Paul Newman Marathon

This last Sunday there was Paul Newman marathon on TCM (I love that channel!). We saw: Lady L (fabulous!!), Towering Inferno (suspenseful and very good), The Sting (always good fun), and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (still a fave of mine). He made some really great movies and I recommend taking a bit of time to appreciate his body of work (plus, it doesn’t hurt that he was the most gorgeous man alive).

In Lady L Paul Newman is a thief and an anarchist. His wife, Sophia Loren, promises to marry a Duke (David Niven) if he will help save Paul Newman from prison. All the actors are fantastic and the whole movie is hilarious and extremely entertaining. I think it would be a perfect rainy afternoon movie for any day of the week.

Towering Inferno is a masterpiece. We were on the edge of our seats for most of the movie. Paul Newman and Steve McQueen (love him, too) work great together and the end result is nothing short of spectacular. We musn’t forget that Faye Dunaway is in the movie as well and while she doesn’t play a pivotal role, she does very well and looks coiffed and perfect throughout (which is quite a feat considering she's in a towering inferno).

The Sting is a testament to intelligence. While most movies will either have a good story or good score, good actors or good directing and editing, The Sting has it all: a good plot with superb actors, wonderful direction, music and editing. Overall it is pure entertainment done in a way that makes you feel like your time was well spent. It’s a pleasure to watch Paul Newman and Robert Redford working together not only because they are the most good looking duo of all times, but because they look like they’re having a blast working together and this is something you can sense when watching them – like the entire cast of Ocean’s 11, 12 and 13, they’re always having fun.

Last, but definitely not least, we have Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. I’ll start off by saying that both Elizabeth Taylor and Paul Newman are at their best physically and professionally. They put on a show that is not easily forgotten. It was originally a play, and a brilliantly written one at that, with an intensely passionate dialogue and a very good story line. The entire movie takes place in 3 rooms with little to no soundtrack and a handful of actors but there is never a dull moment. It’s gripping from beginning to end and that, in my humble opinion, is the ultimate compliment for any movie.

Some other movies of his which I've seen and feel deserve mention are: Cool Hand Luke, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Exodus, Hud, The Color of Money, and Slap Shot. I’ve never seen The Hustler, but it’s on my list to watch as soon as I can get my hands on it which is not easy.

We're going to miss you, Paul Newman.