TV and Movies

[Oznell]

9:45 p.m. Eastern, Thursday--  "The Young Philadelphians".  Paul Newman, Barbara Rush, Robert Vaughn, Alexis Smith, Brian Keith, Diane Brewster  Otto Kruger, Adam West, John Williams, Anthony Eiseley, Billie Burke, Richard Deacon

Can a drama be both 'meaty', and 'soapy'?  Sounds like a sort of revolting combo, but both adjectives apply here!  Fun "upward mobility" tale about driven young lawyer Paul Newman, breaking into the upper crust with his society girlfriend, the lovely, fawn-like Barbara Rush.

Paul's at his best playing this kind of vibrant guy who has more to offer than all the mealy-mouths, and just needs to prove his mettle!  This is the kind of movie where the rich chaps have names like "Carter" and "Shippen", ha, and the proles have sturdy names like "Mike".

Very interesting, eclectic cast, too, with Robert Vaughn  (of "Man from Uncle" fame among others) snagging an Oscar nomination as a murder suspect that Paul must defend.

Directed by the always reliable Vincent Sherman, it's a terrific prime time watch.     

[Nonametoday]

That is a terrific movie.  That young Paul was a feast for the eyes, a dessert better than the main course.  Yes, ma'am.  He was a beauty to behold.

[Pearlee]

Diane Brewster played Dr. Richard Kimble's murdered wife.

[Oznell]

I wondered if any knowledgeable "Fugitive-istas" would pick up on the Diane Brewster reference, @Pearlee -- and you did!

It's interesting to me that this 1959 cast draws liberally from both classic Hollywood ( Billie Burke, Alexis Smith,, Otto Kruger, John Williams, Newman and Rush-- junior version) and the, for the most part, newer, predominantly television stars--  Robert Vaughn (although he straddled both worlds, at least at first), Brian Keith (ditto), Diane Brewster, Adam West, Anthony Eisley, Richard Deacon.

[Oznell]

Interesting short interview with Barbara Rush, in which she says she feels "The Young Philadelphians" was one of Paul Newman's most enduring films-- despite all the hoopla surrounding his many more celebrated ones.   She thinks the love story contributed to this.

She always seems grounded and "real" to me, a neat person:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faf5CtcJgJg

[mousiegirl]

@Oznell   Great movie!  I actually have it recorded on a VHs tape from decades ago, and looked for it on dvd, but could not find it, and if it would be expensive , I wouldn't buy it.  The tape is perfectly clear, but it is the only movie on the tape so wanted to dispose of the tape, but now won't.  I always liked Barbara Rush.

[Pearlee]

@Oznell I'm the undefeated champ of The Fugitive TV show trivia! 😄

[Oznell]

@mousiegirl, wow do you have the capability still of playing that older tape?

And that's not an easy achievement, @Pearlee ,  given the length of the series and all the fascinating minutia involved...

[mousiegirl]

@Oznell   Yes, I have over 100 VHS tapes, used to have a ton more, but disposed of some because I wanted the series/movies on dvd, even though the tapes were perfectly fine.  I store them in a dark bedroom closet on racks and bookshelves, along with the dvds.  I bought the best quality VHS tapes I could find, at costco, known as the Price Club then, and as I said, that was decades ago.

I began recording in the 80's, many old tv series such as Father Knows Best, Christmas shows of tv comedies I liked such as Bob Newhart, the first series, etc., and Christmas movies I liked, etc., etc., and the like. and wonderful movies, including film noir, when AMC didn't have commercials, so it was easy, the other channels, I would record as I watched so I could pause when commercials came on, so as not to record them

[mousiegirl]

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@Oznell wrote:

Interesting short interview with Barbara Rush, in which she says she feels "The Young Philadelphians" was one of Paul Newman's most enduring films-- despite all the hoopla surrounding his many more celebrated ones.   She thinks the love story contributed to this.

She always seems grounded and "real" to me, a neat person:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faf5CtcJgJg

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@Oznell   It seems she is 75 in the interview, can that be, she looks so young and still beautiful.