The Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973)

Director:

Peter Yates

Writers:

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

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:

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.

Plot Keywords:

Bank Robbery | Family Held Hostage | Bar | Shooting | Hockey Arena

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
Jack Kehoe	...	The Beard
Jan Egleson	...	Pale kid
Jane House	...	Wanda
Michael McCleery	...	The Kid
Alan Koss	...	Phil
Dennis McMullen	...	Webber
Judith Ogden Cabot	...	Mrs. Partridge
Robert Anthony	...	Moran
Gustave Johnson	...	Ames (as Gus Johnson)
Sheldon Feldner	...	Ferris
Ted Maynard	...	Sauter
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Donald Warnock	...	Super Market Patron (uncredited)

Directed by
Peter Yates

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
George V. Higgins		novel
Paul Monash		screenplay

Produced by
Charles H. Maguire	....	associate producer (as Charles Maguire)
Paul Monash	....	producer

Original Music by
Dave Grusin

Cinematography by
Victor J. Kemper

Film Editing by
Patricia Lewis Jaffe

Casting by
Marion Dougherty
Vic Ramos

Production Design by
Gene Callahan

Art Direction by
Gene Callahan

Set Decoration by
Don Galvin

Costume Design by
Eric Seelig

Makeup Department
Irving Buchman	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Charles H. Maguire	....	unit production manager (as Charles Maguire)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Sal Scoppa Jr.	....	second assistant director (as Sal Scoppa)
Peter R. Scoppa	....	assistant director (as Peter Scoppa)

Sound Department
Ron Kalish	....	sound editor
Richard Raguse	....	sound recordist (as Dick Raguse)
Dick Vorisek	....	sound re-recordist
Richard P. Cirincione	....	sound editor (uncredited)

Stunts
Glenn R. Wilder	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Bob Rose	....	key grip
Jack Brown	....	assistant camera (uncredited)

Casting Department
Vic Ramos	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Eric Seelig	....	wardrobe

Editorial Department
Jean Fraser Wardle	....	assistant editor (as Jean Wardle)
Hal Levinsohn	....	apprentice editor (uncredited)
Irving Rathner	....	negative cutter (uncredited)

Other crew
Everett Alson	....	title designer
Lynn A. Aber	....	script supervisor (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Paramount Pictures

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1973) (USA) (theatrical)
• Action Gitanes (1993) (France) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1978) (USA) (TV)
• CIC Video (19??) (West Germany) (VHS)
• Criterion Collection, The (2009) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Marion Dougherty Associates  casting
• Panavision  camera and lenses
• Technicolor  color

Also Known As:

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

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

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): 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:

Jackie Brown:You can't trace these guns, I guarantee that.
Eddie 'Fingers' Coyle:You better, or neither of us will be able to shake hands.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Justified: Ghosts (#4.13)" (2013)

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.