Paul Had Vision And The Rest Of The World Wears Bifocals

I miss Paul Newman.

Long before I developed a serious interest in film, Paul Newman was a tangible presence in my childhood, occupying the special place of celebrity-about-town.   In the early ‘90s he had befriended a local philanthropist in the Lake George area and set up a camp for children with life threatening illnesses.  He continued to visit my hometown throughout that decade and into the next, staying on as Honorary Chairman long after our philanthropist had passed away.  Our newspaper would often report special events at the camp, and when I’d asked who Paul Newman was my parents had told me that he was a Very Famous Actor and reportedly a Very Nice Person. 

I miss the summer that I first “discovered” Paul Newman in his iconic on-screen pairing with Robert Redford.  I was seventeen, about to start my first semester of college, terrified of the changes pressing in from all sides and desperately needing an escape.  That escape came in two forms: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and The Sting.  If those films—still my favorites today — taught me anything, it was that solutions could be found in the stickiest situations if you had laughter and friendship.  (And train robbing and con artistry too, of course.)


But I really miss Paul Newman when I’m at Walmart buying groceries for my dorm room.  His perfect features are always watching me as I push my cart up the aisle, the legendary blue eyes looking down from the illustration on his salad dressing bottles.  I’ll admit to favoring Newman’s Own over other brands whenever I have the option.  When I’m home on break my parents will purposely buy the most diverse products available: Paul Newman pizza, Paul Newman lemonade, Paul Newman K-Cups for the Keurig. 

I miss the perfect romantic chemistry between Paul Newman and his real-life wife, the amazing actress Joanne Woodward.  Their ten films together cover a wide range of topics and time periods, but they’re all marked by the pair’s ability to bring out the best in each another.  Personally, I don’t think summer is summer without at least one viewing of The Long, Hot Summer, and my grandmother agrees.  And for sillier fare that’s almost sinfully ‘60s, there’s always A New Kind of Love.  It’s Paris, outrageous costumes, Paul, and Joanne.  Though I’ll admit, I’d watch anything with the two of them, good, bad, or indifferent.



In a way, I miss the silly conversations I had with a former boyfriend about Paul Newman.  He’d seen Paul at a community theater event in Glens Falls several years back, and I was incredibly jealous.  What was it like? I’d gushed.  He’d shrugged.  He was really old.  I’d felt an odd kind of emptiness, because Paul Newman was so much more than just an actor, or the guy from the salad dressing, or old.   And I’d really felt like I missed him, though of course we’d never met.

I might miss Paul Newman, but I don’t think he’ll ever be forgotten.

Paul Newman Movies That Will Make You Miss Him

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958) – While the movie glosses over parts of Tennessee Williams’ original play, Paul is incredible opposite Elizabeth Taylor.  Personally I love the ancient house, the tension, everything: it’s hard to look away.

Cool Hand Luke (1967) – This rough prison drama can be disturbing to digest, but it’s classic Paul in one of his (many) iconic roles as an antihero.  There are some light moments, too, including a hardboiled egg eating contest.  Plus, “What we got here is failure to communicate.”

Slap Shot (1977) – The quintessential crude hockey movie.  I like to pretend I’m above humor this raunchy, yet I laugh anyway.  If you’re a hockey fan like me you’ll cringe at the lack of helmets but you’ll love the antics of the Hanson brothers.  The bottom line: Paul Newman on skates is always a good thing.

The Verdict (1982) – Maybe what’s most endearing about Paul is that he hardly ever portrayed “perfection,” and this film’s story of a lawyer aiming to redeem himself by doing the right thing is universal in scope.  And he plays it brilliantly, of course.

And if you never watch a single Paul Newman movie, do yourself a favor and at least watch the bicycle scene from Butch Cassidy:

Yes, he did his own stunts!
 
Read more about the Double H camp here.
For all of Paul’s movies plus some lovely personal quotes, visit Paul's IMDB page here.