The Young Philadelphians is a typical Paul Newman movie. He's on the wrong side of the tracks trying to climb his way to the right side, has a chip on his shoulder because of issues with his father, and uses his bad boy charm to seduce a girl or two. You've seen these movies before, so if you don't like that formula, you won't like this one. Very little is changed. It's extremely similar to From the Terrace, so if it turns out you like it, you know which movie to rent next weekend.
The beginning of the film is very intriguing. Diane Brewster and Brian Keith are in love, but faced with the reality of poverty, she marries wealthy Adam West instead. But when she bears Brian's child after Adam's scandalous death, she's cut off from high society. Brian wants to do the decent thing, but she forbids it. She wants her son to have Adam's name and connections, not a father who works in construction.
When the boy grows up to be Paul Newman, Diane faces a great disappointment. He's as ambitious as she wanted him to be, but he has a love of construction and actually works under Brian. They're as close as father and son, without Paul knowing their actual relationship. Paul meets Barbara Rush, a socialite, and wants to marry her. Is it real love, though, or is it just ambition? In my favorite scene, Barbara's father pulls a "Pat Hingle". He pretends to support the young couple, but dangles a great financial opportunity above their heads instead. Remember Pat's fantastic talk with Warren Beatty in Splendor in the Grass?
To find out the outcome of Paul and Barbara's budding romance, and to find out just how far Paul will go to achieve class and money, rent this drama. It doesn't really deviate from Paul's other film formulas, but if you like those, you won't be disappointed.
The beginning of the film is very intriguing. Diane Brewster and Brian Keith are in love, but faced with the reality of poverty, she marries wealthy Adam West instead. But when she bears Brian's child after Adam's scandalous death, she's cut off from high society. Brian wants to do the decent thing, but she forbids it. She wants her son to have Adam's name and connections, not a father who works in construction.
When the boy grows up to be Paul Newman, Diane faces a great disappointment. He's as ambitious as she wanted him to be, but he has a love of construction and actually works under Brian. They're as close as father and son, without Paul knowing their actual relationship. Paul meets Barbara Rush, a socialite, and wants to marry her. Is it real love, though, or is it just ambition? In my favorite scene, Barbara's father pulls a "Pat Hingle". He pretends to support the young couple, but dangles a great financial opportunity above their heads instead. Remember Pat's fantastic talk with Warren Beatty in Splendor in the Grass?
To find out the outcome of Paul and Barbara's budding romance, and to find out just how far Paul will go to achieve class and money, rent this drama. It doesn't really deviate from Paul's other film formulas, but if you like those, you won't be disappointed.