IMDb > Coogan's Bluff (1968)
Coogan's Bluff
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Coogan's Bluff (1968) More at IMDbPro »


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Overview

User Rating:
6.5/10   4,284 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 5% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Herman Miller (screenplay) &
Dean Riesner (screenplay) ...
more
Contact:
View company contact information for Coogan's Bluff on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
2 October 1968 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
Before "Dirty Harry"... there was Coogan. more
Plot:
Coogan, an Arizona cop, is sent to New York to collect a prisoner. Everyone in New York assumes Coogan is from Texas... more | full synopsis
User Comments:
It took me by surprise! more (54 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
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Additional Details

Runtime:
93 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Westrex Recording System)
Certification:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
When Coogan is searching the New York nightclub, the large screen plays a scene from Tarantula (1955), a "B" sci-fi film that Clint Eastwood made early in his career in which he had an uncredited role. more
Goofs:
Continuity: in the last few minutes of the movie, Coogan and Ringerman go to the top of the Pan Am Building to take the helicopter shuttle to the airport. Coogan says goodbye to the NYPD Lieutenant and then you see Coogan and Ringerman riding in the helicopter with scenery going by outside the window. Next you see the helicopter on the building again and Susan Clark is running to say goodbye. more
Quotes:
Mrs. Ellen Ringerman: [angry] Who do you think you are? Stupid-looking Texan coming in here with your fancy cowboy get-up, fancy boots, fancy hat... do you know what you are?
Coogan: Fancy!
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Eastwood & Co.: Making 'Unforgiven' (1992) (TV) more
Soundtrack:
Pigeon-Toed Orange Peel more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
7 out of 9 people found the following comment useful.
It took me by surprise!, 30 July 2005
9/10
Author: lost-in-limbo from the Mad Hatter's tea party.

Walt Coogan (Clint Eastwood) an Arizona deputy sheriff is sent to New York to collect a prisoner (Don Stroud). After learning that it might take a while before he can get his prisoner he decides to take it in own hands to bring him back, but while doing so he is jumped at the airport and the prisoner escapes. So now it's personal and he uses his western methods to recapture his man, but the city cops don't share his ways.

Before they teamed up for the classic cop film "Dirty Harry" (1971) - Don Siegel directed Clint Eastwood in an earlier and under-appreciated cop drama "Coogen's Bluff". I came across this film only knowing that it starred Eastwood and that's about it. But to my surprise it had more to it than Eastwood's strong persona, but it was engaging and clever entertainment by director Don Siegel. What it generates is a violent and hard-hitting police story that has superb attention to detail and is particularly well crafted. There's so many things going for it that you may or may not notice all the small hints that the film possesses on the clash of two different cultures (city vs. western) and the protagonist being dragged into the wicked and dirty side of the hippie drug circuit. This is when he learns that he is out of his league and that he has to adapt to this city way off life to get his man, sometimes with dire consequences because he grows slowly attached to it. Add in some psychedelic overtones and a spaced out feel to evoke the carefree era. The whole setup is naturally staged and doesn't feel forced. Siegel seems to have a knack of creating a gritty mood, but also capturing the life of the unique surroundings, from the Arizona deserts (excellent opening sequence) to the harsh city life. This was helped by fluid camera-work with its high shots and smooth pans that are well staged. The location photography and dashing settings are two of the strong points of this production. Another is the rousing score that mixes some western tang into the equation. Throw in edgy and sharp dialogue, with also scathing humour and an abundance of Texas gags against our protagonist. Siegel's paces the film perfectly and generates tension in some well-designed action scenes, one being the bike chase scene through the park. Though, this film isn't overtly filled with just action and violence. It's an amusing watch with a set-up that has more to it! Eastwood gives an iconic cool-as-ice performance as the Texas, ah I mean Arizona deputy sheriff who adapts his hunting techniques for the big city and who's quick with a sharp reply. Lee J. Cobb is good as the arrogant Det. Lt. McElroy, NYPD who has no time for Coogan or his antics. Susan Clark plays Julie Roth a probation officer and possibly Coogan's love interest. A superb Don Stroud weaselly plays James Ringerman the criminal who Coogan's after and Tisha Sterling plays Ringerman's hippie girlfriend. There's also a small role by a feisty Betty Field as Mrs. Ellen Ringerman.

Actually, it's hard to find one thing that I didn't actually like about the film. Highly recommended!

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Message Boards

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Scenes missing in DVD louchilson
Don Stroud's Crime wtl471629
No Widescreen DVD? davescafe02
name of the girl at hospital spud-55
The Pigeon Toed Orange Peel peatek1999
Syndicated newspaper strip Cpt_Berns
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