Director Richard Brooks adapted this Tennessee Williams play about a small town ne'er-do-well who returns home on the arm of a boozing, faded movie star, which quickly stirs trouble with the town locals who are in the midst of a political upheaval. Talky material goes mostly flat, yet does get a boost from the sterling cast (Paul Newman, Geraldine Page, Shirley Knight and Supporting Oscar winner Ed Begley). Censors were said to have removed much of the story's minutia for shockable 1960s audiences but, although this must have pained Brooks, he doesn't stage what's left with anything but melodramatic urgency. Remade (and improved) for TV in 1989 with Elizabeth Taylor as the actress. ** from ****
Review of Sweet Bird of Youth
