Cool Hand Luke (1967)

A man refuses to conform to life in a rural prison.

Director:

Stuart Rosenberg

Writers:

Donn Pearce (screenplay), Frank Pierson (screenplay),

Stars:

Paul Newman, George Kennedy, J.D. Cannon

Top 250 #133 | Won 1 Oscar. Another 4 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Paul Newman	...	Luke
George Kennedy	...	Dragline
J.D. Cannon	...	Society Red
Lou Antonio	...	Koko
Robert Drivas	...	Loudmouth Steve
Strother Martin	...	Captain
Jo Van Fleet	...	Arletta
Clifton James	...	Carr
Morgan Woodward	...	Boss Godfrey
Luke Askew	...	Boss Paul
Marc Cavell	...	Rabbitt
Richard Davalos	...	Blind Dick
Robert Donner	...	Boss Shorty
Warren Finnerty	...	Tattoo
Dennis Hopper	...	Babalugats

Storyline

Luke Jackson is a cool, gutsy prisoner in a Southern chain gang, who, while refusing to buckle under to authority, keeps escaping and being recaptured. The prisoners admire Luke because, as Dragline explains it, "You're an original, that's what you are!" Nevertheless, the camp staff actively works to crush Luke until he finally breaks.

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Plot Keywords:

prison | prisoner | escape | guts | authority | 

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Taglines:

No one can eat fifty eggs.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Certificate:

GP

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 November 1967 (USA)

Also Known As:

La leyenda del indomable

Filming Locations:

Jacksonville, Florida, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Jalem Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

126 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Although she played his mother in the film, Jo Van Fleet was only 11 years older than Paul Newman.

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Goofs

During the fight scene with Dragline, Luke is knocked down into the dirt many times and is covered with black soil by the end. When the long shot shows Dragline walking away towards the barracks Luke has suddenly lost most of the black soil that was covering his sweat-soaked body.

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Quotes

Luke: Well that oughta be easy for a genuine son of a bitch.

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Connections

Spoofed in The Lion King 1 1/2 (2004)
overhead shot from end of egg-eating contest

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Soundtracks

"Cotton Fields"
Performed by Harry Dean Stanton

User Reviews

memorable

Truly a memorable movie, and more than just a documentary about southern road gangs. It's a study on the theme of the indomitability of the human spirit in the face of oppression. I was about to name this as Newman's finest performance until I thought of Eddy Felsen in "The Hustler" and Frank Galvin in "The Verdict"; it's impossible to choose among such a cornucopia of acting achievements, but Luke is right up there (the analogy to Luke as Christ becomes a tad heavy-handed when we see him, at the close of the egg-eating scene, stretched out, arms outward, feet crossed, as if crucified; none the less, it's a powerful image). There is no doubt, however, about George Kennedy as Dragline; it is his finest achievement, and fully deserves the Oscar he got for Best Supporting Actor. It is also fascinating to find so many familiar faces among the inmates - actors such as Dennis Hopper, Harry Dean Stanton, Joe Don Baker, Ralph Waite. and Wayne Rogers - who would go on to fame in their own right. This movie can unquestionably be called a classic. American Movie Classics just started (11/2000) showing a beautifully restored letterbox version which shows it in all its glory.