Search - The Young Philadelphians on DVD

The magnificent temptress Alexis Smith taking the longest wa

Roberto Frangie | Leon, Gto. Mexico | 01/17/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"In Warners' "The Young Philadelphians," Newman plays a young lawyer who abandons all values in search of success... Directed by Vincent Sherman, who had made some of Joan Crawford's tough career-woman vehicles, this slick soap opera actually finds Newman in a Crawford role...

Tony Lawrence is born into poverty, and his mother brings him up to believe that social position, good contacts and money are all that matter... At first he resists, but events harden him into a cynical opportunist, and he sets out on an amoral journey to the top of his law firm... He double-crosses, romances and ingratiates himself to success, but loses all his youthful idealism, and becomes unhappy with himself... Finally deciding that success isn't worth, the price, he chooses integrity, risking the enmity of a prominent family by defending an alcoholic friend...

Tony, the ruthless opportunist, is superficially another Ben Quick ("The Long, Hot Summer"), but here the writing is superficially and Newman responds with an appropriately routine portrayal... He goes through the motions well, conveying the smiling, eager innocent at the beginning, and the intense, jaded conniver later on... But it's all on the surface, with no depth of feeling... Tony doesn't even have the underlying devilish charm, only an attractive face... And at crucial moments--when Tony's girl marries another man and when he finds out who his real father is--Newman falls back on heavy breathing, rapid blinking and feverish lip movements...

Barbara Rush gives her best performance as the depressed, cynical, high society daughter of one of Philadelphia's most prominent attorney Gilbert Dickson (John Williams).

Robert Vaughn is excellent as the alcoholic victim, cheated and inherited...

Billia Burke is delightful as the old millionairess whom Tony wins her trust by persuading her to transfer the administration of her possessions to a firm that could save her 'some' taxes...

"The Young Philadelphians" is Vincent Sherman's best film of the fifties, with excellent supporting cast specially by Alexis Smith as the dissatisfied wife of an aging lawyer collaborating in unifying the arguments of the dramatic action...

With 3 Academy Award Nominations for Best Supporting Actor (Vaughn), Best Cinematography and Best Costume Design, the film is gleamingly done and acted with assurance...

"

"Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence."

EddieLove | NYC, USA | 12/22/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Disapointed love turns Paul from a hard-working idealist to a cagey brown-noser on the make. Can defending his one-armed, dipso buddy realign his priorities in a town where straight-laced bluebloods call the shots? Find out in this slick, but not overaught 50s melodrama. Robert Vaughn as the disapated playboy is very good and Paul gives an energetic performance -- in the courtroom scenes it's fun to imagine you're watching the young Frances X. Galvin before his fall. (And just try to watch his climactic courtroom takedown of Richard Deacon with a straight face.) There's a fun academic commentary as well."

Paul Newman is FABULOUS! Great story!

Kay Brown | Houston, TX | 10/09/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This movie has a timeless storyline and makes me wish they were still turning out Paul Newman's..."

One of my favorite movies

ces | hauppauge,n.y. | 12/24/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"i purchased two copies of this movie, one for me and one for a gift. i have always loved this movie and it isn't that easy to get. i haven't viewed this copy yet so i don't know the quality of the disc, but the movie is great and in my opinion, one of paul newman's best."