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Sweet Bird of Youth

  • 19621962
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 2h
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
7.7K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Paul Newman and Geraldine Page in Sweet Bird of Youth (1962)
Trailer for Sweet Bird of Youth
Play trailer2:53
1 Video
66 Photos
  • Drama
  • Romance
A drifter and a faded film star, both traumatized by Hollywood, arrive to the guy's hometown, where the old bitter memories revive again.A drifter and a faded film star, both traumatized by Hollywood, arrive to the guy's hometown, where the old bitter memories revive again.A drifter and a faded film star, both traumatized by Hollywood, arrive to the guy's hometown, where the old bitter memories revive again.
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
7.7K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Richard Brooks
  • Writers
    • Tennessee Williams(play "Sweet Bird of Youth")
    • Richard Brooks(written for the screen by)
  • Stars
    • Paul Newman
    • Geraldine Page
    • Shirley Knight
Top credits
  • Director
    • Richard Brooks
  • Writers
    • Tennessee Williams(play "Sweet Bird of Youth")
    • Richard Brooks(written for the screen by)
  • Stars
    • Paul Newman
    • Geraldine Page
    • Shirley Knight
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 46User reviews
    • 21Critic reviews
    • 53Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 3 wins & 7 nominations total

    Videos1

    Sweet Bird of Youth
    Trailer 2:53
    Sweet Bird of Youth

    Photos66

    Geraldine Page in Sweet Bird of Youth (1962)
    Paul Newman and Geraldine Page in Sweet Bird of Youth (1962)
    Paul Newman, Rip Torn, Corey Allen, Barry Cahill, and James Douglas in Sweet Bird of Youth (1962)
    Paul Newman and Geraldine Page in Sweet Bird of Youth (1962)
    Paul Newman and Shirley Knight in Sweet Bird of Youth (1962)
    Paul Newman and Geraldine Page in Sweet Bird of Youth (1962)
    Paul Newman and Geraldine Page in Sweet Bird of Youth (1962)
    "Sweet Bird of Youth" Geraldine Page 1962 MGM
    Paul Newman in Sweet Bird of Youth (1962)
    Sweet Bird of Youth (1962)
    Paul Newman and Shirley Knight in Sweet Bird of Youth (1962)
    Rip Torn and Geraldine Page in Sweet Bird of Youth (1962)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Paul Newman
    Paul Newman
    • Chance Wayneas Chance Wayne
    Geraldine Page
    Geraldine Page
    • Alexandra Del Lagoas Alexandra Del Lago
    Shirley Knight
    Shirley Knight
    • Heavenly Finleyas Heavenly Finley
    Ed Begley
    Ed Begley
    • 'Boss' Finleyas 'Boss' Finley
    Rip Torn
    Rip Torn
    • Thomas J. Finley, Jr.as Thomas J. Finley, Jr.
    Mildred Dunnock
    Mildred Dunnock
    • Aunt Nonnieas Aunt Nonnie
    Madeleine Sherwood
    Madeleine Sherwood
    • Miss Lucyas Miss Lucy
    Philip Abbott
    Philip Abbott
    • Dr. George Scudderas Dr. George Scudder
    Corey Allen
    Corey Allen
    • Scottyas Scotty
    Barry Cahill
    Barry Cahill
    • Budas Bud
    Dub Taylor
    Dub Taylor
    • Dan Hatcheras Dan Hatcher
    James Douglas
    James Douglas
    • Leroyas Leroy
    Barry Atwater
    Barry Atwater
    • Ben Jacksonas Ben Jackson
    Charles Arnt
    Charles Arnt
    • Mayor Henricksas Mayor Henricks
    Dorothy Konrad
    • Mrs. Maribelle Norrisas Mrs. Maribelle Norris
    James Chandler
    James Chandler
    • Professor Brutus Haven Smithas Professor Brutus Haven Smith
    Mike Steen
    Mike Steen
    • Deputyas Deputy
    Kelly Thordsen
    Kelly Thordsen
    • Sheriff Clarkas Sheriff Clark
    • Director
      • Richard Brooks
    • Writers
      • Tennessee Williams(play "Sweet Bird of Youth")
      • Richard Brooks(written for the screen by)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Because of its then-shocking subject matter, this film was given a pre-rating advisory of restricted by the MPAA, prohibiting anyone under the age of 18 from attending. This was pre-rating equivalent of an X (later NC-17) rating. By today's standards, the film is so tame that, when shown on Turner Classic Movies, it's rated TV-PG.
    • Goofs
      In the beginning of the movie as Chance is driving, he sees a sign saying "You Are Now Leaving Florida." The multi-lane highway runs very close to the beach with no buildings in between the road and beach and dozens of oil pumps adjacent to the highway. This was clearly filmed in southern California.
    • Quotes

      Chance Wayne: I like you. You are a nice monster.

    • Connections
      Featured in Sweet Bird of Youth: Chasing Time (2006)
    • Soundtracks
      Ebb Tide
      (1953) (uncredited)

      Music by Robert Maxwell

      Performed by Frank Chacksfield & His Orchestra as background music several times

    User reviews46

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    Exceptional entertainment; Newman and Page are outstanding
    There are numerous qualities that make SWEET BIRD OF YOUTH a stellar film, starting with the tremendous source material. Williams' tale of fading film actress and princess-by-marriage Alexandra Del Largo escaping Hollywood after a failed comeback attempt and being taken advantage of by aspiring actor/gigolo Chance Wayne is full of ripe drama, all of which is fully exploited by the 1962 film. Williams' typical subplots of southern hypocrisy are also well incorporated into central story by director/screenwriter Richard Brooks (who also helmed 1958's sensational CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF), and actually heighten the tension of the piece. Even with the censorship of early-sixties cinema (including an unnecessarily re-written ending), Brook's SWEET BIRD OF YOUTH still packs a mean punch.

    Also crucial to the film's success is casting. No matter what film you're watching, you can always depend on Paul Newman to deliver the goods (which is precisely why he remained a top box office drawl up through the mid-eighties), and he gives one of his absolute best performances SWEET BIRD. Newman had originated the role of Chance in the original stage production, and his immortal screen performance of the role has clearly benefited from the hundreds times that he had previously played the role on stage. Arrogant, masculine, and painfully gorgeous, Newman nearly incinerates the colloid! Also returning from the original stage play is Geraldine Page as Alexandra, the ultimate boozing, wash-up actress. Page is nothing short of sensational – a true thinking, feeling, conflicted woman who is desperate to run away from her problems, but completely uncertain of her next move. Alexandra is vain, insecure, and even comedic at times, and Page finds the perfect balance in her portrayal, as she understands that the very qualities that make Alexandra so strong is also what causes her to be weak. Page won a well-deserved Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Drama, but lost the Oscar to Anne Bancroft for her tour de force performance in THE MIRACLE WORKER - seeing that both performances are so phenomenal, I would venture to say that the votes for both awards were probably mighty close.

    The rest of the cast is no less impressive. Ed Begley won a Supporting Actor Oscar for his role as 'Boss' Finely, and it is refreshing to see the actor let loose in a vile performance without any obvious apprehension. Rip Torn and Mildred Dunnock are great in supporting bits, and Oscar-nominated Shirley Knight is hauntingly lovely as the appropriately named "Heavenly." Director Brooks also makes excellent use of the widescreen frame, composing many exceptional shots that are all but destroyed when the film is altered from its original Panavision format.

    Certainly some viewers will carp about the re-written ending (the studio demanded that things end "happily") as well as the removal of such hot-button topics as abortion and castration to appease the censors, yet none of these omissions dramatically affect the film. Even though he caved in to the studio in terms of the finale, director Brooks must be given credit for focusing on the characters and dialogue and avoiding the temptation to "dress" the play up for movie audiences. The film is firmly planted in its central relationships, and this is what carries the day. No matter how censorious the Production Code may have been, no one could mask the white-hot dynamic between Newman and Page.
    helpful•26
    7
    • robb_772
    • Feb 6, 2008

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    Photos

    FAQ5

    • What is 'Sweet Bird of Youth' about?
    • Is 'Sweet Bird of Youth' based on a book?
    • How did Chance and Princess meet?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 3, 1962 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Slatka ptica mladosti
    • Filming locations
      • Malibu, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Roxbury Productions Inc.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

    Related news

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