Sweet Bird of Youth (1962): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Sweet Bird of Youth is a 1962 romantic drama directed by Richard Brooks, starring Rip Torn, Paul Newman and Geraldine Page. It is based on Sweet Bird of Youth by Tennessee Williams. It runs 2 hours and earned $60 worldwide. It won 1 Oscar, including Actor in a Supporting Role, and 2 awards in all. Critics gave it 53 on Metacritic.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h (120 min)
- Director
- Richard Brooks
- Original language
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English - Studio
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Sweet Bird of Youth About?
The premise of Sweet Bird of Youth without spoilers, adapted from Sweet Bird of Youth by Tennessee Williams. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A charismatic but troubled man named Chance Wayne returns to his Florida hometown with a former Hollywood starlet, Alexandra Del Lago. Their reunion stirs up memories and long-buried secrets from a complicated past, forcing Chance to confront his own faded dreams and the consequences of his choices. The drama explores themes of regret, lost innocence, and the search for redemption in a small town setting.
Sweet Bird of Youth Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- southern gothic
- based on play
- telephone call
- bird in title
- brother in law sister in law relationship
- eyeglasses
- flash forward
- swan dive
- slow motion scene
- woman wears eyeglasses
- reference to tallahassee florida
- extramarital affair
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- looking at oneself in a mirror
- falling to the ground
- movie preview
- film within a film
- papaya cream
- reference to palm beach florida
- reference to morocco
- reference to tangiers morocco
- man slaps a woman
- lipstick
- split screen
- circular staircase
- pay phone
- money
- finger bandage
- reference to new orleans louisiana
- drinking
- autograph seeker
- reference to a screen test
- reference to southern comfort whiskey
- woman wears a swimsuit
- speedboat
- subjective camera
- confederate flag
- pointing one's finger at someone
- political rally
- white dove
- cracking one's knuckles
- reference to cinemascope
- reference to variety the newspaper
- reference to new york city
- reference to los angeles california
- reference to monte carlo
- chauffeur
- megaphone
- car on fire
- fur coat
- reference to a bolshevik
Sweet Bird of Youth Cast
Rip Torn leads the cast, with Paul Newman and Geraldine Page. Directed by Richard Brooks; 10 actors are credited in all.
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Director Richard Brooks
Also Starring in Sweet Bird of Youth
· 6 moreMore from Richard Brooks
More films directed by Richard Brooks, best-rated first: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, The Professionals, Blackboard Jungle and Looking for Mr. Goodbar.
Sweet Bird of Youth Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Sweet Bird of Youth 53 on Metacritic.
-
Metacritic 53 Metascore
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 68% User score
See on TMDB
Sweet Bird of Youth Plot Summary
What happens in Sweet Bird of Youth from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Chance Wayne, a native of St. Cloud, set out to chase fame and fortune, leaving behind his humble beginnings for the bright lights of New York and Hollywood, all while relying on his youthful charm. Unfortunately, after facing a series of disappointing auditions and struggles to carve out an identity in the entertainment industry, he found himself turning to a life of a gigolo, his looks becoming his only asset. This transformation was triggered by his encounter with Alexandra del Lago, a once-celebrated film star now grappling with the fallout from her latest movie, at a Florida resort.
Full summary
The whole story of Sweet Bird of Youth, scene by scene
Sweet Bird of Youth Box Office
Sweet Bird of Youth grossed $60 worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$60
- International
- $60
Sweet Bird of Youth Awards & Nominations
Sweet Bird of Youth won 1 Oscar, including Actor in a Supporting Role, and 2 awards in all. Its biggest night was the Golden Globes 1963, with 1 win from 4 nominations.
2 wins8 nominations3 ceremonies
-
Golden Globes 1963 1 win · 4 nominations- Won Best Performance in a Motion Picture – Drama (Actress) – Geraldine Page
- Nominated Best Performance in a Motion Picture – Drama (Actor) – Paul Newman
- Nominated Best Supporting Performance in a Motion Picture – Drama, Comedy or Musical (Supporting Actor) – Ed Begley Jr.
- Nominated Best Supporting Performance in a Motion Picture – Drama, Comedy or Musical (Supporting Actress) – Shirley Knight
-
Oscars 1963 1 win · 3 nominations- Won Actor in a Supporting Role – Ed Begley Jr.
- Nominated Actress – Geraldine Page
- Nominated Actress in a Supporting Role – Shirley Knight
-
BAFTA 1963 1 nomination- Nominated Best Foreign Actress – Geraldine Page
Sweet Bird of Youth Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Sweet Bird of Youth.
How Well Do You Know Sweet Bird of Youth?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What profession does Chance Wayne take up after failing to become a star?
Cars in Sweet Bird of Youth
11 cars on screen, including the 1961 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible and the 1956 Imperial Crown Custom Parade Phaeton.
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1961 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible Important role -
1956 Imperial Crown Custom Parade Phaeton Important role -
1961 Dodge Polara Minor role -
Harley-Davidson Duo Glide Minor role
Sweet Bird of Youth Also Known As
19 alternative titles, including “Dulce pájaro de juventud” and “La dolce ala della giovinezza”.
- Also known as
-
- Dulce pájaro de juventud
- La dolce ala della giovinezza
- かわいたたいよう
- Doux oiseau de jeunesse
- Süßer Vogel Jugend
- ציפור הנעורים המתוקה
- Сладкопойната птица на младостта
- Słodki ptak młodości
- Сладкоголосая птица юности
- Doce Pássaro da Juventude
- El dulce pájaro de la juventud
- 春浓满楼情痴狂
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- Az ifjúság édes madara
- Το γλυκό πουλί της νιότης
- 애인과 정부, ახალგაზრდობის მშვენიერი ჩიტი
- 渇いた太陽
- Dolç ocell de joventut
- Sladký pták mládí
- Ungdoms ljuva fågel
Seen Sweet Bird of Youth?
Movies Like Sweet Bird of Youth
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including A Bird of the Air, The Sweet Life and Sweet Love, Bitter.
Sweet Bird of Youth FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, the book behind it and awards of Sweet Bird of Youth, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Sweet Bird of Youth?
Sweet Bird of Youth runs 2 hours (120 minutes).
When was Sweet Bird of Youth released?
Sweet Bird of Youth was released on March 21, 1962.
Who directed Sweet Bird of Youth?
Sweet Bird of Youth was directed by Richard Brooks.
More films by Richard Brooks Who is in the cast of Sweet Bird of Youth?
Sweet Bird of Youth stars Rip Torn, Paul Newman and Geraldine Page, among 10 credited actors.
How much did Sweet Bird of Youth make at the box office?
Sweet Bird of Youth grossed $60 worldwide.
How is Sweet Bird of Youth rated?
Sweet Bird of Youth has 53 on Metacritic and 68% on TMDB.
Is Sweet Bird of Youth based on a book?
Yes. Sweet Bird of Youth is adapted from Sweet Bird of Youth by Tennessee Williams.
What awards did Sweet Bird of Youth win?
Sweet Bird of Youth won 2 awards from 8 nominations, including Best Performance in a Motion Picture – Drama (Actress) at the Golden Globes 1963.
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