I’m not normally the type to voluntarily offer up my time to watch sports documentaries, but WINNING:THE RACING LIFE OF PAUL NEWMAN is one of those rare exceptions. Here’s the catch, it’s really not a sports film, but a look into another, lesser known side of the life of Paul Newman, one of the greatest American actors of all-time, and as it turns out, one of the greatest American men of all-time as well.
When you define what makes the perfect man, the perfect American citizen, or even the perfect human being, what comes to mind? The answer to that question will vary greatly, depending on who you ask, and the truth is, it’s a trick question. There is no perfection when it comes to humanity. However, what I discovered from watching this film, co-directed by Adam Carolla and Nate Adams, is that Paul Newman damn near comes close, if anyone does, by my standards.
WINNING: THE RACING LIFE OF PAUL NEWMAN is not a racing film. Its a film about a man racing to make the most of his life in the areas in which he enjoys and excels. The film starts off slow, taking its time to build up speed and find its mojo, but once it does, this little 83-minute documentary gem reveals some truly amazing content. Just on the surface, WINNING is well worth the watch just for the archival footage, most of which I — and certainly most others — have never seen or knew existed. We come to learn that, despite his accomplishments and fame as an Academy Award-winning actor, his heart really belonged to racing. This, despite the fact he did not start racing until in his forties.
Witnessing the drive and commitment of Paul Newman toward something other than what made him a household name was truly inspiring. We see how a man so publicly in the spotlight as an entertainer can somehow maintain a private life as an average Joe, an everyman with dreams and aspirations outside of Hollywood. We see how he embraces a lower profile, but does not succumb to the trappings of ego and elitism. We see as well his heart and compassion for his fellow man in the charitable work he and wife Joanne Woodward pursue, and even a glimpse into his passion for making salad dressings. Yes, Newman’s Own began as a personal passion of making the salad condiment for friends and family.
WINNING is not a flashy, well-polished film, but where it lacks glitz and glamor it excels at sincerity. Archival footage and photographs are interlaced with a multitude of honest, off the cuff interviews with colleagues, friends and family. The film features recollections and antidotes from the likes of Robert Wagner, Patrick Dempsey, Jay Leno, Robert Redford, Mario and Michael Andretti — amongst countless other racing stars — his wife Joanne Woodward, John Lasseter and more.
Coincidentally, about the only person of note mentioned in the film who is absent in the interviews is Tom Cruise, which is disappointing but also not terribly surprising. The film does, however, delve into the influence Newman had on Cruise early in his stardom, how he was something of a mentor, introduced Cruise to racing and ultimately led to his spending two years pursuing the sport as Newman himself had, before backing out due to safety concerns. Parallel to this, WINNING also conveys a sense of bravery and determination revealed about Newman’s character. I mean, the man continued racing professionally into his early eighties… who else does that?!?
The previously mentioned interview segments with John Lasseter, director of Disney/Pixar’s CARS, was a wonderful addition with which to end the film, as he discussed how crucial Newman was in his role as Doc in providing a sense of authenticity and racing credibility to the film that helped make it such a success. This further illustrates the multiple layers of legacy left behind by the surprisingly humble man and the life he chose to lead.
WINNING: THE RACING LIFE OF PAUL NEWMAN is a film with a title longer than its running time, but this short nugget of American history is likely to stick with you for years to come and possibly even inspire and influence a few viewers to greatness of their own, in some form or another. This film only increased my respect and admiration for the iconic Paul Newman.
WINNING: THE RACING LIFE OF PAUL NEWMAN
is available on
Video on Demand now
This week’s WAMG Top 10 is having a look at all the on and off-screen couples of Hollywood. The Drew Barrymore/Justin Long romantic-comedy, GOING THE DISTANCE, comes out next Friday on September 3rd, so we thought we’d give it a go with our list of favorite “Work and Play Couples.” Let us know what you think and who you would put on the list in the comments section below.
Honorable Mention: Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz
Lucille Ball was a rising star under contract to RKO Studios when she was cast as the female lead in the film version of the Broadway smash TOO MANY GIRLS. Prior to the start of filming she was introduced to the young Cuban singer who had taken New York City by storm, Desi Arnaz. Stories from several sources in that RKO office said that sparks flew when they locked eyes on each other. In a little over a decade these sparks would grow into a flame that swept thru the entertainment world( and engulf the RKO studio which would become the home of Desilu). TOO MANY GIRLS did not duplicate its stage success on the big screen, but both stars would continue to star on stage and screen and eventually become man and wife. By the late 40’s, Lucy’s film career would begin to stall as did Desi’s music career. She decided to jump into radio by starring in MY FAVORITE HUSBAND alongside Richard Denning. With stories beginning to herald the advance of television, Lucy thought about taking her show into this new medium, but with her real life hubby Desi instead of Denning. The result, I LOVE LUCY, would become one of the most successful and influential TV shows of all time. Because of the shows incredible popularity, the movie studios came calling on Lucy and Desi to bring some of their magic to the silver screen . Their first film with MGM, Vincent Minnelli’s THE LONG, LONG TRAILER, proved to be a box office hit in 1953 while a follow up film, Alexander Hall’s FOREVER DARLING fizzled in 1956 even with the great James Mason cast as their guardian angel. A few years later Lucy and Desi split, and although they’re known mostly for their TV work, their movie efforts are definitely worth a look.
10. ANGELINA JOLIE AND BRAD PITT
You know that a list like this can’t be complete without the hottest it couple in Hollywood today. Starring in Mr. and Mrs. Smith sparked such chemistry between them that they began dating. Now, with six children and rumors of more, the two are going strong. They can often be seen either on outings or doing humanitarian work as a unit. Might I add, that this is one good looking family!
09. DIANE KEATON AND WOODY ALLEN
You didn’t think that we would actually leave the ANNIE HALL duo out of this, did you? Diane Keaton’s career really began with her romance, both on and off screen with Woody Allen. Together, they were in SLEEPERS, LOVE AND DEATH and PLAY IT AGAIN, SAM. Of course, the most famous between the two is ANNIE HALL. Despite splitting up, Diane Keaton appeared in his film INTERIORS, MANHATTAN, RADIO DAYS, and MANHATTAN MURDER MYSTERY, proving that ex’s can still work together.
08. ANNETTE BENING AND WARREN BEATTY
For several decades starting tin the late 50’s, the number one swinging Hollywood bachelor was Warren Beatty. During this time he was linked to some of the big screen’s most popular leading ladies: Natalie Wood, Joan Collins, Leslie Caron, Julie Christie, Diane Keaton, and many others. In 1991 Beatty was cast in the lead in Barry Levinson’s BUGSY, a bio of the notorious gangster Benjamin Siegel. Tapped to play the actress who would help lead Bugsy to his doom was Annette Benning, who had earned critical praise in performances in VALMONT, REGARDING HENRY, and THE GRIFTERS. According to several sources on the set nothing unusual was occurring between the actors. However, their scenes together in front of the camera seemed to sizzle. After BUGSY was released to much praise and great box office, the stars revealed that they were indeed a couple off screen. Then came the event that stunned Hollywood (and most of the planet) : Warren and Annette marry. The ultimate ladies man was finally domesticated. In 1994 they shared the screen again for Glen Gordon Caron’s adaptation of the classic LOVE AFFAIR. Though this version did not find success at the box office, the real life love affair has had much success( and several children).
Let’s hope that Annette and Warren will be burning up the screen again in the near future.
07. JILL IRELAND AND CHARLES BRONSON
Their meeting was rather bizarre. Bronson met Ireland on the set of THE GREAT ESCAPE while she was married to David McCallum. Bronson apparently told McCallum that he was going to marry his wife. Two years later, just that happened. The two starred in 15 movies together including LOVE AND BULLETS, FROM NOON TILL THREE, CHINO, HARD TIMES and BREAKOUT. Ireland use to joke “I’m in so many of Charles Bronson films because no other actress will work with him.” Now that right there is love! Their last film together was ASSASSINATION. During which, she was in the advanced stages of cancer. Ireland passes away in 1990 but will remain infamous in of one heck of a love story.
06. GOLDIE HAWN AND KURT RUSSELL
This is a couple that just will not quit! Kurt and Goldie have been together for over 25 years. Snubbing their nose at marriage, Goldie believes that their relationship is so strong because they have never tied the knot. Hawn and Russell met on the 1968 film THE ONE AND ONLY, GENUINE, ORIGINAL FAMILY BAND. In 1984 the two reconnected on SWING SHIFT and went on to film OVERBOARD in 1987, while still a couple. Now, I know that Overboard did not do that well at the box office, but it is still one of my favorite movies. KEEP IT GOING KURT AND GOLDIE!
05. JOANNE WOODWARD AND PAUL NEWMAN
Legendary “cool man” icon Paul Newman first worked with Joanne Woodward on THE LONG, HOT SUMMER (1958) about a drifter that arrives in Mississippi, targeting a wealthy family with Woodward as their daughter. This professional encounter would ultimately lead to a spark between the two Hollywood favorites in real life. This unlikely relationship would survive for fifty years, a feat of its own in tinsel town, but Newman and Woodward would also go on to work together on other films, including FROM THE TERRACE (1960) and PARIS BLUES (1961
04. LAUREN BACALL AND HUMPHREY BOGART
The relationship of Bacall and Bogart all began as a Hollywood affair off camera, while making memories as an on screen couple in TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT. This is where they met, the handsome and charismatic Bogey and the beautiful Bacall, together on film for the first time. TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT is the film in which Bacall established her trademark “The Look” quite by accident, nervous on set, putting her chin against her chest and turning those big eyes upward. Of course Bogey would fall for Bacall. From here, Bacall and Bogey transferred their passion to the big screen for three legendary film noir titles… Howard Hawks’ THE BIG SLEEP, the unconventional DARK MASSAGE and John Huston’s KEY LARGO.
03. JANET LEIGH AND TONY CURTIS
In the 1950’s, not much was happening with real life movie couples. Gable lost Lombard in 43 and Bogie and Bacall did their final film together, KEY LARGO, in 48. There wasn’t a couple that captured movie going young people until Tony Curtis met Janet Leigh. Tony was the dark, handsome New Yorker who became the heart throb of bobby soxers, across the nation, by starring in a series of small films while under contract to Universal-International. Janet was the young movie princess that was groomed for stardom under the watchful eyes of Mr. Mayer over at MGM. The two met at a tinsel town party and immediately clicked. When Tony was loaned out to Paramount for George Pal’s big screen bio, HOUDINI in 1953 he hoped to pull some strings in order to have Janet, play Harry’s wife Bess. Their on screen chemistry helped turn director George Marshall’s movie into a box office smash. The two soon married and continued to share the screen in, THE BLACK SHIELD OF FALWORTH( 54), THE PERFECT FURLOUGH (58), and WHO WAS THAT LADY?(60). In their heyday they attracted media attention that would not be rivaled until Angelina and Brad several decades later. The marriage ended in 1962, but their movie legacy would live on thru their actress daughters: Kelly and movie scream queen, Jamie Leigh Curtis.
02. KATHARINE HEPBURN AND SPENCER TRACY
Hepburn and Tracy first graced the silver screen together in WOMAN OF THE YEAR. This is the movie that sparked a lifelong romance. Together, the pair appeared in eight other movies, including KEEPER OF THE FLAME, ADAM’S RIB, PAT AND MIKE, DESK SET, and GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER. Despite never marrying (Tracy refused to divorce his estranged wife due to his catholic beliefs), the two were very much a couple until Tracy’s death. The two hid their affair from the public to keep up appearances. They used back entrances and constantly tried to avoid the press. They are still considered one of Hollywood’s’ great romances.
01. ELIZABETH TAYLOR AND RICHARD BURTON
Altogether, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton starred in 11 movies, it’s their first one together, CLEOPATRA, that the two are known for. During filming, Taylor met Richard Burton and the two began a very public affair, which made headlines worldwide. Taylor left her husband, Eddie Fisher (who had previously left Debbie Reynolds for Taylor), and married Burton the next year. Even though some were morally outraged by their affair and the scandal did bring publicity to what was a troubled production, Dick and Liz did have their supporters who flocked to the theaters to see their love affair played out on the big screen. Many U.S. housewives wrote to the two stars in Hollywood to make a go of it¬ that’s how people rolled back in the 60’s. While Elizabeth Taylor won 2 Academy Awards for WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? and BUtterfield 8 as well as the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, Richard Burton was nominated for 7 Oscars, but unfortunately never won.
Here’s a list of the films that Taylor and Burton were in together:
CLEOPATRA (1963)
WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? (1966) Best Actress Oscar Win for Taylor, Best Actor Nomination for Burton
THE V.I.P.s (1963)
UNDER MILK WOOD (1972)
THE TAMING OF THE SHREW (1967)
THE SANDPIPER (1965)
HAMMERSMITH IS OUT (1972)
DOCTOR FAUSTUS (1967)
DIVORCE HIS – DIVORCE HERS (1973) (TV)
THE COMEDIANS (1967)
BOOM! (1968)
Taylor had an uncredited cameo in Burton’s film ANNE OF THE THOUSAND DAYS (1969). Another Best Actor Nomination for Burton.
Watch as our pick for the #1 movie couple ignite the screen in CLEOPATRA.
