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CNN Sunday Morning

Interview With Paul Newman

Aired July 14, 2002 - 07:57   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Paul Newman calls "Road to Perdition" a movie about ethics within an unethical way of life, in this case the world of Chicago mobsters of the '30s. The actor sat down with CNN's Arthel Neville to talked about his new film, which opened this weekend.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ARTHEL NEVILLE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This film is about choices. And I want to know if, reflecting on your life, if you have taken some roads that you wish you had not traveled or some you wish or you're so happy that have traveled on?

PAUL NEWMAN, ACTOR: I have taken roads that I wished I had not traveled on. And I'm traveling on some pretty exciting ones, too. Just hope when you get to that great racetrack in the sky, that the balance will tip slightly into those things that you'd be proud of.

NEVILLE: I'm guessing that you don't have a problem learning from people who have spent fewer years honing their craft than you have?

NEWMAN: I take advice from anybody. This guy Mendes has to be dealt with.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "ROAD TO PERDITION")

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Back to work.

NEWMAN: I've always loved you like a son. And now I'm telling you, leave.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEVILLE: Why do you say that? Expound for me.

NEWMAN: He has a brilliant mind in terms of storytelling. He -- you expect him to be good with actors, from his stage experience. But that he has the artist's eye with the camera. Not only as an artist, but as a storyteller.

It's -- well, I have not seen the film, but I will tell you that I have not seen the film, but I know it. And I know what I will see. And I will be proud of it. NEVILLE: And you're most proud of the storytelling, the -- because that's what it's dealing with, relationships, this relationship between the father and the son, which is such a dynamic relationship, and then wondering if you could say, if there was one key component to that relationship, the father and son, what would you say it is?

NEWMAN: What you really, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) there is loyalty, bonds, and a kind of ethics inside of a completely unethical way of life. So it's marvelously complicated and distinguished, I think.

NEVILLE: Now what was it about this project that made you say "yes."

NEWMAN: What was it?

NEVILLE: Yes?

NEWMAN: The artistic people who were involved in it. I thought a very, very distinguished story with a very, very complicated set of relations. A part that certainly was not a leading role, but it was flashy and challenging for me.

NEVILLE: In what way?

NEWMAN: Well, because it wasn't one thing. It has to do with strength and perception and vulnerability, and all of those things wrapped into about maybe eight minutes on the screen. So, that's -- that's good stuff.

NEVILLE: So do you think there ever will be a day when you say, no, not going to do it anymore, done, finished, no more 19 hours?

NEWMAN: I've been saying it for 10 years, so I can't depend on that anymore. I've said that I was going to abandon everything, and I've abandoned nothing.

NEVILLE: Thank you very much, sir.

NEWMAN: You're welcome.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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