THE YOUNG PHILADELPHIANS
US, 1959, 136 minutes, Black and White.
Paul Newman, Barbara Rush, Alexis Smith, Brian Keith, Diane Brewster, Billie Burke, John Williams. Robert Vaughn.
Directed by Vincent Sherman.
The Young Philadelphians is one of those glossy stories based on a big best seller. It is well done in its way, though probably dated now. It reflects the interests and styles of the late 50s. It was also one of Paul Newman's earlier films. It marks also the beginning of the career of Robert Vaughn. In this kind of film there is abundance of incidents over several years. Treatment tends to be on the rather superficial side and situations presented somewhat sensationally. This is the kind of film, of course, that wide audiences enjoy. It is quite interesting of its kind.
1. What were the implications of the title - as a piece of American history and social comment? The background of Philadelphia and its society? Did the film live up to the expectations of a panorama over some decades of American history? Or was it merely a romantic drama, even melodrama? Why?
2. Why are films like this always of human interest? The characters, situations, the melodrama, the ambitions and yearnings and fulfilment? How successful a piece of Americana of the early 20th century was this film? Why?
3. What impressions of the United States and of its society did the film give? Snobbery and wealth, rising to success, tangled inter-relationships, the background of American morals and standards and criteria for success?
4. How interesting was Tony Lawrence as the central character? Was he sufficiently explained by his background. his mother and his illegitimacy, the Philadelphia background, the family ambitions in making him a Lawrence? The fact that the world seemed to revolve around him? Was he a spoilt young man or a properly ambitious young nun? Why did he want to succeed? How interesting were the steps in his climbing to success? Were they realistic or contrived?
5. How important was the personality of Kate Judson? Our response to her marriage night. her being jilted. the fact that she sought comfort with Mike Flanagan, the illegitimacy of her child? Was this enough to drive her to ambitions for her son, to make him a Lawrence? Was the suffering that followed a result of these decisions? How did the film portray this? How did she make reparation by telling Anthony of the truth? How was this an illustration of the importance of good and evil and right and wrong and facing the truth?
6. Comment on how the film presented the Lawrence snobbery. What was audience reaction to this? Was this snobbery a realistic touch for the film?
7. Did you like the character of Mike Flanagan? His Irish support for Kate? His fidelity to her? His looking after Tony Lawrence? His support of him? His unobtrusive staying in the background? How noble a figure did the film Rake him out to be?
8. How did the film show the world of 1946? As contrasting with the 20s? The young men after the war with ambitions? Tony as a student and as ambitious in this world? How optimistic were people in these days?
9. How well portrayed was the character of Chet Gwynne? As a potential loser? His friendship with Tony? Chet's falling into alcoholism? The fact that he was weak? Did his character add to the interest of the film? Especially towards the end?
10. What comment was being made by Gilbert Dickinson and his influence in the legal field? His reactions to Tony Lawrence? His offering of posit-ion to Tony instead of marriage with Joan? How smooth-talking was he? How did he make life miserable for Joan?
11. Was Joan an attractive heroine for the film? How self-centred? Did she love Tony? Why did he not marry her? The repetition of the experience of the mother? Joan’s marriage on the rebound? Was this realistic?
12. How did ambition change Tony as he moved towards success? Was he an attractive character at this stage of the film? Why?
13. The importance of the sequence with the Whartons? The affair with Carole Wharton? The moral comment on this?
14. The importance of the deal with Mrs. Allen? Mrs. Allen and her support as Tony's chance for success? Were you glad of this or had your sympathies been lessened for Tony? Why?
15. How did the film highlight Tony's success with the rivalry of Louis Donetti? Was this important in giving a sense of realism to Tony's struggles?
16. Was the court-case interesting? The defence of Chet? Chet's dependence on Tony? The implications of the telling of the truth and Tony's facing up to these? How dramatically successful was this? How important was the truth for the themes of the film?
17. The melodramatics of Morton Stearnes and the potential murder? Did this add to the film or did it merely give it a sensational Hollywood finale?
18. Was the happy ending appropriate? what had the main characters learnt by their experience? What future could they build? What insight into human character and material success and ambitions did the film give? Was it a successful film on the whole? Why?
