Paul Newman in an unidentified photo.
How to describe Paul Newman to a Martian? He played good guys in 20th century cinema? Did he play bad guys too? I don’t know. He was incredibly handsome with a definite gender-ambiguity about him.
If I had Netflix or GreenCine, I’d watch his rendition of The Glass Menagerie tonight.
A gorgeous guy who was also a great actor. And for a lot longer on both counts than Marlon Brando…
Morally ambiguous central roles: Billy the Kid, Butch Cassidy and Judge Roy Bean. (All westerns…hmm.) And a definite villain in The Hudsucker Proxy.
I don’t usually pay much mind to the passing of celebs, but when I heard he died, I thought, “He couldn’t be that old,” but of course he was. Sounds like he was a down-to-earth guy too, which is something in Hollywood.
I don’t see the gender ambiguity – he was “pretty” but definitely masculine sexy in all the roles I know. Can’t we accept that these days?
Hud and Cool Hand Luke come to mind as career defining roles. Of course, The Sting, another good-bad guy.
how about Cat on a Hot Tin Roof….. I love that film. Speaking of film, J, have you seen In Bruges?
My brother has, I asked him about over dinner. He said it was good, but no more than that.
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but definitely masculine sexy in all the roles I know. Can’t we accept that these days?
I did not mean to say he looked feminine, or androgynous, but I believe or can imagine he had a definite appeal among gay crowds. Some male sex symbols have that less. He had it.
it’s hard not to admire Paul Newman for putting his money to work in such productive ways, such as his Newman’s Own line–high quality stuff and the proceeds go to good causes… very smart.