Paul Newman: 1925-2008In a career that spanned over half a century, the late Paul Newman played characters who ranged from heartless, selfish jerks such as Hud, to charming rogues like Luke Jackson, Henry Gondorff, and Reg Dunlop. Many of Paul Newman’s characters in
both categories had a problem with women, alcohol, or both. With his slim build and gravelly voice, Newman was the kind of man many women want to be with and many men want to be like.Paul Newman was equally adept at playing heavy drama or slapstick comedy, whether his costars were Robert Redford or little knowns, as in the 70′s hockey farce Slap Shot. It was hard to believe that Paul Newman was four years older than my Dad. Newman has been missed in the film industry the past few years and will be missed in our World. Here are my favorite Paul Newman movies in chronological order, oldest first, with the note that I haven’t seen many of his films prior to the late 60′s.10. The HustlerThe first of two times Newman portrayed “Fast” Eddie Felson, pool shark. Newman’s Fast Eddie pursues a match with Minnesota Fats, played by Jackie Gleason like Captain Ahab chasing the Great White Whale. Eddie has Minnesota Fats down, but loses it all, gets his thumbs broken later, has his girlfriend commit suicide after she is violated by Eddie’s gambling sponsor played by George C. Scott. In the end, Newman’s Eddie finally beats Fats, but only after great personal expense.9. Cool Hand LukeSet in a Florida prison where cruel and unusual punishment is the norm, Paul Newman plays Luke Jackson, known as “Cool Hand Luke”. Luke is looked up to as a hero by the other inmates, especially escapes and sends his buddies a picture of himself with two attractive women. As usual, when Luke escapes from the prison he is eventually captured and returned to harsh discipline administered by the Captain (Strother Martin). When Luke finally breaks and begs for mercy, the other inmates lose respect for him and tear up the picture, which was fake. In the end, Luke finally defies the Captain one too many times. It is from this film that the phrase “what we have here is a failure to communicate” is derived.
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