The Young Philadelphians

The Young Philadelphians is a 1959 drama film starring Paul Newman, Barbara Rush and Alexis Smith, and directed by Vincent Sherman. Robert Vaughn was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. The film is based on the 1956 novel, The Philadelphian, by Richard P. Powell.

Years pass. Tony Paul Newman becomes a smart, ambitious college student, working his way through school as a construction worker with his sights on becoming a lawyer. One day, he encounters socialite Joan Dickinson Barbara Rush when she has a minor car accident. They soon fall in love, though Joan is expected by nearly everyone in her lofty social circle to marry millionaire Carter Henry Anthony Eisley. Their mutual friend, Chester Chet Gwynn Robert Vaughn, warns her not to let social pressure separate her from the one she loves, as it did him.Tony persuades her to elope. However, Joans father Gilbert Dickinson John Williams persuades Tony to postpone the wedding by offering him invaluable career help and a job at the highly esteemed law firm of which he is a full partner. Believing Tony has allowed himself to be bought, a disillusioned Joan sails to Europe. When Carter follows her, she marries him. Devastated and angry, Tony realizes that Joans father wanted her to marry into another wealthy family, and only offered Tony help with his career in the hope of breaking them up. Tony then devotes himself to working his way up the social ladder and learning the game of the wealthy. ........

Source: Wikipedia