The Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

Peter Yates

Writers:

George V. Higgins (novel)
Paul Monash (writer)

Release Date:

27 June 1973 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Thriller | Drama

Tagline:

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

Plot:

Eddie's friends are numerous, but the term friends is suspect. As a small time hood Eddie is about to go back to jail...

Plot Keywords:

Boston Massachusetts | Irish American | Bank Robbery | Gangster | Neo Noir

Cast

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

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

West Germany:16 (video rating) | Norway:16 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Goofs:

Factual errors: When the young man who sells the guns to Eddie is sitting in his Road Runner with the man who will steal the machine guns from the Armory, the military man asks if the car has a "Hemi". The young man says yes. "Hemi" refers only to the 426 cubic inch engine. The Road Runner in the movie clearly has a "383" badge on the hood scoop. This engine is not a "Hemi".

Quotes:

Eddie 'Fingers' Coyle: One of the first things I learned is never to ask a man why he's in a hurry. All you got to know is I told the man that he could depend on me because you told me I could depend on you. Now one of us is gonna have a big fat problem. Another thing I learned. If anybody's gonna have a problem, you're gonna be the one.
Jackie Brown: You finished?
Eddie 'Fingers' Coyle: No, I am not finished. Look, I'm gettin' old, you hear? I spent most of my life hanging around crummy joints with a buncha punks drinkin' the beer, eatin' the hash and the hot dogs and watchin' the other people go off to Florida while I'm sweatin' out how I'm gonna pay the plumber. I done time and I stood up but I can't take no more chances. Next time, it's gonna be me goin' to Florida.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: SST: Death Flight (#1.13)" (1989)

Sleepy story of a lonesome loser

I was lucky enough to catch this on video before they pulled in out of release. It was during Mitchum's last hurrah, when he made interesting character studies like "Farewell, My Lovely." This story is a loser's tale, in the same vein as many of Paul Newman's best films, like "The Hustler" and "Nobody's Fool." Some audiences will have a hard time with the nature of the role because they expect a tough guy like Mitchum to kick into gear at any moment, but he never does because it's not that kind of movie. Rumor has it that director Peter Yates is frequently harassed by friends and collegues who have heard of this gem and tried to get their hands on a copy. Let's hope it comes to DVD soon, so we can all relish one of the great stars in one of his last meaty parts.