Happy Birthday, Cool Hand!

Paul Newman. The man has so much universal appeal that just saying his name seems enough to describe him. Everyone knows how beautiful he was- those crystal blue eyes, that smirk, that figure. His screen acting was second only to Brando's at the time with nine Academy Award nominations for acting including a win for The Color of Money (1986). His Newman's Own product line was more than a vanity salad dressing project. It funded many charities including his Hole in the Wall Gang Camp that gives hope and joy to seriously ill children and their families. His political activism was something he was proud of- bringing his star power to address racial and gay issues. And his loyalty to friends was absolute.

When William F. Buckley Jr. called Gore Vidal a queer on live television, Newman was waiting for him back in his dressing room and apparently ripped Buckley a new one. Of course Vidal had called Buckley a pro-crypto Nazi but that's a discussion for another post. Paul Newman was a Hollywood star who seemed so casual about himself, that we felt he was one of us- even if there was no way we could be anything close to Paul Newman. 

On what would have been his 91st birthday, here are some of my favorite Newman classics.

Somebody Up There Likes Me (1956)- Great early role with Newman playing real-life pugilist Rocky Graziano. Newman looks great in a pair of boxing trunks- but more importantly is able to convey the rage and despair of a trapped man.

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958)- There may never be a more ravishing pair of leads than Newman and Elizabeth Taylor. They are so sexy it seems impossible that they don't rip each other's clothes off and make a Little Dandy right there in that brass bed. But that's part of the genius of the casting- if these two aren't screwing there is something wrong- and that tension drives this Tennessee Williams classic.

The Hustler (1961)- Newman is effortlessly cool as a pool player who has the balls to take on the unbeatable champ, Minnesota Fats (a rare dramatic turn from Jackie Gleason). A pre-Carrie Piper Laurie is sensational as a drunken, gimpy girlfriend.

Sweet Bird of Youth (1962)- This movie is sort of a reunion for the Cat on a Hot Tin Roof creatives with Richard Brooks directing a script based on a Tennessee Williams play. Geraldine Page as washed-up actress Alexandra del Lago steals the film, but part of Newman's grace as an actor was his ability to allow his co-stars to shine.

Hud (1963)- Newman is perfect as Hud, a shiftless cowboy who has not figured out what to do with himself in his small Texas hometown. The fact that you don't hate him by the end of the movie is a testament to his likability. James Wong Howe's Oscar-wining black and white cinematography is breathtaking and co-stars Patricia Neal and Melvyn Douglas took home statues as well for their tremendous performances. Younger brother Lonnie's (Brandon De Wilde) idolatry of Hud adds a gay subtext- something Brick and Skipper might have appreciated.

Cool Hand Luke (1967)- Newman again plays a charismatic scamp who takes unfair, abusive imprisonment in stride, becoming a legend in the process. There's no failure to communicate here. Newman is the king.

The Sting (1973)- In the second (and final) pairing of Newman and Redford, the hot-shot chemistry between these two Hollywood stars sparks off the screen. Either one of these actors could have hogged this movie- but their sense of play and sly one-upmanship instead creates the perfect caper team. Robert Shaw and Eileen Brennan add to the Depression Era antics under the slick direction of George Roy Hill.

The Towering Inferno (1974)- Newman is only one of the many stars that populate the sky of this Irwin Allen disaster classic. Not quite as fulfilling as The Poseidon Adventure (1972), Towering Inferno still explodes with its share of corny dialogue and "which star will burn next?" plot twists. But seriously, I'd be happy to burst into flames if I could be tied to a pillar in a room with Newman, Steve McQueen, and William Holden.

The Verdict (1982)- Newman is washed-up, sodden lawyer Frank Galvin who gets a chance to redeem himself with a case that sheds light on a questionable death at a Catholic hospital. Newman knocks it out of the park and if it weren't for the super stiff competition that year (including winner Ben Kingsley for Ghandi, Jack Lemmon for Missing, Dustin Hoffman for Tootsie, and Peter O'Toole for Man of the Year) Newman would have taken home his first Oscar. Currently in Oscar hot water, Charlotte Rampling is great as a shady sedcutress.

Road to Perdition (2002)- In a career where Newman mainly played lovable scamps, his role as Irish mobster John Rooney strains our ability to like this dark, vindictive character. But no one in this stylized Sam Mendes action/drama comes out clean- not even leading man Tom Hanks. Newman earned his final Oscar nomination as Best Supporting Actor.

What's your favorite Paul Newman Movie?