Paul Newman, 1925-2008
Cool Hand Luke
If I had to name the person who, to me, most embodied the term “movie star,” I think I would have to say Paul Newman.
He had the good looks, the talent and that intangible something that gets your attention and keeps it.
Newman died Saturday at the age of 83.
He was one of the best. I could watch “Cool Hand Luke” a million times and still not be tired of it.
My other favorites are “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” “The Hustler,” “Hombre,” “From the Terrace,” “The Long Hot Summer,” “The Sting,” “Slap Shot,” “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” and “Hud.”
And he was a good guy. He has campaigned for civil rights, given close to $175 million he earned from sales of his Newman’s Own salad dressings and spaghetti sauces to charity and has been married to the same woman, actress Joanne Woodward, for 50 years, a feat almost unheard of in Hollywood.
According to Newman’s IMDB.com page, he made 56 movies, not counting TV appearances and voices for animated films. I’m making it my goal, starting now, to watch each and every one in the next year.
Raising Two Americans 
October 4, 2008 at 9:07 pm
So, in an effort to expand my movie horizon (which are admittedly limited to sci-fi and Hugh Grant), and to pay tribute to a great legend of film, Otto rented us “The Verdict” with Paul Newman.
Holy cow… I really liked it!
(He also had us watch JFK and Thirteen Days. My knowledge of the Cuban Missile Crisis and Kennedy’s presidency in general pretty much quintupled.)
October 5, 2008 at 3:35 am
Don’t stop at ‘The Verdict.” There’s a lot of good ones in the Newman library. Trust me.