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Peter praises Paul

Francis X. Rocca

Today’s issue of L’Osservatore Romano carries a laudatory obituary of the late Paul Newman.

“In his films he was the tough guy and the braggart, the rebel and the conquistador,” recalls the official Vatican newspaper. “In reality Newman was a generous heart, an actor of a dignity and style rare in Hollywood circles.”

The obit naturally mentions the deceased’s 1954 movie debut in the Biblical epic The Silver Chalice (see photo), but surprisingly (or maybe not) ignores his performance in the title role of Cool Hand Luke (1967), where he plays a rebellious prison inmate as an unconventional Christ figure.


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