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IMDb > The Young Philadelphians (1959)

The Young Philadelphians (1959) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
7.2/10   950 votes
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Up 20% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
Vincent Sherman
Writers:
James Gunn (screenplay)
Richard Powell (novel)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Young Philadelphians on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
30 May 1959 (USA) more
Genre:
Drama more
Tagline:
Guilty secrets. Shocking scandals. All in a day's work for on Philadelphian lawyer.
Plot:
Up and coming, young lawyer Anthony Lawrence faces several ethical and emotional dilemmas as he climbs the Philadelphia social ladder... more | add synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 2 nominations more
User Comments:
A fine 1950's movie more

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)

Paul Newman ... Anthony Judson Lawrence / Narrator
Barbara Rush ... Joan Dickinson

Alexis Smith ... Carol Wharton
Brian Keith ... Mike Flanagan
Diane Brewster ... Kate Judson Lawrence

Billie Burke ... Mrs. J. Arthur Allen, Owner Allen Oil Co.
John Williams ... Gilbert Dickinson

Robert Vaughn ... Chester A. 'Chet' Gwynn

Otto Kruger ... John Marshall Wharton, Partner in Wharton / Biddle / Clayton Law Firm
Paul Picerni ... Louis Donetti
Robert Douglas ... Uncle Morton Stearnes
Frank Conroy ... Doctor Shippen Stearnes

Adam West ... William Lawrence III
Anthony Eisley ... Carter Henry (as Fred Eisley)
Richard Deacon ... George Archibald
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
The City Jungle (UK)
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Runtime:
136 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (RCA Sound Recording)
Certification:
UK:A | UK:PG (video: 1995) | Canada:14A (video rating) | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved (PCA #19198) | West Germany:16 | Australia:PG

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Filmed under the title "The Philadelphian" (the title of the book.) more
Quotes:
Anthony Judson Lawrence: This isn't very conducive to sensible thinking. I better go back before...
Joan Dickinson: I don't want sensible thinking!
Anthony Judson Lawrence: Neither do I.
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FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
6 out of 11 people found the following comment useful:-
A fine 1950's movie, 15 December 2002
7/10
Author: claudelalande from Montréal, Canada

The Young Philadelphians had all the ingredients to become the most horrid American melodrama, in the worst 1950's style. Instead, it was cooked up to be one of the fine 1950's movies.

William Lawrence III (Adam West) was not, indeed could not be, the father of young Tony (Paul Newman). After William kills himself in a horrible car crash (suicide?), his Mother wants Kate (Diane Brewster) to give up the family name for her and her baby boy. Because she could reveal the reason for this horrid condition (Gasp! Is it possible that the marriage was not consummated because William the third could only "do it" with boys?), Kate secures the Lawrence name, if not the Lawrence money, to give Anthony a chance in Philadelphia society. Can you see the most awful melodrama developing?

Well, it turns out that further developments provide us with a balanced mix of humor, cynicism, drama, real emotions. This movie shows first rate acting and directing, and superb black and white photography. It gives us a glimpse of what appeared to be a pretty gruesome society scene. Apart from the unlikely happy end (I'm not giving too much away by saying this about an American movie of the 1950's), this is an interesting incursion in the period, with a healthy dose of social realism. As a bonus, we get to see Paul Newman out of his shirt in a steamy scene with a frustrated woman married with Newman's much older boss, a delightful Billy Burke in one of her last screen appearances, a tortured Adam West trying to deal with... (Oh! no, I can't say it), and a whole cast of believable, if not overly subtle, characters. We even get a bit of courtroom drama, à la Perry Mason.

This is an excellent way to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon...

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Young Philadelphians (1959)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
A film in the career of Paul Newman that's an underrated classic! stalzz64
Why British accents? tralee71-1
Notes on THE YOUNG PHILADELPHIANS JSlack3
When to DVD? proudnole@jam.rr.com
A truelly underated film emma_edwards_77
DVD Free @ Roanoke library luke-283
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