Awhile back, I did an article about Paul Newman’s movie roles and how he seemed to always portray an alcoholic of some sort. To further drive this point home, I’ve included a clip from the 1958 movie, Cat On A Hot Tin Roof.
No lie, I’ve seen an eerily similar scene at the bar between TCM’s Captain Kirk and Captain Yar just with a lot more crying.
I like Paul Newman movies. I’ve only seen a handful but trust me; I’d drink a beer with Newman over James Dean any day (the other so called rebel). The more I’ve been thinking about it, EVERY Paul Newman movie I’ve seen he plays a “troubled” alcoholic. Let’s take a retrospective look at each alcoholic persona he’s portrayed.
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958) – The classic, “still can’t let go of the glory days” alcoholic. Newman plays a former football star who’s best friend fucks his wife (Elizabeth Taylor when she was hot) and commits suicide.
Badass Factor: It takes Newman 2 bottles of Bourbon over the course of 6 or 7 hours to begin to get drunk. Elizabeth Taylor tells him he’s become more attractive since he took up the bottle.
The Hustler (1961) – Newman plays an alcoholic drifter and big time pool hustler. This time we see the “depressed and despaired” alcoholic. Newman drinks because he has nothing else to live for, no family, friends, permanent residence or work trade. The only way he can live is by making money off of pool games.
Badass Factor: A high stakes pool game(s) against Minnesota Fats (Jackie Gleason) that goes on for 25 hours straight after Newman drowns an entire bottle of Bourbon.
Hud (1963) – Who says cattle ranchers can’t be alcoholics? In Hud, Newman plays the “self absorbed” alcoholic. He’s only interested in drinking, women and having a good time…with women…when he’s drinking.
Badass Factor: Inadvertently, Newman kills his brother by drunk driving, gets into countless bar fights, almost rapes the house keeper and inadvertently kills his dad, than goes home and drinks!
Cool Hand Luke (1967) – I’m not so sure if he’s an alcoholic in this movie, since it mostly takes place in jail. However, in the first second of the movie Newman is drunk and cutting off the tops of parking meters. Let’s just say that he is an alcoholic and this time it’s of the “I don’t give a fuck” variety. He does what he wants, when he wants.
Badass Factor: More or less the entire movie and Newman’s inability to give in or give up.
There’s also a movie from 1982 called the Verdict, where Newman played a washed up alcoholic lawyer. I’m still waiting for E-Bay to mail my copy. If anyone has seen it, please feel free to do a write up and send it to thecaptain@thecaptainsmemos.com.
Here’s to Paul Newman, giving us reason to drink and making alcoholics feel better all over the world.
