Paul New Tribute Collection Released ... Oh what a tribute!

Hard to believe, it's been a year since Paul Newman passed away. The " Paul Newman: The Tribute Collection" (A  DVD collection with 13 of his films) was released today.  Surprisingly, the set, wasn't planned to coincide with the anniversary of  Newman's death from cancer at the age of 83 on Sept. 26. 

According to an article in the Baltimore Sun; Mary Daily, executive vice president of  marketing for Fox Home Entertainment. said, "We had planned a special collection centered around  'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid' because of its 40th anniversary this year; we were working on that before Paul Newman sadly passed. Instead of just centering it around 'Butch,' we thought, 'Why don't we make this a tribute collection?' "

All of the films in the collection have been released previously. But the set contains a 136-page soft-bound book filled with never-before-seen images of Newman on the sets of these films, quotes from the actor and dialogue from the films.

On a personal note I have to say, whoever did the marketing did a great job.  Note the baby blue on the discs (to play up the well known blue eyes).

The films include such hits as:

•  1969's "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,"
• 1961's "The Hustler" and
• 1974's "The Towering Inferno,"

as well as such obscurities as 1979's "Quintet." Newman, said Daily, was "one of the most important actors of the century, I think, and uniquely praised. He was one of those guys who was not only strikingly handsome and attractive to women but guys felt like they could be his friend as well. He never played the big diva movie star celebrity. It was foremost about the craft."  Newman's looks were legendary; most notably the crystal blue eyes.  His legacy is astonishing; he was a giant of the silver screen who not only quickly attained icon status, but continued to deliver a string of powerhouse performances throughout his career.

All of the films in the collection have been released previously. But the set contains a 136-page soft-bound book filled with never-before-seen images of Newman on the sets of these films, quotes from the actor and dialogue from the films.  My personal favorite of the older Newman movies which is not in the collection is Message in a Bottle.  He grew old gracefully and played his age.  Redford and Garner (James Garner) are other's who have gone this route. Both never catered to their looks with the knife  Not that it's wrong, it's just brave to let the creases and wearing of life show through.  And, they were men's men.  The younger Newman... how could you not love him in Cool Hand Luke?  He plays the ultimate bad boy that all (at least most) women love.  And he was; a man's man ...He was also involved in auto racing as a driver and team owner cars  after acting in the movie "Winning" with James Garner.

The set which is on my Christmas Wish list:   "Paul Newman: The Tribute Collection" includes:

• Episodes-Bonus Features: Disc 1: The Long Hot Summer
• Disc 2: Rally 'Round the Flag Boys (Joanne Woodward is also in this)
• Disc 3: From the Terrace
• Disc 4: Exodus
• Disc 5: The Hustler - Collector's Edition Disc 1
• Disc 6: The Hustler - Collector's Edition Disc 2
• Disc 7: Hemingway's Adventures of a Young Man
• Disc 8: What a Way To Go!
• Disc 9: Hombre
• Disc 10: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid - Collector's Edition Disc 1
• Disc 11: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid - Collector's Edition Disc 2
• Disc 12: Towering Inferno - Special Edition Disc 1
• Disc 13: Towering Inferno - Special Edition Disc 2
• Disc 14: Buffalo Bill and the Indians
• Disc 15: Quintet
• Disc 16: The Verdict - Collector's Edition Disc 1
• Disc 17: The Verdict - Collector's Edition Disc 2

**Collection includes an exclusive 136 page soft-bound book including:

*Never-before-seen images of Newman along with cast, crew and the film's set

*Excerpts from each film

*Personal quotes from Paul Newman

In addition to films, it can't be ignored or understated that, Paul Newman created several companies which enabled him to produce some of his own films and in 1982, he founded Newman's Own, a company which produced products such as pasta sauce based on his own recipes which he in turn donated the entire profits to good causes.  From Pastas, he expanded to selling many things including everything from books to cookies to dog food : Newman's Own®Organics Dog Treats for Medium Size Dogs,  Newman's Own®Organics Pop's Corn and Organic Microwave Popcorn  (move over Orville Riddenbacker);  Newman's Own®Organics Newman-O'S, Chocolate Crème, 16-Ounce Packages (Pack of 12)

and so on. One of his favorite and probably most well know projects which he took a special interest was Hole in the Wall Gang summer camps devoted to helping under privileged kids.

In 1999 Newman returned to the theatre to perform in "Love Letters" where he and his wife Joanne Woodward, raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for land conservation in Connecticut. In 2007 his charitable foundation donated $10m to his old school, Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, the largest endowment in its history.

According to I Genius ;  It is said, he distributed more of his own money than any other American in the 20th Century. At this time when there is much talk of greed in Wall  Street (and even amongst sports stars) it is fitting to pay tribute to Paul Newman, one of the true greats.