A promising lawyer tries to handle his social and professional problems while climbing the ranks in Philadelphia.A promising lawyer tries to handle his social and professional problems while climbing the ranks in Philadelphia.A promising lawyer tries to handle his social and professional problems while climbing the ranks in Philadelphia.
- Nominated for 3 Oscars
- 5 nominations total
- Carter Henry
- (as Fred Eisley)
- Party Guest
- (uncredited)
- Diner Counterman
- (uncredited)
- Man at Airport
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaDespite having been nominated for an Oscar for this movie, Robert Vaughn was omitted from the "In Memoriam" tribute at the 89th Academy Awards. The omission shocked and angered many viewers.
- GoofsAfter the marriage is postponed, while Joan and her father are driving home, Barbara Rush takes her eyes off the road for way too long.
- Quotes
[At Chet Gwynn's murder trial, Anthony Lawrence sets up a demonstration to test butler George Archibald's ability to name a type of liquor by smelling it]
George Archibald: [Sniffing a glass] It is Royal Tartan Scotch. Unmistakable. Rich heavy bouquet with a definite aroma of peat smoke.
Anthony Judson Lawrence: [Hands him another glass] Now, the third glass.
George Archibald: This is water, sir. There is no smell, except perhaps for a faint touch of chlorine, which the city puts in its drinking water. I trust you weren't trying to trick me into identifying it as liquor.
Anthony Judson Lawrence: It's water? Are you sure? I don't understand.
George Archibald: You will note there is no label. I believe you gave me your water glass.
Anthony Judson Lawrence: Well, I'm terribly sorry. I guess I made a mistake.
George Archibald: Well, perhaps it's not in vain. Since my throat is a little dry, you'll pardon me.
[He drinks the glass, coughs]
George Archibald: It's gin! It's gin! You've tricked me!
Anthony Judson Lawrence: That's right!
[Takes the glass]
Anthony Judson Lawrence: Your Honor, I submit this as Exhibit D!
- Crazy creditsThere is no producer credit given in this film.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Hanging with Batman (2014)
- SoundtracksWhen Irish I eyes Are Smiling
(uncredited)
Music by Ernest Ball
Lyrics by Chauncey Olcott and George Graff
sung by Brian Keith and unidentified actress
Paul Newman had my wife salivating as a young hotshot attorney who learns to balance his ambition with his morals. She couldn't decide if he was hotter as a sweaty construction worker in an early scene or as a dapper man about town in a tux later in the film. I think she would have thought he was hot if he had appeared wrapped in newspaper. But if fetching females are more your thing, no worries, as Barbara Rush is incredibly appealing as his love interest. They have sizzling chemistry in their first scenes together, which makes it a bit of a disappointment when Rush falls out of the film for long periods of time, and their contentious relationship is one of the movie's more tiresome story lines.
Robert Vaughn received a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award nomination for playing Newman's dissolute friend who he ends up defending in a murder trial. Vaughn gets to play most of his scenes as an unshaven raving alcoholic, so no wonder he was nominated for an Oscar. The best actual performance in the movie, or at least the most memorable one, probably comes from Billie Burke in a small role as a goofy society lady who deftly steals the movie right out from under everybody just by making smoochy faces at her dog.
This is an entertaining yarn of a movie, but don't expect to be too intellectually taxed.
"The Young Philadelphians" was also nominated for Best Black & White Cinematography and Costume Design, back when it was common to nominate costume designers for creating attractive evening wear in contemporary movies.
Grade: B+
- evanston_dad
- Sep 3, 2020
- Permalink
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- The Philadelphian
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime2 hours 16 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1