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 | city | 

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Taglines:

A DIFFERENT KIND OF CAT!

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Genres:

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)

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

The name of the bar on the match-sticks packet was "The Corner". It's slogan was "The Place in Castle Beach".

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Goofs

When Allen Taggert tosses out the ransom money from Albert Graves' car, the rear projection screen is a city street with other cars on the street. When Harper watches Eddie Rossiter and Betty Fraley drive in and/or out of the money pickup area, it is a dirt road between some oil derricks.

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Quotes

Fay Estabrook: Wait a minute, when's your birthday?
Lew Harper: June 2
Fay Estabrook: [obviously worried by what Harper has just told her] June 2! June 2! Gemini! Oh, Geminis are supposed to be cold hearted! You're not cold hearted are you, dumpling
Lew Harper: [Leering at Fay's ample chest] Hell no! Why big dawgs is always licking my hands!

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Alternate Versions

When originally released theatrically in the UK, the BBFC made cuts to secure a 'A' rating. All cuts were waived in 1995 when the film was granted a '12' certificate for home video.

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Connections

Referenced in The Sting (1973)

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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".