However, as a grown woman who sometimes becomes weary by the increasing divorce rate and dissatisfaction of numerous friends and fellow daters, both male and female alike, one of the most inspirational things about Newman didn’t even happen in the public spotlight. For although they shared the screen together countless times, it existed in his own private life as he carried a lifelong torch for his wife and favorite leading lady, Joanne Woodward. Whether, as The New York Times wrote, he gamely remarked to Playboy Magazine that he never was tempted to stray for “hamburger” when he had “steak at home” or casting her in his directorial debut with 1968’s Rachel, Rachel-- the collaboration of Newman and Woodward always ranked first before his other oft-cited label of “Newman and Redford.”
First sizzling together in The Long, Hot Summer, the two married in 1958 and this year marked the fiftieth anniversary of their phenomenal union as you can see in these playful videos, the first of which came from a documentary about Summer and the second was made as a YouTube video collage in tribute to the couple, using romantic clips of their work over the years.
The Story of the Bed
Newman and Woodward
And although he would rake in the awards, accolades, and press for the life he lived off-screen with charity, racing, or political activism, one of his quintessential quotes from CNN came upon learning he earned a place on Richard Nixon’s Enemies List which he called “the single highest honor I’ve ever received.”
According to The New York Times, the well-known practical joker from Cleveland, Ohio who served in the Navy and studied at both Yale University’s School of Drama and New York’s Actor’s Studio alongside Brando, tragically earned a big break filling in for classmate James Dean after the actor’s untimely death. Following Newman’s television triumphant turn in Ernest Hemingway’s “The Battler,” he made amends for starring in The Silver Chalice, which The Times continued, he so despised that he took out an ad in Variety to apologize,” before his career took off and the rest as they say, is history.
In order to fully grasp his immense versatility, quick-wit, charm and the type of charismatic on-screen persona you just can’t duplicate, as a critic, I weeded through far too many amazing clips of his awe-inspiring career to put together a celebration of his talent with this video guide. I hope you enjoy it in the spirit with which it was crafted and that is to honor the irreplaceable Mr. Paul Newman who shone just a little brighter than other stars of his era.
Article comments
1 - David Maye
Our deepest condolances to the Newman family. One of the screen's greats. Paul liked to come to Montreal for The Grand Prix. We will always have his work. My wife and I were watching "Exodus," last night.
Prayerfully,
David Maye..Montreal, Canada
2 - Ruvy
Did you notice that "Exodus" (as dog of a movie with a great musical score that says it all "This Land is Mine") was not mentioned at all in Jen Johans otherwise thorough "hespéd" for Mr. Newman? It wasn't mentioned at Desicritics either by Aaman Lamba.....
3 - Jen
Thanks for reading and hope you enjoyed the piece. I couldn't believe how many films Paul Newman had made! It broke my heart not to be able to include Sydney Pollack's Absence of Malice, Disney Pixar's Cars,Paris Blues, Mr. and Mrs. Bridge, Slap Shot, Hitchcock's Torn Curtain, Empire Falls and so many others. I actually have never seen Exodus but if you say it's a "dog of a movie," Ruvy, I think it's okay that I missed that one.
4 - Marta L.
This world lost somebody very important. Mr. Paul Newman was not only an actor, but a great human being and a fantastic person. I was so fortunate to see most of his movies and read about his and his family's charity activities and there are no words to express my gratitude for all he has done. His family background, jut like mine is Hungarian/German and first time in long time I am very proud to say this.
5 - Ruvy
One of these days, Jen, when I actually get a hold of the book "The Godfather", by Mario Puzo, I'm going to write a review of both the movie and the book - and of the book "Exodus" by Leon Uris and the movie of the same name. Both authors were on hand as consultants or screenwriters themselves for both movies, so the dialogue was pretty loyal to the authors' text. The only literary "license" taken with both movies was that of the original authors themselves.
Yet there is a great deal missing from both movies. Puzo did a better job of hiding all that was missing in transitioning from the book to the movie than did Uris. It must also be admitted that both books, "hollywoodizations" of real and far more dramatic events, suffered from the fact that they were "hollywoodizations" in the first place - but Uris's book suffered far more than Puzo's.
This all gets far away from the original article, doesn't it, though? The late Mr. Newman was a Noahide - not a Christian or a Jew, and now that he is dead, the Noahide movement can advertise that fact if they wish.... If it helps grow their movement, so much the better.
Finally, he will be missed. He was an outstanding actor with an immense body of work to his name, and it will be a long time before someone like him emerges again.