Where does Paul Newman rank all time for acting skills?

Pretty close to the top

When we think of the generations of actors - Newman was in that middle notch - between the generation of Bogey, the Duke, Jimmy Stewart, Spencer Tracy, Clark Gable - and that of the Pacino, Deniro crowd.

Roughly the same age as Brando, the studios tried to do similar things with them. Newman was probably a better "every day" actor with just short of the potential of Brando at his best. But really outstanding in his big pictures - his run from The Hustler through The Sting - 10 or 11 years there, I don't know if there was anybody acting better - and that was a time of transition for Hollywood - he was more or less the pivot man - Brando didn't really make a good picture between The Ugly American and The Godfather - that period was Newman's peak.

Paul Newman in the poker scene from The Sting is one of my favorite scenes ever

i was watching chl the other day, too ...

my favorite newman film is Nobody's Fool ... great, great film (and a very nice shot of the very nice Melanie Griffith's tits) ... Absence of Malice is up there with his others, also (great scenes with Wilford Brimley) ...

I'm trying to understand why you didn't like him in Cat on a Hot Tim Roof. I think maybe it's the character and the type of movie you don't like more than the acting.

Tennessee Williams' plays are done in a particular style of romanticized drama tucked into a highly repressed Southern system of mores and etiquette. I think that it's going to be harder and harder for new generations to understand the nuance of Williams' plays. Lots of major undertones will be missed.

quote:

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Cat on a Hot Tim Roof.

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In general, never liked anything by Tennessee Williams. In particular, I hated Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Saw it as a kid, didn't like any of the characters much; really didn't understand what was going on beyond the constant whining and bickering and manipulating.

One lasting take-away-I particularly despised "Big Daddy" played by Burl Ives. I could never get past associating him with that role. Subsequently, even 5 decades later, I still hate having to endure his nasal rendition of "Holly, Jolly Christmas" every year.

Part of the problem with the movie is that Elia Kazan was forced to remove any explicit reference to the son being a homosexual. That's what the conflict is all about!

I have done a 180 on Burl Ives. I used to think like you, but I now think he's awesome. He's unique. One of his best roles was in Big Country.

You're generations are a bit interesting.

Newman is 15-25 years younger than Stewart and Bogart.

Love this scene!!

Top 10 or so for sure. From his generation he is one of the best.