Paul Newman dies

[Mortimer]

You,too,Doc.....a swell point and quote.

[mclem0822]

Originally Posted by docicu3

Probably the most influential actor of my lifetime. But I choose to remember him for what he said one day when asked about the "secret" of the stability of his relationship with his lifelong best friend and wife Joanne W.

"Why go out for a hamburger when you have steak at home" ....

Some use their celebrity as a vehicle to fame. PN used his to benefit us all. His environmental stances and non-profit food ventures made you proud to be a fan of his. RIP Luke......there was no "failure to communicate" in your life.

Very nice post docicu3, well said. Paul recently and quietly turned over the entire value of his ownership in Newman's Own to charity, $120 million! He was a class act, all the way around. Condolences to his lovely wife Joanne Woodward, and his children. He will be missed, RIP.

[Mortimer]

Somebody Up There Likes Me was one of his best as well...and one of his first.

[timmgirvan]

Originally Posted by docicu3

Probably the most influential actor of my lifetime. But I choose to remember him for what he said one day when asked about the "secret" of the stability of his relationship with his lifelong best friend and wife Joanne W.

"Why go out for a hamburger when you have steak at home" ....

Some use their celebrity as a vehicle to fame. PN used his to benefit us all. His environmental stances and non-profit food ventures made you proud to be a fan of his. RIP Luke......there was no "failure to communicate" in your life.

True Dat,Doc!

[pmacdaddy]

"Sorry I'm late...I was taking a dump". Potentially my favorite movie line ever.

[Samarta]

great story about Paul Newman....back in the day my brother used to go to races in a little small place Summit Point Speedway in Summit Point WV. One day after the races he stopped at a convenience store not too far from the speedway, went in bought a couple of hot dogs and a soda, went out sat down on the curb and after a couple of minutes there was this guy standing next to him that asked him had he been at the races, my brother said he had and the fella said "mind if I join you?" It was Paul Newman and he and my brother who was probably mid 20's at the time sat on a curb ate hot dogs and shot the breeze for about 30 minutes. Just shows you how much a guys guy he was.....RIP

[hi_im_god]

nobody's fool was one of the best movies about men's relationships with their father's ever made.

and slapshot was one of the best guy movies ever. maybe more nudity would have made it better but other than that it was perfect.

i laughed. i cried. or vice versa.

seems like he was a decent human being on top of it. good on him.

[kenny p]

What state was the prison in Cool Hand Luke in? Have a bet ridin the answer. I said Florida. Does anyone know the answer?

[Kasept]

Surprised how many of his best performances haven't been mentioned, or how taken for granted he was by the Academy when it came to handing out Oscars. He was simply a natural who comfortably moved into any role in which he was cast. You never saw Paul Newman 'act'.

He was given just one Oscar, for the reprisal role as Fast Eddie Felson in the overwrought "Color of Money", in what was a generally acknowledged as a "make up call" for the egregious blunder three years earlier: The opportunity to give Newman the statuette for his aching and courageous performance as alcoholic Boston attorney Frank Galvin in "The Verdict".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVZFlBJftgg

The Verdict gave Newman an opportunity to do something he rarely had been given before, a chance 'flash chops' as an actor. While he had played men with flaws before, he had never been cast as hopeless and desperate. The Verdict is not only Newman's best performance, but wall-to-wall, as well-constructed a film as you will ever see.

Directed by the immortal Sidney Lumet.. A classic David Mamet screenplay, his 2nd assignment in Hollywood.. A supporting cast like you rarely see assembled anymore: James Mason as the imposing courtroom adversary Ed Concannon, his last large role on film.. The wonderful, under-appreciated Jack Warden, as gifted a character actor as we've ever had, as exasperated Galvin gaurdian angel Mickey Morrissey.. Charlotte Rampling, who lends an air of feminine gravitas to any film and role, as 'love interest' Laura, a woman who turns out to be far more flawed and damaged than Newman's Galvin..
(Watch them together here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goNVH...eature=related )

Also with Milo O'Shea.. a young Lindsay Crouse.. (and famously, an uncredited Bruce Willis in the courtroom gallery)..





The Verdict is a dark, grim story that slowly allows in some light. The parallels between Galvin representing a comatose patient and a likely last opportunity to awaken his own comatose career and life are obvious. Newman's performance is subtle and multi-layered as he torturously discovers shreads of evidence that build his courtroom case and internal battle for dignity as a talented lawyer and decent man.
To me, it is by far Newman's defining screen moment. If you've never seen it, rent or buy it. I've probably seen 25 of Newman's films, and everyone enjoys the 'famed' roles of course.. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Sweet Bird of Youth, Butch/Sundance, The Sting, Hud, Cool Hand Luke, Slap Shot, Exodus, Hombre, The Long, Hot Summer, etc.. My other less recalled favorites with him are The Hudsucker Proxy, Absence of Malice, Road to Perdition and the 2 'Harper' films.

As for his Hole in the Wall charity work, my food broker associate friends Jerry Rounds and David Kalman, neighbors of Newman and Woodward in Westport, created and handled the Newman's Own products and built the business. It will stand as the model for doing good works with a celebrity image, and will endure. But Paul Newman's legacy deserves to start with an incredible body of work as an artist that started with the great live television dramas of the 50's and carried on for a half century of generous and timeless portrayals. We all will never stop enjoying his work.

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by kenny p

What state was the prison in Cool Hand Luke in? Have a bet ridin the answer. I said Florida. Does anyone know the answer?

Louisiana, but that is anecdotal. I don't believe there is a reference to the state in the film.

[Mortimer]

In closing...I would like to personally thank my very good friends in the Kroger family for introducing me to Paul several years ago.Paul and I became great friends and exchanged greeting cards on all major holiday occasions.

Thank you.

[Mortimer]

Joanne Woodward and the Kroft family are staying with me next weekend.


I count them among my closest friends.







Andy was supposed to be here,but I told him the remodelers had to move our work here up....so he won't be coming and mess up my plans.

[geeker2]

You are a Rock Star!....I knew it..I just knew.

[docicu3]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Louisiana, but that is anecdotal. I don't believe there is a reference to the state in the film.

BEN KINGSLEY in "Gandhi", Dustin Hoffman in "Tootsie", Jack Lemmon in "Missing", Paul Newman in "The Verdict", Peter O'Toole in "My Favorite Year"


Steve was it looked at as a" poltical" Oscar when Kingsley won for Ghandi that year?

The AA have always had a sort of flakiness to some of it's victors. The sentiment at the time was probably that PN was not the actor you gave Oscar to as he was never a "yes" man despite his many acts of charity and selflessness. The politics of the movie industry has always played a huge role in who gets the spoils. This was one time that sentiment would grow louder in protest as time went on and now that Mr N is gone the voice just turned up the volume on this one.

Actually all of the movies for best actor in 1982 were pretty damn good.

[GPK]

His opening of camps for children with cancer and other life threatening diseases speaks volumes about his character

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by docicu3

BEN KINGSLEY in "Gandhi", Dustin Hoffman in "Tootsie", Jack Lemmon in "Missing", Paul Newman in "The Verdict", Peter O'Toole in "My Favorite Year"


Steve was it looked at as a" poltical" Oscar when Kingsley won for Ghandi that year?

The AA have always had a sort of flakiness to some of it's victors. The sentiment at the time was probably that PN was not the actor you gave Oscar to as he was never a "yes" man despite his many acts of charity and selflessness. The politics of the movie industry has always played a huge role in who gets the spoils. This was one time that sentiment would grow louder in protest as time went on and now that Mr N is gone the voice just turned up the volume on this one.

Actually all of the movies for best actor in 1982 were pretty damn good.

The Academy has always been suckers for 'epics'... You make an epic, and Hollywood rallies around it. That's all I remember about Gandhi doing as well as it did. Best Picture, Best Director for Attenborough and Best Actor for the little known Kingsley.

As usual, a small character driven film like The Verdict was ignored. Among those nominees, Kingsley, O'Toole and Newman had not previously won. (Interestingly Jack Lemmon's statue for Leading Actor came in the little seen 'Save the Tiger' in a character role slightly similar to Newman's in The Versict. He won Best Supporting years earlier as Ensign Pulver in 'Mr. Roberts'.) Comedic roles rarely score among Academy voters, so O'Toole and Hoffman seemed doubtful. Many thought 1983 was to be Newman's year after a series of tough losses dating back five nominations to 1959 (Cat/Roof). But no...

Also run over by the Gandhi steamroller was Sidney Lumet. Like Newman, he was a favorite Academy punching bag as he watched contemporary after contemporary win Best Director Oscars over the year before settling for a lifetime achievement type recently. Lumet's career parallels Newman's almost identically. Both started in 50's live drama TV before earning their screen success converting famous playwright works into legendary cinema. (Lumet with O'Neill's Long Day's Journey Into Night and Newman with Williams' Cat and Long, Hot Summer). Lumet went on to direct amazing darmatic films like The Hill, The Pawnbroker, Fail-Safe, Serpico, Network, and the wonderful Garbo Talks. In fact, according to IMDB, Lumet has directed 17 different actors in Oscar-nominated performances:

Katharine Hepburn, Rod Steiger, Al Pacino, Ingrid Bergman, Albert Finney, Chris Sarandon, Faye Dunaway, Peter Finch, Beatrice Straight, William Holden, Ned Beatty, Peter Firth, Richard Burton, Paul Newman, James Mason, Jane Fonda and River Phoenix. (Bergman, Dunaway, Finch and Straight won oscars for their performances in Lumet movies.)

Anyway, if anyone would ask which films from 1983 are best remembered, Tootsie, My Favorite Year, E.T., The Verdict, Sophie's Choice, Officer and a Gentleman, Blade Runner, Diner, Das Boot and World According to Garp would ALL be appreciated more than the torpid Gandhi.

[docicu3]

Anyway, if anyone would ask which films from 1983 are best remembered, Tootsie, My Favorite Year, E.T., The Verdict, Sophie's Choice, Officer and a Gentleman, Blade Runner, Diner, Das Boot and World According to Garp would ALL be appreciated more than the torpid Gandhi.

Because despite a desire to be considered a collection of intellects and historians, we remain a nation of romantics who would rather tear with emotion for a story that touches our hearts than stuff our heads with sterile facts about political struggle in far away lands.

As long as the good guy triumphs or gets the girl in the end we will always fill the theatre. At least until Itunes shows new release movies like they do everything else......

[timmgirvan]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Surprised how many of his best performances haven't been mentioned, or how taken for granted he was by the Academy when it came to handing out Oscars. He was simply a natural who comfortably moved into any role in which he was cast. You never saw Paul Newman 'act'.

He was given just one Oscar, for the reprisal role as Fast Eddie Felson in the overwrought "Color of Money", in what was a generally acknowledged as a "make up call" for the egregious blunder three years earlier: The opportunity to give Newman the statuette for his aching and courageous performance as alcoholic Boston attorney Frank Galvin in "The Verdict".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVZFlBJftgg

The Verdict gave Newman an opportunity to do something he rarely had been given before, a chance 'flash chops' as an actor. While he had played men with flaws before, he had never been cast as hopeless and desperate. The Verdict is not only Newman's best performance, but wall-to-wall, as well-constructed a film as you will ever see.

Directed by the immortal Sidney Lumet..

A classic David Mamet screenplay, his 2nd assignment in Hollywood..

A supporting cast like you rarely see assembled anymore:

James Mason as the imposing courtroom adversary Ed Concannon, his last large role on film..

The wonderful, under-appreciated Jack Warden, as gifted a character actor as we've ever had, as exasperated Galvin gaurdian angel Mickey Morrissey..

Charlotte Rampling, who lends an air of feminine gravitas to any film and role, as 'love interest' Laura, a woman who turns out to be far more flawed and damaged than Newman's Galvin.. Watch them together here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goNVH...eature=related

Also with Milo O'Shea.. a young Lindsay Crouse.. (and famously, an uncredited Bruce Willis in the courtroom gallery)..



The Verdict is a dark, grim story that slowly allows in some light. The parallels between Galvin representing a comatose patient and a likely last opportunity to awaken his own comatose career and life are obvious. Newman's performance is subtle and multi-layered as he torturously discovers shreads of evidence that build his courtroom case and internal battle for dignity as a talented lawyer and decent man.

To me, it is by far Newman's defining screen moment. If you've never seen it, rent or buy it. I've probably seen 25 of Newman's films, and everyone enjoys the 'famed' roles of course.. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Sweet Bird of Youth, Butch/Sundance, The Sting, Hud, Cool Hand Luke, Slap Shot, Exodus, Hombre, The Long, Hot Summer, etc.. My other less recalled favorites with him are The Hudsucker Proxy, Absence of Malice, Road to Perdition and the 2 'Harper' films.

As for his Hole in the Wall charity work, my food broker associate friends Jerry Rounds and David Kalman, neighbors of Newman and Woodward in Westport, created and handled the Newman's Own products and built the business. It will stand as the model for doing good works with a celebrity image, and will endure. But Paul Newman's legacy deserves to start with an incredible body of work as an artist that started with the great live television dramas of the 50's and carried on for a half century of generous and timeless portrayals. We all will never stop enjoying his work.

Stevie: We'd ask YOU to run for President....but we couldn't do it to you

[ddthetide]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Anyway, if anyone would ask which films from 1983 are best remembered, Tootsie, My Favorite Year, E.T., The Verdict, Sophie's Choice, Officer and a Gentleman, Blade Runner, Diner, Das Boot and World According to Garp would ALL be appreciated more than the torpid Gandhi.

of this list Officer.., and Das Boot were just ok. The Verdict was excellent and i had forgotten about it. i've Never seen any of the other movies you listed. i just can't imagine any were better than The Verdict.

[Mortimer]

'ello..my name is James Mason....famous and brilliant British ahctah.

I'd like to recite one of my favorite lines:









"Mistah Christian! You mahdahring BAHSTAHD!!"