Scandalo in società

This soap opera based on a Herman Wouk novel is entertaining in its meandering way but suffers from a less than riveting lead actor, James Franciscus.

Franciscus was a decent actor and certainly movie star handsome but not charismatic enough to carry a big budget film. Although he was quite effective as a series lead in Longstreet and several other shows the character of Youngblood Hawke required a more compelling actor than he. Warren Beatty, who was originally cast but bowed out or George Peppard would have worked much better in the star spot.

As it is the attractive but bland Franciscus is surrounded by high quality actors who all act rings around him. The little known Genevieve Page is cast in the trickiest part as an unhappily married woman who falls for Hawke. Even though she's a bit too young for the role her air of world weariness suits sad Frieda, she makes quite an impression and you miss her when she's off-screen.

The film is loaded with a variable kaleidescope of outstanding performers in every role. Suzanne Pleshette and her volcano of hair are terrific as Hawke's editor, even in her relatively brief screen time she makes something out of a standard part. Same goes for Mildred Dunnock, Eva Gabor, John Dehner and Don Porter all of whom are handed stock characters but still manage to stretch those characters with entertaining portrayals.

Another two old reliables who add some dash to this overlong stew are Mary Astor as a renown stage actress searching for a new vehicle and thinks she sees it in Hawke's novel. This was her penultimate screen appearance, she played a key role in Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte later that year then retired permanently, she imbibes her handful of scenes with a class and mastery that only the best actors are able to do with cameo appearances. The other is Edward Arnold as a critic who is both friend and foe, he obviously knows he has one of the better roles in the film and clearly relishes his opportunity. By word and gesture he makes Quentin Judd a memorable character.

This was also almost the end of the line for director Daves, that master of the overblown cinematic soap, and is right in his wheelhouse but his pacing seems rather off. The film is at least 20 minutes too long and is oddly in black and white. While all his other films of this type, A Summer Place, Rome Adventure etc, were in rich Technicolor with sweeping vistas which would have helped here he and cinematographer Charles Lawton Jr. use the shadows indigenous to black & white effectively.

Not anywhere near a great film but the cast makes it worth checking out.

Youngblood Hawk is more than just a story about a writer. Similar to Executive Suite, we are shown the "inner workings" of a process that most people at the time were not aware of, and the personal relationships of the people involved; here, we see the book editing process, and how a young writer (James Franciscus) from suburbia comes to New York and takes the town by storm. In one of the opening scenes, a critic, played by Edward Andrews, tells him a story of the stag who must outrun the hounds to survive, an apt lesson for a truck driver trying to make it in the big city. (Andrews always played the Colonel, the General, the statesman, and was a riot in Glass Bottom Boat.) Suzanne Pleshette plays Jeanne Green, Hawk's editor. Pleshette, had just made "The Birds" with Hitchcock, the year before, and will probably be best known as Bob Newhart's wife on the B. Newhart show in the 1970s. Unfortunately, Pleshette's southern drawl comes and goes in this one. French actress Geneviève Page is Frieda Winter, who introduces Hawk to all the right people who can help his career. Viewers will also recognize Mary Astor as Irene Perry, who makes an appearance about halfway through. Also keep an eye out for Martin Balsam and Werner Klemperer. And even Eva Gabor has a couple lines. Good, solid, entertaining, (LONG) story. It's got some flaws, but its entertaining enough. Written by Herman Wouk, who also did Caine Mutiny and The Winds of War. Wikipedia says this is loosely based on Thomas Wolfe... very loosely. Lots of changes in the story and facts. Directed by Delmer Daves, who wrote and directed many of our classic films. His films all have great pacing, and good solid plots.

Youngblood Hawke is one of those movies that has great promise, just like the movie's namesake. It starts out with the usual story of small-town young man makes good in the big city. He writes The Great American Novel while driving his coal truck in his small hometown in Kentucky, then gets called up to the big leagues in the publishing world of NYC. James Franciscus plays the too-good-looking-to-really-be-a-novelist looking for his next big seller and winds up in the arms of Genevieve Page, who is a married arts benefactor. Meanwhile, his hard-at-work editor, played by Suzanne Pleshette, has feelings for him too. There is a subplot involving his mother and uncles fighting over mineral rights to her land that complicates things but really prove to be inconsequential. It could have been cut out in a twenty-minutes too long movie. Will Youngblood be the same fresh faced writer from a small town, or a philandering hack corrupted by the big city? Watch and see. If you've seen a fair amount of 60's TV shows, you'll definitely be playing the "I know who that is!" game that will keep you going during the drawn out dialogue. The attractive leads all deserved to be shot in color in this movie. But instead we get a black and white movie where especially Pleshette's gorgeous blue eyes don't get the love they deserve. There is a running line in the movie where Franciscus and Pleshette's characters argue about smoking too much, which is interesting and sad considering in real life both died due to illnesses derived from being chain smokers.

James Franciscus had the role of his career (yes, even greater than Beneath the Planet of the Apes!) as a Kentucky truck driver who comes to New York City to make it as a novelist. I'm not being facetious about Franciscus: he never looked more handsome, and he plays his role with a disarming blend of cockiness and vulnerability. He has perhaps the most soulful and expressive eyes of any blond-haired actor in the movies.

Suzanne Pleshette plays his patient editor with her usual warmth and intelligence, and Genevieve Page is elegant and fascinating as the society woman who "keeps" him. Edward Andrews is witty and menacing as a literary critic, and Mary Astor is totally believable as a veteran stage actress. Everybody shines in the all-star cast.

Delmer Daves took Herman Wouk's mammoth bestseller (what's new?) and wisely made some changes in his screen adaptation. In the novel, Youngblood Hawke is a brawny, average looking man where Daves gives us a beautiful, cerebral hero. Now for a glossy, unabashed soap opera, eye candy can sure help 137 minutes pass a little more pleasantly! Another of Daves' departures from the novel is in permitting more of the leads to remain alive by the end; by doing this, Daves is giving us our cake and letting us eat it. Frankly, I *devour* it on average of once a month!

This film was the last of Delmer Daves' potboiler masterpieces - an enormously entertaining blend of class and trash.

Handsome blond James Franciscus (as Arthur Youngblood Hawke) goes from small town Kentucky truck driver to successful New York City novelist. Nice editor Suzanne Pleshette (as Jeanne Green) desires Mr. Franciscus, but sexually arousing older woman Genevieve Page (as Frieda) turns the sheets in his bed. The problem is that Ms. Page is married to a millionaire and finds it difficult to give up her lifestyle, although Franciscus seems to be the most tempting in a string of hunky young lovers. Both Page's son Pat Cardi and Franciscus' mother Mildred Dunnock walk in on their passionate embraces...

Franciscus and Page are attractive and passionate in this trimmer, happier version of Herman Wouk's novel, but Ms. Pleshette is sadly underused. The story features the typical corrupting influence of life in the fast lane, with a stinging indictment of adultery. "Youngblood Hawke" benefits mostly from beautiful black-and-white photography by Charles Lawton, directed with occasional brilliance by Delmer Daves. In hindsight, the lack of expected Technicolor for this type of film is a plus. In small roles, golden age movie star Mary Astor and glamorous Eva Gabor contribute to the overall glossy look.

****** Youngblood Hawke (11/4/64) James Franciscus, Genevieve Page, Suzanne Pleshette, Mildred Dunnock