In the early 1960s James Franciscus was beginning a long career in TV and movies, mostly in roles that took advantage of his good looks and acting style. "Youngblood Hawke" was pretty typical of his roles at the time. The film tells the story of backwoods Kentucky author Youngblood Hawke (Franciscus), and his meteoric rise to literary fame in New York. Along the way, Hawke romances publishing employee Jeanne (a beautiful Suzanne Pleshette) and a spoiled and lonely rich woman Frieda (Genevieve Page), while doing battle with condescending book critic Judd (a perfectly cast Edward Andrews) and working as a playwright for an older, rich dowager (Mary Astor). Hawke's spectacular rise is followed by an inevitable fall, and a return to his former impoverished life after financial disaster. Among the dynamite cast are Kent Smith, Rusty Lane, Werner Klemperer, Eva Gabor, John Emery, and many other notables.
The story lags a bit toward the middle, and there's an oversupply of melodrama (including the improbable suicide of a young boy), but "Youngblood Hawke" will hold your interest throughout. The B&W cinematography is perfect for its era, and the entire cast acquits itself well, especially Franciscus and Pleshette. It's not a classic, but this movie will hold your interest and is very entertaining, not to mention a journey back in time to 1964. This film's not easy to find but it's certainly worth looking for.
The story lags a bit toward the middle, and there's an oversupply of melodrama (including the improbable suicide of a young boy), but "Youngblood Hawke" will hold your interest throughout. The B&W cinematography is perfect for its era, and the entire cast acquits itself well, especially Franciscus and Pleshette. It's not a classic, but this movie will hold your interest and is very entertaining, not to mention a journey back in time to 1964. This film's not easy to find but it's certainly worth looking for.