The Last Movie Stars

The working and personal relationship between Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward is a great story, one that actor and director Ethan Hawke has brought to light in his upcoming docuseries The Last Movie Stars. Utilizing the transcripts from screenwriter Stewart Stern and a few guest celebrities, Hawke brings the story of Newman and Woodward to life through vocal reenactment of their life story. And whether through their professional career to their personal one, Newman and Woodward were one of the most understated Hollywood power couples. 

Aside from his claim to fame being the writer of Rebel Without A Cause, Stewart Stern was also key in writing Paul Newman’s memoir. Hours upon hours of taped conversations with Newman were documented…until Stern burned all of them. Fortunately, Stern had turned those tapes into transcripts which prompted Ethan Hawke to assemble a rag-tag team of celebrities to take on the various roles of Newman, Woodward and key players in their life. With George Clooney and Laura Linney taking on the title roles of Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, their story comes to life on their beginnings as understudies in the 1950’s through their professional careers that amounted to sixteen films, three Broadway productions and countless television shows together. Even through Newman’s first marriage to Jackie Witte, both Newman and Woodward continued to gravitate towards one another and ultimately found their way to a lasting relationship that lasted until Newman’s death in 2008.  

The Last Movie Stars gives us an inside glimpse to the life of Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, showing that they were more than just great actors…they were great partners as well. While acting came more naturally for Woodward as evidenced by her quicker rise to fame, Newman took a more slow and steady approach on his climb to prominence. But it is their love story that garners even more intrigue than their on-screen chemistry and Hawke is able to balance those elements together from Woodward and Newman’s friendship with Gore Vidal to Newman’s first marriage with Jackie Witt, to their philanthropic contributions to society in later years. Even Woodward’s insistence that Paul takes care of his children from his first marriage to Witte, she would settle for nothing less than a fully supportive and loving spouse.  

What truly brought the characters to life were the many vocal talents helming these iconic characters. Utilizing talents such as Clooney and Linney bring the dialogue on the pages of Stern’s transcripts to life. And tapping other notable names such as Karen Allen, Brooks Ashmanskas, Mark Ruffalo, and Vincent D’Onofrio to play key characters in Newman and Woodward’s story provide the essential background components necessary when coupled with key footage and interviews from actual notables. Hawke selected the most appropriate voices to helm the relationships that Newman and Woodward cultivated throughout their life, including those who worked with them when they were honing their craft at the Actors Studio in New York.  

The work of Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward is iconic and has gotten its proper recognition in the docuseries The Last Movie Stars. But even more important, their love of the craft and one another continues to shine through….even after Newman’s death. The Last Movie Stars is set to premiere later this year on CNN+.