By Bob Polunsky, WOAI.com Movie Professor
SAN ANTONIO - Paul Newman was a rookie when he made his first film (“The Silver Chalice” in 1954). Even though he had the leading role, it was such a dud that Newman took out ads advising moviegoers not to see it.
He then became a good friend of James Dean, a very popular star at the time, and decided to copy Dean’s style and personality. The two actors competed for the same roles, and it didn’t affect their friendship when Dean continually got the roles instead of Newman.
When Dean was killed in a car accident the day before he was scheduled start shooting “Somebody Up There Likes Me,” Paul Newman was asked to take his place, and the role fit his personality like a glove.
He was cast in more major movies that same year, and every one of them clicked. He also co-starred with major stars (notably Robert Redford) and produced and directed movies with his wife, Joanne Woodward. He was constantly in demand, but Oscar still eluded him.
As they often did, the Hollywood community decided to honor him with an honorary Oscar in 1985 when it didn’t look like was going to win a competitive one. But the very next year he won a competitive award for “The Color of Money” and stayed in demand by the studios and the movie-going public for the rest of his life. He made successful comedies as well as dramas, so it turned out that somebody up there apparently did like him after all.
“Somebody Up There Likes Me” is the DVD pick of the week to remind his fans of Paul Newman’s talent and personality. His charismatic screen personality is as magnetic as ever, and the movie hasn’t dated one bit.
