‘Stretching’ on Film

Re Kenneth Turan’s Dec. 2 article on Paul Newman: How dare Turan accuse one responsible for so many critically and commercially successful films of breaking an unspoken bargain with his audience and foolishly trying to broaden his horizons.

The roles Mr. Newman played in “The Hustler,” “Hud” and “The Verdict” are outstanding character performances, not just performances that remain close to audience expectations.

“Mr. and Mrs. Bridge” introduces much of Newman’s audience to classic American literature, and some of that on the screen is better than none.

PAUL de SOUZA

Los Angeles