Sweet Bird of Youth

Monday, May 23
7:30 PM

The Film Committee continues its season-long exploration of Tennessee Williams with Sweet Bird of Youth, a 1962 film starring Paul Newman, Geraldine Page, Shirley Knight, Madeleine Sherwood, Ed Begley, Rip Torn and Mildred Dunnock. Based on the play 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.
It 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).
Handsome, young Chance Wayne returns to his hometown of St. Cloud, Florida, accompanied by a considerably older movie star, Alexandra Del Lago. She is needy and depressed, particularly about a film she has just finished making, and speaks of retiring from the acting world forever. Chance’s hometown sweetheart, Heavenly, daughter of the town boss, is still there to complicate Chance’s life.