Categories: Movies

Top Ten Paul Newman Classic Movies from the 1960’s and 1970’s

Paul Newman made many movies over the course of five decades, with television series and cameo appearances in between. His classic movies cover from the 1950’s to the new millenium into the 2000’s! With his brilliant blue eyes and cavalier style, he was able to capture the hearts of many moviegoers. His movies cross generations, and people today may still enjoy some of the movies from years before. This article will explore ten of his great movies that were released during what will be termed his ‘middle period’ here, the late 1960’s and the 1970’s.

1. The Towering Inferno (1974). I enjoy this movie because it put Paul Newman in a different kind of role from what people had been used to seeing in him. The classic roles of gangster or hustler or down on his luck guy falling for a rich girl are no more. He plays a pretty straight up businessman here who just wants to enjoy some time away from the grind. His new building, however, doesn’t have the same plans for him when electrical problems cause a fire that turns into an inferno! The role of Paul Newman as Doug Roberts, the architect of the world’s now tallest building, is refreshing. Paul is the actual responsible one who is upset with others for not following standards for the electrical equipment in his building.

2. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969). Okay, so now let’s go back to two movies where Paul Newman takes on his more suspect ways with his roles. The first is Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. In this classic Paul Newman movie, Newman plays Butch Cassidy, an old wild west outlaw. Well, if that’s not enough to intrigue you, then add Robert Redford to the mix as his costar, playing the Sundance Kid! Butch and Sundance are members of a gang, and when a robbery goes wrong, they have no choice but to flee the country. They are being chased by a six man team that has been organized by the Union Pacific to find and kill the two. They think that perhaps they will be safe in Bolivia, but will this be the case? Watch and find out!

3. The Sting (1973). Wow, a second movie starring Robert Redford and Paul Newman. What more can you ask for? The two are up to no good again when they operate as cons trying to con the boss of a mob. This lively movie is a must see classic. So will the con be successful?

4. Sometimes a Great Notion (1971). In this old 70’s classic Paul Newman film, Paul plays Hank Stamper, a logger. Hank and his father Henry (played by Henry Fonda) have a small family logging business. The local logging union goes on strike, but Hank and Henry decide to keep logging. They just want to maintain their business! This is taken lightly by the other loggers, who want to destroy their chances at surviving since they won’t join them in the strike. This classic film was adapted from a novel by Ken Kesey, author of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.

5. The Drowning Pool (1975). Here Paul Newman is cast in a slightly different role as private eye Lew Harper. He joins his wife in this movie who plays the part of Iris Devereaux, an exgirlfriend. If you’re looking for intrigue and mystery, this flick does the trick. During part of the movie, Paul Newman is locked inside a room with the water getting deeper and deeper. Will he make it out alive or drown?

6. Slap Shot (1977). Paul Newman is a hockey coach, Reggie Dunlop. His minor league hockey team isn’t winning many games, and they aren’t too popular either. Dunlop fears that the team will be shut down at the end of the season. However, the team picks up some new team members who are out of control. Coach Dunlop doesn’t like them at first and doesn’t let them play. But then, he has no choice but to bring them into the game. It turns out that their crazy mannerisms get the fans motivated and the team wins the game. Dunlop decides to make the whole team like the new teammates, which doesn’t go over too well with some of the more straightlaced players. But hey, what else was he to do when the team was about to go down the toilet anyway, right?

7. Pocket Money (1972). Paul Newman teams up with Lee Marvin in this classic film about some cowboys trying to take 200 cattle from Mexico to the United States. The adventures that ensue are quite unexpected.

8. MacKintosh Man (1973). Joseph Reardon, a British intelligence agent, is played by Paul Newman. He goes to London to meet with Mackintosh, who is the head of the organization. He is set to steal some diamonds, but he isn’t as successful as he had hoped. He ends up getting shipped to a prison up North. Escape is his only plan, so he can get back the diamonds. He’s definitely going to need some help in this venture, but is there anyone he can trust?

9. Winning (1969). In his real life, Paul Newman took an interest in race car driving. In the classic movie Winning, Paul gets a chance to race cars on the big screen. Paul Newman’s character Frank Capua is hoping to win the Indianapolis 500 race, and will do anything to make this happen. Of course, fame and fortune often come at the price of shutting out or losing loved ones. Newman’s real life wife Joanne Woodward stars as his movie wife Elora Capua.

10. Buffalo Bill and the Indians (1976). Paul Newman plays Buffalo Bill in this flick that gives us insight into what the real west was really about. In this classic film, we learn that not all Indians are savages. There might even be some that have morals just like the white Americans. Chief Sitting Bull, played by Frank Kaquitts.

What are some of your favorite Paul Newman movies from the 1960’s and 1970’s era?