Legendary cinema figure Robert Redford, renowned actor, director, and activist, has passed away at the age of 89. To pay tribute to him, we revisit a funny and iconic anecdote about the camaraderie and endless prank war he maintained with his lifelong friend, Paul Newman, involving a Porsche that became completely unusable.
The Origin of the Automotive Rivalry
Paul Newman was passionate about serious car racing, an obsession born after a training session at the Bondurant driving school. He talked about it constantly, to the point of annoying his friend Robert Redford, with whom he spent a lot of time, both on set and off.
The First Attack: A Poisoned Birthday Gift
For Newman’s 50th birthday, Redford decided to take action. He acquired the wreck of a crashed Porsche and had it delivered in front of his accomplice’s house, with a large gift bow placed on it. Precise details about the exact model of the vehicle have unfortunately been lost to memory, although some sources mention a car “found in Connecticut.”
Paul Newman’s Masterful Revenge
The most remarkable part of this story is that Newman never said a word. He preferred to respond with actions. Shortly after, Redford recounted receiving a rather surprising delivery at his rented house: a crate of melted metal, so heavy that it broke through the living room floor. The revenge was as silent as it was stinging.
The Transformation into a Sculpture
Not at all intimidated, Redford took up the challenge. He had this block of metal transformed into an especially ugly sculpture and discreetly placed it in Newman’s garden. The beauty of this story lies in its conclusion: neither of the two men ever mentioned this exchange of favors, making this destroyed Porsche the perfect symbol of their playful and unbreakable friendship.
The Cinematic Legacy of Robert Redford
Beyond the anecdote, Robert Redford leaves behind an immense filmography. To (re)discover his work, classics like “Jeremiah Johnson” are essential viewing, perfect for a movie night. His artistic legacy is simply monumental.