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Sweet Bird of Youth
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Sweet Bird of Youth (1962) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 9 | slideshow) Videos (see all 2)
Sweet Bird of Youth (1962) -- Trailer for this film based on the play by Tennessee Williams
Sweet Bird of Youth (1962) -- Trailerfan.com - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
7.5/10   2,171 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 10% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Tennessee Williams (play)
Richard Brooks (screenplay)
Contact:
View company contact information for Sweet Bird of Youth on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
21 March 1962 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
Provocative Adult Entertainment more
Plot:
Drifter Chance Wayne returns to his hometown after many years of trying to make it in the movies. With... more | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Won Oscar. Another 2 wins & 6 nominations more
User Reviews:
Memorable 1960's......... more (28 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

Paul Newman ... Chance Wayne

Geraldine Page ... Alexandra Del Lago
Shirley Knight ... Heavenly Finley

Ed Begley ... Tom 'Boss' Finley

Rip Torn ... Thomas 'Tom' J. Finley, Jr.
Mildred Dunnock ... Aunt Nonnie
Madeleine Sherwood ... Miss Lucy
Philip Abbott ... Dr. George Scudder

Corey Allen ... Scotty
Barry Cahill ... Bud
Dub Taylor ... Dan Hatcher
James B. Douglas ... Leroy (as James Douglas)
Barry Atwater ... Ben Jackson
Charles Arnt ... Mayor Henricks
Dorothy Konrad ... Mrs. Maribelle Norris
James Chandler ... Professor Brutus Haven Smith
Mike Steen ... Deputy
Kelly Thordsen ... Sheriff Clark
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Edith Atwater ... (uncredited)
Robert Burton ... Director (uncredited)
William Forrest ... Bennie Taubman (uncredited)
Roy Glenn ... Charles (uncredited)
Sydney Guilaroff ... Hairdresser (uncredited)
Davis Roberts ... Fly (uncredited)
Eddy Samuels ... Jackie (uncredited)
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Directed by
Richard Brooks 
 
Writing credits
Tennessee Williams (play "Sweet Bird of Youth")

Richard Brooks (screenplay)

Produced by
Pandro S. Berman .... producer
Kathryn Hereford .... associate producer
 
Cinematography by
Milton R. Krasner (director of photography) (as Milton Krasner)
 
Film Editing by
Henry Berman 
 
Art Direction by
George W. Davis 
Urie McCleary 
 
Set Decoration by
Henry Grace 
Hugh Hunt 
 
Costume Design by
Orry-Kelly 
 
Makeup Department
Sydney Guilaroff .... hair stylist
William Tuttle .... makeup artist
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Hank Moonjean .... assistant director
 
Sound Department
Franklin Milton .... recording supervisor
 
Visual Effects by
Lee LeBlanc .... special visual effects
 
Editorial Department
Charles K. Hagedon .... color consultant
 
Music Department
Robert Armbruster .... conductor
Harold Gelman .... music supervisor
Jeff Alexander .... composer: stock music (uncredited)
Robert Armbruster .... composer: stock music (uncredited)
Bronislau Kaper .... composer: stock music (uncredited)
André Previn .... composer: stock music (uncredited)
Albert Woodbury .... composer: title music (uncredited)
 
Other crew
Cheryl Crawford .... presented on the stage by
 
Crew verified as complete


Production CompaniesDistributorsOther Companies
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Additional Details

Runtime:
120 min | Australia:106 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Metrocolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Westrex Recording System)
Certification:
UK:15 (re-rating) (1996) | UK:X (original rating) | Australia:PG (TV rating) | Australia:M | Finland:K-18 | Sweden:15

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The role of Chance Wayne was first offered to Elvis Presley, but Presley's manager "Colonel" Tom Parker turned it down because he didn't want Elvis to play a bad guy. more
Goofs:
Continuity: In the scene where Chance comes from the bathroom with a white towel over his shoulder, at one point, he drops the towel, but an instant later, the towel is back on his shoulder. more
Quotes:
Chance Wayne: Oh, man. Don't you know only squares drink gin martinis with olives? more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Death Becomes Her (1992) more
Soundtrack:
It's a Big, Wide, Wonderful World more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
6 out of 7 people found the following review useful.
Memorable 1960's........., 7 February 2007
7/10
Author: panamint from United States

Paul Newman is outstanding as the ultimate gigolo gold-digger. This movie also features the quintessential "Heavenly" daughter/ big bad daddy performances by Knight and by Begley, who is frighteningly effective.

Geraldine Page is perfectly imperfect and unattractive- remember she is this way for dramatic effect. You aren't supposed to like her. Anti-heroes and character studies were really featured in that era's plays and films. Such characters don't have to be likable and seldom are. Wonderful 1960's actresses Mildred Dunnock and Madeleine Sherwood also give their usual gem-like performances.

If you want to see what 1960's-style movie-making was really all about, view this one. Sure it is uneven and maybe a little old-fashioned by today's standards, but you can get an idea of why some of us are nostalgic for a decade that is known for big changes in movies, but otherwise somewhat forgotten. Here you get a good dose of the cynicism and fine acting of the 60's but without the annoying pretentiousness that was so prevalent in films of the era.

Also, you don't have to be familiar with the stage play or Tennessee Williams in order to appreciate this movie-making effort by Richard Brooks.

Was the above review useful to you?
more (28 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Sweet Bird of Youth (1962)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Madeleine changed my life: please help find agent/her address. sportsfan007us
Music used in film jayalanclark52
Music during Easter service? randyschub
Ed Begley's Oscar??? miriamwebster
Notes on SWEET BIRD OF YOUTH JSlack3
Did Geraldine Page deserved an Oscar for this? ohxmyxitzxkee
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