SWEET BIRD OF YOUTH (1962) C widescreen 120m. dir: Richard Brooks

w/Paul Newman, Geraldine Page, Shirley Knight, Ed Begley, Rip Torn, Mildred Dunnock, Madeleine Sherwood, Philip Abbott, Corey Allen, Barry Cahill

From Variety's contemporary review of the film: "Sweet Bird of Youth is a tamer and tidied but arresting version of Tennessee Williams's Broadway play. It's a glossy, engrossing hunk of motion picture entertainment, slickly produced by [Pandro S.] Berman.

"In altering the playwright's Dixie climax (castration of the hero) Brooks has slightly weakened the story by damaging character consistency and emotional momentum. But he has accomplished this revision as if winking his creative eye at the 'in' audience.

"Four members of the original Broadway cast re-create their roles: Newman, Page, Torn and Sherwood. Newman brings thrust and vitality to the role, but has some overly mannered moments that distract.

"But this is Page's picture. She draws the best, wittiest and most acid lines and the most colorful character and what she does with this parlay is a lesson in the art of acting. Her portrayal of the fading actress seeking substitute reality in drink, sex and what have you to offer is a histrionic classic. Shirley Knight is sympathetic and attractive as the distraught daughter of a corrupt political boss, and Ed Begley is outstanding as the latter."

Begley won a Supporting Actor Oscar, and Page and Knight were nominated for Best Actress and Supporting Actress, respectively.