The Young Philadelphians (1959)

Synopsis
The Young Philadelphians is a glossy adaptation of Richard Powell's bestseller The Philadelphians. The film opens strong with a lengthy 1924 prologue. Socialite Diane Brewster jilts impoverished lover Brian Keith in favor of wealthy Adam West. On their wedding night, West drunkenly announces that he's impotent and commits suicide (this scene should fascinate Batman fans). Returning to Keith, Brewster has a child by him, passing the baby off as West's for appearances' sake; but Brewster's mom, who doesn't buy this cover story, disinherits both mother and daughter. Flash forward to 1952: the out-of-wedlock kid has grown up to be Paul Newman, who still doesn't know that his real dad is Keith. Raised by his mother to put ambition and material possessions before everything else, Newman becomes a lawyer, and falls in love with rich girl Barbara Rush. To keep Newman away from his daughter, wealthy John Williams offers him a job if he'll agree to break off relationship. The heartbroken Rush marries Fred (Anthony) Eisley, who is conveniently killed in Korea. Still displaying the instincts of a louse Newman seduces Alexis Smith, wife of attorney Otto Kruger, so that she will persuade Kruger to find Newman a better job. Soon it's Newman's turn to fight to Korea; he comes back with one-armed drinking buddy Robert Vaughn in tow (Vaughn earned an Oscar nomination for his performance, and deservedly so). Callously resuming his romance with the widowed Rush, Newman takes time out curry favor with powerful matron Billie Burke, thereby smoothing his path towards political success. Just when it seems as though Newman's future is all roses, he agrees to defend Vaughn, who's been charged with murdering his rich uncle. Political functionary Frank Conroy doesn't want Vaughn to be freed, so he threatens to reveal Newman's illegitimacy. After being a skunk for close to 2 hours, Newman finally does the "right thing", which may bode ill for his political ambitions but which wins him the genuine love of Barbara Rush. The Peyton Place-style intricacies of The Young Philadelphians are with taste and finesse by veteran Warner Bros. director Vincent Sherman. Watch for Richard "Mel Cooley" Deacon in a bit as a hostile witness. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide