Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward were two stellar actors in their own right, but when they performed together, there was just some magical chemistry that made them glow on the screen.
The Last Movie Stars is a remarkable documentary about the extraordinary life of both Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, told through the recreation of transcripts of audiotapes recently discovered by the Newman-Woodward family.
These fascinating transcripts are interviews with actors, family friends, and colleagues of both Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward as a biography of Paul Newman had been in the works. Newman grew bored of the constant questioning and destroyed the tapes in a fire.
Thankfully the tapes had been transcribed and sat in boxes waiting to be discovered. This incredible find created a snapshot into the famous couple’s lives—an uncensored look into the life of both actors from the beginning and end of their extensive careers.
We all know the face of Paul Newman, from his blue eyes and cheeky smile from the bottles of salad dressing and tomato sauce. But the actor had a long-lasting career in Hollywood, starting in the 1950s and continuing through to 2006 when he lent his voice to the Disney cartoon, Cars.
On the other hand, Joanne Woodward is an actor’s actor; she played roles that challenged her and the audience. From her Oscar-winning performance in The Three Faces of Eve to Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams, and Do You Remember Love. Joanne Woodward’s performance always left a memorable impression.
Ethan Hawke has enlisted several actor friends to read the transcripts from the destroyed recordings. In doing this type of work, it is almost like you can hear the voices of Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward recall moments of their life; George Clooney and Laura Linney lend their voices to play both Newman and Woodward.
The Last Movie Stars is remarkable as it outlines both actors’ long careers. It presents their curious history, meeting, and journey together, in their own words, describing the lengths they went to in studying and refining their craft before finally gaining the recognition and success they deserved.
There are 16 films in which Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward appeared together, plus many others in which they appeared separately. But hopefully, through this series, there will be renewed interest in these two versatile actors, and more of their films will be available to watch on numerous streaming services.
Interestingly, this docu-series highlights that Joanne Woodward continually reinvented herself throughout her career. She expanded her skills not only in her ability as an actor but go in directing and producing and also coached and mentored several young and up-and-coming actors through the years.
One constant thing is the love and adoration both Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward had for each other. This respect and care help add to their remarkable chemistry on the screen.
Ethan Hawke has lovingly created a story that needs to be given the light and attention it rightly deserves to keep the remarkable history of these talented actors alive and current.
The Last Movie Stars is available to stream on HBO Max.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lJpu8l5BTc