Product Details

• Actors: Paul Newman, Geraldine Page, Shirley Knight, Ed Begley, Rip Torn
• Directors: Richard Brooks
• Writers: Richard Brooks, Tennessee Williams
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Language: English
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
• VHS Release Date: September 1, 1998
• Run Time: 120 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6301978692
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #4,295 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential video

Sweet Bird of Youth has the Tennessee Williams penchant for provocation and Southern depravity--although at this point, the bloom is somewhat off the hothouse flower. Paul Newman is a cad who dreams of glory; he's returned to his hometown towing a dissolute, over-the-hill Hollywood star (Geraldine Page re-creates her Broadway role), certain she'll be his meal ticket. He's ruined the only girl he really loved (day-dreamy Shirley Knight), who just happens to be the daughter of the town's boss (Ed Begley, in an Oscar^®-winning role). The play's more shocking elements have been euphemized, in the custom of the era's Williams movie adaptations. Director Richard Brooks handles it with intensity, and Rip Torn (who was married to Page) has some wicked moments, but the movie is bound to its theatrical roots and its inability to mention racism, syphilis, or castration. And that's Tennessee Williams without the hot sauce. --Robert Horton

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Censorship didn't stop anything., October 2, 2001

By	Chad Edwards (cincinnati, ohio) - See all my reviews

Based on the hit Tennessee Williams play, this exciting drama stars Paul Newman as a slick young opportunist who returns to his home town with an ageing movie queen(Geraldine Page), but runs head-on into trouble with the town's corrupt boss(Ed Begley in an Oscar-winning performance). As is the case with his 1958 film version of Tennessee Williams' CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF, director Richard Brooks was forced to clean up this Williams play for the movies. But those blasted censors didn't hurt anything. Like CAT, SWEET BIRD OF YOUTH is still a gritty, powerful, and brilliant film. Every one of the performers delivers a top-notch portrayal. But the film ultimately belongs to Geraldine Page whose funny and touching portrayal of the fading star is, quite simply, one of the greatest performances ever captured on film.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another fabulous performance by Page, November 27, 1998

By A Customer

As in her portrayal of Alma in Tennessee Williams' "Summer and Smoke," Geraldine Page is electrifying, recreating the role she originated on Broadway. This time, however, she has a leading man worthy of her talents. Paul Newman proves he has more than his looks to rely on; it is to his credit that Page never overshadows him in their extended scenes together. The rest of the cast is excellent as well. The film itself strays from Williams' stage version (which included such topics as venereal disease and castration) in several respects, but also has some intriguing additions, especially the scene between Ed Begley and Madeleine Sherwood. But the real reason to watch this film is for Geraldine Page -- what an actress. She is missed.

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love, Greed and Revenge Served Up William's Southern Style!, September 24, 2004

By	Sheila Chilcote-Collins "Sheila Renee Chilcot... (Collinswood, Van Wert, OH USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Paul Newman as the good lookin', blue eyed, lustful and lascivious opportunist, Chance Wayne and a specacular Geraldine Page as the aging Alexandra Del Lago (Princess Cosmonopolous) stir up some trouble in Chance's homecoming to the South. Both Alexandra and Chance are the very epitome of selfishness. Only thinking of their futures and dreams without thinking of consequences to the other human beings in their lives.

Chance has left his hometown and the love of his life, Heavenly Finley, played by Shirley Knight, to seek fame and fortune in New York and Hollywood. Not so lucky is Chance, however, as he picks Alexandra up in Palm Beach while playing BEACH BOY and sex slave to the stars.

Once returning home, however, Heavenly's father and brother, played aptly by Ed Begley (Oscar Winner 1962) as Tom 'Boss' Finley, and Rip Torn (who was married to Geraldine page at the time) as Thomas 'Tom' J. Finley, Jr. are trying like hell to get rid of Chance and his aging drunk of a has-been hollywood screen star.

Mildred Dunnock (Whatever Happened To Aunt Alice & The Corn Is Green)is the kind, Aunt Nonnie who secretly arranges for Chance and Heavenly to meet on the sly while Chance is in town.

Madeleine Sherwood (Mae from Cat On A Hot tin Roof) is Boss Finley's mistress, Miss Lucy and has a great bit part and a pivotal role in the film.

Alexandra comes to realize that she actually has feelings for someone other than herself in Chance and tells him. But of course, Chance runs off to his Heavenly. Many a fight ensues with a sort of happy ending, given that this is Williams!

Tennessee Williams plays have ALWAYS and A DAY, been toned down given the year in which the films were adapted but you still get the jist of the dirty deeds that go on and in Sweet Bird Of Youth. The following are exhibited: Infidelity, Pornography, Aging, Pride, Greed, Lust, Revenge, Prostitution, Abortion, Assult, Domestic Violence, Drunkeness, Drug Use, Incest, Impotence, Syphillis and Racism. All classic touchstones of Tennessee's plays minus the homosexuality. ( View "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof" or "Suddenly Last Summer" for examples)

Great performances by the whole cast! Tennessee Williams continues to be my favorite playwright of all time and with good reason!

Highly Recommended and Happy Watching!