The Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973)

After his last crime has him looking at a long prison sentence for repeat offenses, a low level Boston gangster decides to snitch on his friends to avoid jail time.

Director:

Peter Yates

Writers:

George V. Higgins (novel), Paul Monash (screenplay)

Stars:

Robert Mitchum, Peter Boyle, Richard Jordan

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert Mitchum	...	Eddie 'Fingers' Coyle
Peter Boyle	...	Dillon
Richard Jordan	...	Dave Foley
Steven Keats	...	Jackie Brown
Alex Rocco	...	Jimmy Scalise
Joe Santos	...	Artie Van
Mitch Ryan	...	Waters (as Mitchell Ryan)
Peter MacLean	...	Mr. Partridge
Kevin O'Morrison	...	Bank manager #2
Marvin Lichterman	...	Vernon
Carolyn Pickman	...	Nancy
James Tolkan	...	The Man's contact man
Margaret Ladd	...	Andrea
Matthew Cowles	...	Pete
Helena Carroll	...	Sheila Coyle

Storyline

Eddie's friends are numerous, but the term friends is suspect. As a small time hood Eddie is about to go back to jail. In order to escape this fate he deals information on stolen guns to the feds. Simultaneously he is supplying arms to his bank robbing/kidnapping hoodlum chums. But who else is dealing with the feds? Who gets the blame for snitching on the bank robbers?

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Plot Keywords:

bank robbery | family held hostage | bar | shooting | hockey arena | 

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Taglines:

It's a grubby, violent, dangerous world. But it's the only world they know. And they're the only friends Eddie has.

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Genres:

Crime | Thriller | Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 June 1973 (USA)

Also Known As:

Die Freunde von Eddie Coyle

Filming Locations:

Boston Bowl - 820 William T. Morrissey Boulevard, Dorchester, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

When leaving the Bruins game, they are driving through either the Sumner or Callahan tunnel. Their destination was the South Shore so they would not be using this tunnel since it would point them toward the airport (or away from it which would be impossible considering their starting point).

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Quotes

Eddie 'Fingers' Coyle: I shoulda known better than to trust a cop. My own goddamn mother coulda told me that.
Dave Foley: Everybody oughta listen to his mother.

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Connections

Referenced in Mystery Science Theater 3000: SST: Death Flight (1989)

User Reviews

Mitchum's performance soars

Mitchum has never been better. This is an absolute gem of a film, very underrated and very under appreciated. Peter Boyle is also excellent and the direction superb. I think this film captures Boston and the lives of small time mobsters better than any other film.

Elmore Leonard called the novel upon which the movie is based the best crime novel ever written. The movie does it justice.