The Paul Newman Collection DVD Credits:

Region: 1

The Paul Newman Collection DVD Release Date: 14th November 2006

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The Paul Newman Collection DVD Review:

Paul Newman has a career that has lasted longer than nearly any other actor still working in Hollywood, and he is still fantastic. What is incredible to watch is the way his style progressed, and how he changed as an actor, even just in the first half of his career. The Paul Newman Collection is fantastic because of how varied the films are, both in time and in characters. Mostly this collection is great because it has some lesser known films with Newman, but nearly every one is a great film. With each film in a slim disc case the package is able to hold seven of Newman’s films without becoming overly bulky. It’s a great package for fans of Paul Newman or classic forgotten films, despite the fact that none of the films that Newman is best known for are in the set.

Somebody Up There Likes Me (1956)
This is the story of Rocky Graziano’s struggle from the streets to jail, until he finally found success as a boxer. Newman makes each stage in this man’s life compelling with an intense energy already shown signs of a star even though this was only his second film. The fact that Steve McQueen has an unbilled role in the film also just makes it that much cooler. As far as great boxing movies go, this one has always been a favorite of mine, and it was the film which brought me over to become a Paul Newman fan, which is ironic considering it was the film which won him over with audiences in 1956 as well. In one of the best commentary tracks in the package, Paul Newman, the director Robert Wise, Martin Scorsese (who directed Newman in The Color of Money) and others are on the Somebody Up There Likes Me commentary. The other special features include a theatrical trailer.

The Left Handed Gun (1958)
The role of William Bonny, otherwise known as Billy the Kid, was originally intended for James Dean before his untimely demise. While watching this film can bring a yearning for more Dean film, Newman’s method acting is quite entertaining, and not all that different than how I image James Dean would have played the role. Billy the Kid is seen as an unstable young man who means well most of the time, but has the moodiness of a child. He can’t seem to control his emotions, and he is fast with a gun, which makes for a dangerous combination. This was Arthur Penn’s directorial debut, and he makes a worthy return with a commentary track on the DVD special features.

The Young Philadelphians (1959)
This epic melodrama is another favorite Newman film of mine. He plays Anthony Laurence, a hard working young man who becomes a lawyer, struggling to impress the parents of young debutant played by Barbara Rush. As he works his way up in the world he is forced to help a friend who is charged with murder, taking the romance and drama into the courtroom. Newman has settled into a comfort zone with this role, and he plays it easily. Director Vincent Sherman does a commentary on the DVD along with film historian Drew Casper.

Harper (1966)
Paul Newman had already been making films for 23-years when he made Harper, his first detective film, and it was the first of many genre films which Newman would make which were groundbreaking in their own way. Newman plays the title character, a cynical fast talking private detective who gets caught up in a murder in Los Angeles. Taking from a Ross McDonald novel and adapted to screen by William Goldman, Harper is a fast paced detective film which has an energy that is hard to compete with. The DVD has a commentary track by Goldman and an introduction by TCM host Robert Osborne.

Pocket Money (1972)
This semi-western film has an obvious French New Wave and Italian Neo-Realism influence. In other words, it moves somewhat slow and not a lot happens. Newman and Lee Marvin are a couple of broke cowboys. They make a deal with a crooked business man to bring some cattle up from Mexico, which is not an easy task when the boys see some problems along the way. The screenplay was written by Terrence Malick (A Thin Red Line, The New Word) and directed by Stuart Rosenberg, who also directed Cool Hand Luke. The DVD has a theatrical trailer.

The Mackintosh Man (1973)
This John Huston spy thriller is an elaborately set up film, but may not have enough action to please today’s audiences. At the same time it is a fantastic film to watch if you have never heard of it, because the plot unfolds quite intricately and the film jumps from a heist gone wrong to a prison sequence, which eventually leads to a foreign country. Newman plays Joseph Rearden easily, even getting the chance to try out a slight accent. The ending falls somewhat short of what the building of suspense might lead you to expect, but there are enough great moments to make the film above average. The DVD includes a featurette about John Huston and a theatrical trailer.

The Drowning Pool (1975)
This film brings back Lew Harper from Newman’s past private eye film. This time it is a case of blackmail that Harper must investigate. The script is a bit choppy and Stuart Rosenberg seems more interested in the actors, who all give fantastic performances. Other than the performances it is a rather average detective film, with only a few memorable moments. Still, Newman is always engaging as the private eye. The DVD contains a vintage featurette about the film and a theatrical trailer.

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The Paul Newman Collection DVD review written by: Ryan Izay