Paul Newman is an Aquarius? That makes sense. (Christen)

I have a horrible memory, but there are some things that stick out in my mind like a thorn on a rosebush. The first time I saw a Paul Leonard Newman film was on his 79th birthday when Turner Classic Movies ran a marathon in his honor. I turned it on near the end of Somebody Up There Likes Me, Newman’s first starring role in a major film. In it, Newman plays Rocky Graziano who goes through a troubled life and ends up being a successful boxer. Having missed the beginning, I was first hesitant to keep watching; however, I’m a sucker for a beautiful face. By the end of the day I spent with Paul Newman, it became less about his looks and more about how entrancing it was to watch him work; to watch him talk to someone onscreen, or even sit in silence was mesmerizing. Something about Paul Newman made me want to see more and more of him.

That same day, I was on a computer and trying to find out everything I could about Paul Newman. By the end of the day, thanks to imdb.com, I knew: his birthday (January 26, 1925, making him an Aquarius—I’ve been big on astrology since middle school), where he grew up (Shaker Heights, Ohio), where he studied drama (Kenyon College, Yale University and the Actor’s Studio in New York) and that he is the godfather of Jake Gyllenhaal (how, I don’t know). After several months and a few more praiseworthy Paul Newman films, I was applying to Kenyon University in a vain attempt to follow in his thespian footsteps. Getting accepted was a great honor, but Gambier, Ohio (where Kenyon is located) was a little too…quiet for me.

Because I didn’t know Newman personally, I can’t say all the qualities he possessed for certain. Nevertheless, I could see a lot of other Aquarian characteristics Goodman spoke of in the parts Newman played. Newman plays Eddie Felson in The Hustler (1961), and he takes on one of his most tragic roles. What makes him so interesting is the fact that Eddie possesses one positive Aquarian trait (devotion to his goal of beating “Minnesota Fats”), but he has negative traits (stubbornness and conceit) working against him. His tenacity keeps him from developing a lasting relationship with Sarah Packard (played by Piper Laurie), even though they seem like they could have saved each other. “Physical fulfillment leaves Aquarius emotionally empty and still wistful, failing to sense the Oneness with the mate—the final truth of love”.

In Hud (1963) Newman plays the title character as genuinely as possible. Aside from his performance, Patricia Neal and Melvyn Douglas unquestionably earn their Academy Awards for their supporting roles. It’s one of those movies that was filmed in black and white when it didn’t have to be, but it makes so much sense that it was. This is my roundabout way of saying, if you haven’t seen this movie, see it; if you can, see it on as large a screen as possible so when the camera pans the Texas landscape, you get the effect cinematographer James Wong Howe wanted it to have. Anyway, back to my Newman-Aquarian theory. Aquarians are said to be rebels, and Hud Bannon is a rebel in every sense of the word: he sleeps with married women, tries to take the family ranch from under his aging father’s nose, and gets into a fist fight nearly every time he goes into town. If you look at Newman throughout the film, you see him making every move impulsively; he says and does whatever he wants, regardless of the consequences. Goodman says, “If more conservative people are offended by the Uranus (the ruling planet of Aquarius) behavior, the Aquarian individualist laughs off their disapproval.”

Skipping a decade, I saw The Sting (1973) and couldn’t wait for every time Newman would come onscreen. Newman plays experienced con artist Henry Gondorff, and he possesses several key Aquarian traits, including far-sighted and intelligent.  He was a supporting actor to Robert Redford’s lead, but the most memorable scene in the film for me is Gondorff’s poker playing scene with the bad guy, Doyle Lonnegan (played by Robert Shaw). Gondorff has the authority that Newman’s characters usually have, or at least pretend they have, which is something no one else can pull off. I’m scared to give too much more of the movie away for those that haven’t seen it, but if you watch it closely, you can see that Newman put a lot of work into this role even though his screen time is minimal. “Aquarius knows that the rigid rules of today’s society must sooner or later be compromised.”

Paul Newman inspired me to find a part of myself in the roles I play. Another Aquarian trait that I know I can attribute to Newman is brilliance; that is something I’ve seen in every part he’s explored on film.

Comments

[Bill]

I just finished a Paul Newman double feature of Cool Hand Luke and Nobody's Fool. The two go together in that it's almost the same man 30 years later; still stubborn and stuck in his ways, but a lot slower from being knocked down so many times- yet never broken.

From wikipedia on Aquarius- (I'll play ball, I'm a Sagittarius by the way)

-Free-spirited, rebellious
-Unconventional, misunderstood
-Devoted to their goals

Absolutely what Cool Hand is all about. He was "friendly" and "sociable," but every time he escaped the gang, he "singled-out" to recharge his batteries. One of the best scenes in the film is when he gets a visitor- the sharing of cigarettes, his smiles saying more than his words.

The Sting is great, but really just a sequel to Butch and Sundance. I'll have to check out Hud. The Hustler is a perfect movie- it's sad that the Academy has to fix their mistakes and reward actors for other performances (The Color of Money) as a way of atoning for their awards sins.

For the Oscars this year, they could use the last minute of Cool Hand Luke for his memoriam visual obituary, a perfect encapsulation of Mr. Newman.

RIP

[Lovenia]

Well, I just want to say how impressed I am with your passion for both the craft and the path you have chosen (or that has chosen you)! You just don't know, it does this ole heart good, chile! ;-)