by Fiona Underhill, Staff Writer

Here at MovieJawn, we’re celebrating the centennial of Hollywood legend Paul Newman, as he was born on January 26, 1925. Newman’s career spanned across five decades, with acting roles in 55 live-action feature films between 1954 and 2002. As someone who has now watched all 55, I can tell you that it takes a long time to get through them! So, if you’re wondering where to start with such a vast filmography, I’ve got you covered. I’ve selected some of the main genres that Newman worked in, and given you an idea of where to start with his films within that genre.

Watching Newman’s filmography gives a fascinating insight into Hollywood movie-making across the entire second half of the twentieth century, as you can watch aesthetics and genres go in and out of fashion, and see the changing directing and acting styles over the years. Newman was exceedingly self-critical, and liked very few of the films he made or performances he gave. But his films really do span the entire spectrum from some of the best Hollywood movies ever made, to (just a few of) the worst! And looking at Newman’s career as a whole, you can see him bouncing from masterpiece to disaster, back to masterpiece again, sometimes all within the same year.

Watching every film from a director or actor’s long career is a really interesting exercise which I strongly recommend doing at least once or twice in your life. But with no further ado, here’s where to start with Paul Newman.

Westerns:

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (dir. George Roy Hill, 1969)

Butch Cassidy an absolutely essential Paul Newman film, with Newman having crackling chemistry with both Robert Redford and Katharine Ross. The team-up of Newman, Redford and director George Roy Hill yielded two of the best movies of all time and we’re lucky that in this extremely rare instance–lightning really did strike twice.

The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean (dir. John Huston 1972)

Like Butch Cassidy, this is another comedic western which plays to Newman’s strengths. If you’ve ever wanted to see a wiry, straggly Paul Newman get drunk with a bear – this is the movie for you!

Comedies:

The Sting (dir. George Roy Hill, 1973)

One of the best Best Picture winners of all time, The Sting is a cracking heist caper which is just an absolute blast from start to finish. The second collaboration of Newman, Redford and George Roy Hill sings just as sweetly as the first, and the addition of Robert Shaw as their nemesis adds another fun dimension.

What a Way to Go! (1964) and The Hudsucker Proxy (1994) – these two comedies, released 30 years apart, would make a great introduction to Newman’s comedic side – encompassing farce and screwball – two things we don’t usually associate with the star. The costumes in What a Way to Go! are some of the best of all time, and Shirley MacLaine is luminous at the center of the whirlwind.

Thrillers/Noirs:

Paul Newman starred in a variety of noir, political and Cold War thrillers during his career. A great introduction to Newman’s thriller work would be two courtroom dramas, released around 25 years apart: The Rack (1956) and The Verdict (1982). This would be the perfect double bill to do if you wanted to see the development of Newman’s acting over time. The stamp of Lee Strasberg’s Actors’ Studio is all over The Rack, whereas The Verdict is one of Newman’s best, most understated and subtly complex performances.

Road to Perdition (dir. Sam Mendes, 2002)

After playing private investigator Lew Harper in Harper/The Drowning Pool, it’s interesting that Newman returned to the noir right at the tail-end of his career. Road to Perdition (along with his brilliant casting in Pixar’s Cars) was a fitting swansong–especially as Perdition tackles one of the most pervasive themes of Newman’s career–Daddy issues.

Sports:

Paul Newman starred in five sports movies during his career, which cover an interesting range of sports including boxing, ice hockey, pool, and of course his beloved car racing.

The Hustler (dir. Robert Rossen, 1961)/The Color of Money (dir. Martin Scorsese, 1986)

The Hustler is of course up there in the masterpiece bracket, and an absolutely essential Paul Newman film plus a raw, blistering performance by Piper Laurie. Newman returned to the character of Fast Eddie Felson 25 years later, but this time as a mentor to Tom Cruise, and for Martin Scorsese, no less! Again, this double bill would make the perfect introduction to Newman, demonstrating that his hard edges absolutely did not soften with time.

Slap Shot (dir. George Roy Hill, 1977)

One of Newman’s greatest comedic roles is in this hilariously violent and foul-mouthed, Pennsylvania-set ice hockey movie. Newman’s wardrobe (including fur coats!) is worth a watch alone, but it’s also one of the best sports comedies of all time. Hanson Bros 4Eva!

Newman’s best genre – the family drama/melodrama

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (dir. Richard Brooks, 1958)

Father/son relationships were something that Newman returned to again and again throughout his career, and it’s rewarding to watch him evolve from the son to the father (and grandfather!) during his career. It was never better than in Tennessee Williams’ melodrama, in which Newman was paired with Elizabeth Taylor–both at their physical peak. Burl Ives’ Big Daddy is an iconic movie character for the ages.

Hud (1962) and Nobody’s Fool (1994) – you could easily make the case that Newman’s best-ever performance was as the reprehensible Hud Bannon, a role that he seemed born to play. Over 30 years later, Newman plays the aging Sully in Nobody’s Fool, who begins to connect with a young grandson in order to heal the wounds caused by his failed relationship with his son.

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