stolid for all the sleazy, flaming passions. These are, however, given full measure by an excellent cast. Geraldine Page, in particular (like Newman, repeating her Broadway role) is stunningly and wittily outsized in her rendition of the ageing movie queen seeking refuge in a haze of drink, drugs and sex.
Excerpt from TimeOut Film located HERE
Posters
Theatrical Release: March 21st, 1962
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
DVD Review: Warner - Region 1,2,3,4 - NTSC
DVD Box Cover |
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This is also part of the Tennessee Williams Film Collection which contains A Streetcar Named Desire 1951 Two-Disc Special Edition / Cat on a Hot Tin Roof 1958 Deluxe Edition / Sweet Bird of Youth / The Night of the Iguana / Baby Doll / The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone | ||
Other Individual Reviews: | ||
Distribution | Warner Home Video - Region 1,2,3,4 - NTSC | |
Runtime | 1:59:48 | |
Video |
2.35:1
Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 5.75 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s |
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NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
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Bitrate: |
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Audio | English (Dolby Digital 1.0), DUB: French (Dolby Digital 1.0) | |
Subtitles | English, Spanish, French, None | |
Features |
Release Information:
Edition Details: • Featurette:
Sweet Bird of Youth: Chasing Time (11:42) |
Comments: |
Perhaps a notch below what you might expect visually from Warner's usually excellent output. The image is a bit dark and sharpness and detail are unremarkable. Colors are somewhat dull and a shade muted. Overall the anamorphic and progressive transfer appears to represent the film fairly accurately. Extras include an informative featurette and brief scene 'screen test' by Page and Rip Torn. Another competent job by Warner to bring us this film and the entire Boxset, complete with all the trimmings, for a dynamite price. As for the film, it plays as quintessential Tennessee Williams - always giving appropriate latitude to the performances, which are excellent. Newman fans especially will enjoy. |
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Subtitle Sample
Screen Captures
DVD Box Cover |
|
CLICK to order from: |
The 2-disc SE is part of the Tennessee Williams Film Collection which contains A Streetcar Named Desire 1951 Two-Disc Special Edition / Cat on a Hot Tin Roof 1958 Deluxe Edition / Sweet Bird of Youth / The Night of the Iguana / Baby Doll / The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone) | ||
Other Individual Reviews: | ||
Distribution | Warner Home Video - Region 1,2,3,4 - NTSC |