Harper (1966)

Lew Harper, a cool private investigator, is hired by a wealthy California matron to locate her kidnapped husband.

Director:

Jack Smight

Writers:

William Goldman (screenplay), Ross Macdonald (novel)

Stars:

Paul Newman, Lauren Bacall, Julie Harris

1 win & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Paul Newman	...	Lew Harper
Lauren Bacall	...	Mrs. Sampson
Julie Harris	...	Betty Fraley
Arthur Hill	...	Albert Graves
Janet Leigh	...	Susan Harper
Pamela Tiffin	...	Miranda Sampson
Robert Wagner	...	Allan Taggert
Robert Webber	...	Dwight Troy
Shelley Winters	...	Fay Estabrook
Harold Gould	...	Sheriff
Roy Jenson	...	Puddler (as Roy Jensen)
Strother Martin	...	Claude
Martin West	...	Deputy
Jacqueline deWit	...	Mrs. Kronberg (as Jacqueline de Wit)
Eugene Iglesias	...	Felix

Storyline

Lew Harper is a Los Angeles based private investigator whose marriage to Susan Harper, who he still loves, is ending in imminent divorce since she can't stand being second fiddle to his work, which is always taking him away at the most inopportune of times. His latest client is tough talking and physically disabled Elaine Sampson, who wants him to find her wealthy husband, Ralph Sampson, missing now for twenty-four hours, ever since he disappeared at Van Nuys Airport after having just arrived from Vegas. No one seems to like Ralph, Elaine included. She believes he is cavorting with some woman, which to her would be more a fact than a problem. Harper got the case on the recommendation of the Sampsons' lawyer and Harper's personal friend, milquetoast Albert Graves, who is unrequitedly in love with Sampson's seductive daughter, Miranda Sampson. Miranda, who Harper later states throws herself at anything "pretty in pants", also has a decidedly cold relationship with her stepmother, Elaine...

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Plot Keywords:

neo noir | private detective | los angeles california | kidnapping | ransom | 

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Taglines:

Girls think Harper is kicky. But sometimes he makes them feel funny. See Harper make girls feel funny. See Harper. [Theatrical]

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 April 1966 (Italy)

Also Known As:

Ein Fall für Harper

Filming Locations:

Moonfire Temple - 2200 Tuna Canyon Road, Topanga, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$3,500,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$12,000,000, 31 December 1966

Company Credits

Production Co:

Gershwin-Kastner Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

121 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Lew Harper (Paul Newman)'s fee was $100 per day plus expenses, though he also states, perhaps jokingly, that his going rate was $2000 flat against that. ($1.00 then is equivalent to $7.25 in 2014.)

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Goofs

In the final scene, when Albert Graves (Arthur Hill) prepares to aim his revolver, there is an unmistakable sound of the revolver being cocked. Then, in a close-up of Graves aiming the revolver, the hammer is in an uncocked position.

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Quotes

Albert Graves: You were hired by a bitch to find scum.
Lew Harper: Yeah... every time I hope it's going to be Prince Charming sending me out to scout out Cinderella.

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Connections

References King Kong (1933)

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Soundtracks

Livin' Alone
Words by Dory Previn
Music by André Previn
Sung by Julie Harris (uncredited)

User Reviews

All the 1960's cliches on one piece of film!

It's a "good" thing. From the go-go music and dancing, to the fearless overacting, to the multiple cameos (that Shelley Winters as an over-eating amorous drunk - wow!) by a who's who of famous actors, this film has everything but snappy editing. Enjoyable mainly for its unpredictability and seeing actors given free reign with their characters (Robert Wagner doing a bad James Cagney out of the blue!).

Enjoyable. If I had reviewed this in the 60's I'd have given it a "5". In 2002, I give it an "8".