Taglines: He used love like most men use money.
Sweet Bird of Youth movie storyline. Self-professed to be from the wrong side of the tracks from St. Cloud, Florida, Chance Wayne loves Heavenly Finley, the daughter of wealthy ‘Boss’ Thomas J. Finley, a corrupt and ruthless politician who rules the town. Thomas does whatever he needs to to break the two up, and manages to run Chance out of town. An aspiring actor, Chance rolls back into St. Cloud with temperamental and drunken Alexandra Del Lago, a once great movie actress whose star has since faded.
Picking her up at a party, Chance sees Alexandra as his professional meal ticket. Chance is back in St. Cloud to try and get back together with Heavenly, who still loves Chance but will not cross her powerful father if only to save Chance. Boss wants to run Chance out of town again, but it will be a little more difficult this time if only because of the notoriety of Miss Del Lago. The fortunes of all involved may hinge on some secret information concerning Chance and Heavenly.
Sweet Bird of Youth is a 1962 drama film starring Paul Newman, Geraldine Page, Shirley Knight, Madeleine Sherwood, Ed Begley, Rip Torn and Mildred Dunnock. Based on the 1959 play of the same name by Tennessee Williams, it focuses on the relationship between a drifter and a faded movie star. The film was adapted and directed by Richard Brooks.
The film won the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Ed Begley), and was nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role (Geraldine Page) and Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Shirley Knight). The film version was sanitized, with Chance becoming a drifter rather than a gigolo for hire, and no mention of Heavenly Finley’s operation and resulting infertility. The ending was also heavily altered from the explicit sexual mutilation scene depicted in the conclusion of the original stage version.
Sweet Bird of Youth (1962)
Directed by: Richard Brooks
Starring: Paul Newman, Geraldine Page, Shirley Knight, Ed Begley, Rip Torn, Mildred Dunnock, Madeleine Sherwood, Philip Abbott, Corey Allen, Barry Cahill, James Douglas, Dorothy Konrad
Screenplay by: Richard Brooks
Cinematography by: Milton Krasner
Film Editing by: Henry Berman
Costume Design by: Orry-Kelly
Set Decoration by: Henry Grace, Hugh Hunt
Art Direction by: George W. Davis, Urie McCleary
MPAA Rating: None.
Distributed by: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release Date: March 21, 1962
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