Plot: What’s it about?
Chance Wayne (Paul Newman) was the big man about town in his youth, popular with the ladies and never one to be seen alone. His combination of charisma and good looks served him well in his hometown, but he had aspirations on a larger scale. So he went to Hollywood to become a movie star, a move that never blossomed into the stardom he desired. So after years of failure in pursuit of that dream, he returns to his hometown, with a former movie star in tow. She is Alexandra (Geraldine Page), a washed up performer who spends her time abusing drugs and alcohol. Although his spirit has been dampened, he still holds on to his vision of stardom and hopes to use Alexandra to get him there. He serves as her driver and gigolo, hoping he can ride her to his own fame and fortune down the road. Once he is back however, he is drawn to his former lover Heavenly (Shirley Knight), who he left in troubled circumstances. Her father (Ed Begley) is one of the most powerful men in the state and he ran Chance off before, so he plans to do it again. Will Chance find what he seeks upon his return, or will his stay be short lived this time around?
This film was released as part of Warner’s Tennessee Williams Collection and you can tell it was based on one of Williams’ plays, as the film has all of his usual elements. The film is populated with nasty characters with bad intentions, all of whom wind up in a tangled mess of sex, money, and immoral deeds. Sweet Bird of Youth hits all of Williams’ trademark bases and does so with enthusiasm, so don’t come into this one looking for an upbeat, redeeming motion picture. You can expect some sharp dialogue and well crafted characters, as well as a host of excellent performances. While Paul Newman’s presence probably catches the most attention now, at the time he wasn’t a huge star as of yet. Even so, he turns in a solid effort, but he is outshined by several of his cast mates, especially Geraldine Page. She is spectacular here and really steals the show, earning an Oscar nomination in the process. But these are just two of the numerous players who are on high levels here, not to mention Ed Begley, who would take home an Oscar for his performance. This is a well made film in all regards, so Sweet Bird of Youth is given a solid recommendation.
Video: How does it look?
Sweet Bird of Youth is presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen. This is an overall good visual presentation, but the print shows some serious flecks and blips, although no compression errors crop up. This is a black and white film, so the key element to a good image is contrast. Thankfully, the contrast here is very good, with no serious flaws to mention. Detail is very high, and no overly dark or light regions can be found. A good effort, but I expect more from Warner these days.
Audio: How does it sound?
Mono is as mono does, right? This is the original mono track, which sounds dated and limited, as you would expect. At least the usual hiss is absent, and the music comes across well, which is good because the score is good. The dialogue is loud and clear, with no volume or separation issues to speak of. This disc also includes a French language track, as well as subtitles in English, Spanish, and French.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes a newly created featurette, vintage screen tests, and the film’s theatrical trailer.
