Sweet Bird of Youth (1962) is a film adaptation of Tenessee Williams play
directed by Richard Brooks. with Paul Newman and Geraldine Page reprising parts
they played on Broadway.
Paul Newman plays Chance Wayne, an ambitious, good-looking dreamer, always expecting
to find his big break around the corner. He had some small sucess years ago
on stage, and is sure he will make it in Hollywood. He drifts, always returning to his home
town and his one true love Heavenly (Shirley Knight). She is the daughter of the town's
corrupt political boss and she waits patiently and unquestioningly for him while survives
as a gigolo living off older women and using them to open doors for him.
The story takes place on his last visit home, when he is travelling with fading, alcoholic
movie star Alexandra Del Lago(Geraldine Page), who is fleeing from what she sees as a failed
comeback. Chance thinks he can use her contacts to get himself a screen test and that this will
finally be it. The dynamic between these two is the central focus of the film, as she
glories in his youth, but taunts his dreams; and he flatters, cajoles and even threatens
her, trying to get what he wants.
The atmosphere in town is tense. Nobody makes Chance welcome. Boss Finley (Ed Begley) is
facing a political attack, and has hemmed Heavenly in with guards. He wants Chance out of town
as soon as possible. Her Aunt (Mildred Dimmock), who has always treated him like a son, nervously
tells him to leave too. When he follows the family to church, Chance discovers that last time
he left, Heavenly was pregnant.
Heavenly's brother, a vicious thug, approaches Alexandra, while Chance is out, and menaces her, scaring her badly and pushing her back into the drinking she has been
avoiding. Drunk, she goes looking for Chance, and begs him to take her away, but he has been offered the
opportunity to see Heavenly, and walks out on her.
When he meets Heavenly, she too repulses him, and he returns to the hotel to check out.
Alexandra receives a call from Walter Winchell, raving about her new film. She is delighted
and though Chance keeps urging her, she doesn't mention him at all. After the call he reproaches
her bitterly, and she tells him that by walking out on her he's voided any contract they ever had.
She paints a picture of his future, at her beck and call however she wants him -- as chauffeur,
butler or lover -- her choice -- until his good looks leave him.
While they argue, a rally is gathering outside for Boss Finley to defend himself. As Chance
watches, a question is raised from the floor, regarding Heavenly's abortion, which until then,
he didn't know about. Rebelling against Alexandra, and horrified about the abortion, he goes to the
Finley's home, where he is beaten by Heavenly's brother and a group of friends.
As Heavenly returns home with her father, she sees her brother bring his stick down on Chance's
face, ruining his attractiveness forever. Appalled by this brutality, she rushes to him, and the
pair drive away, leaving Boss Finley ranting behind them.
This film, throughout, has the feeling of a play that has been recorded, rather than a film in its
own right. The performances are strong, (Geraldine Page and Ed Begley won oscars for their roles)
but theatrical. Emotion runs high, and tension is well maintained, although the characters are
on the whole, unpleasant people. Only Heavenly and Aunt Nonnie are really sympathetic -- the
rest are cynical, disillusioned, violent or corrupt. Even so, you find yourself pitying
Alexandra, who managed to be vulnerable as well as embittered; and supporting Chance, in the
hope that he might finally stop being a loser and do something right and good.
Not a great classic, but well worth watching.