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Cool Hand Luke

  • 19671967
  • GPGP
  • 2h 7m
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
179K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,899
325
Paul Newman in Cool Hand Luke (1967)
Trailer for this classic starring Paul Newman
Play trailer2:48
3 Videos
99+ Photos
CrimeDrama
A laid back Southern man is sentenced to two years in a rural prison, but refuses to conform.A laid back Southern man is sentenced to two years in a rural prison, but refuses to conform.A laid back Southern man is sentenced to two years in a rural prison, but refuses to conform.
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
179K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,899
325
    • Stuart Rosenberg
    • Donn Pearce(screenplay)
    • Frank Pierson(screenplay)
    • Hal Dresner(uncredited)
  • Stars
    • Paul Newman
    • George Kennedy
    • Strother Martin
    • Stuart Rosenberg
    • Donn Pearce(screenplay)
    • Frank Pierson(screenplay)
    • Hal Dresner(uncredited)
  • Stars
    • Paul Newman
    • George Kennedy
    • Strother Martin
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 386User reviews
    • 107Critic reviews
    • 92Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Top rated movie #238
    • Won 1 Oscar

    Videos3

    Cool Hand Luke
    Trailer 2:48
    Watch Cool Hand Luke
    Cool Hand Luke
    Trailer 2:48
    Watch Cool Hand Luke
    "Patriot" Star Michael Dorman Crushes on 'The Princess Bride'
    Video 2:30
    Watch "Patriot" Star Michael Dorman Crushes on 'The Princess Bride'

    Photos149

    Paul Newman in Cool Hand Luke (1967)
    Paul Newman and Morgan Woodward in Cool Hand Luke (1967)
    Paul Newman in Cool Hand Luke (1967)
    Joy Harmon in Cool Hand Luke (1967)
    Paul Newman, Dennis Hopper, George Kennedy, Harry Dean Stanton, J.D. Cannon, Richard Davalos, Robert Drivas, Warren Finnerty, and Chuck Hicks in Cool Hand Luke (1967)
    Paul Newman in Cool Hand Luke (1967)
    Paul Newman, Harry Dean Stanton, and Warren Finnerty in Cool Hand Luke (1967)
    Paul Newman in Cool Hand Luke (1967)
    Paul Newman, Lou Antonio, and James Gammon in Cool Hand Luke (1967)
    Paul Newman, J.D. Cannon, Richard Davalos, Wayne Rogers, and Ralph Waite in Cool Hand Luke (1967)
    Paul Newman in Cool Hand Luke (1967)
    Paul Newman, Joe Don Baker, Lou Antonio, Marc Cavell, Chuck Hicks, and Wayne Rogers in Cool Hand Luke (1967)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Paul Newman
    Paul Newman
    • Luke
    George Kennedy
    George Kennedy
    • Dragline
    Strother Martin
    Strother Martin
    • Captain
    J.D. Cannon
    J.D. Cannon
    • Society Red
    Lou Antonio
    Lou Antonio
    • Koko
    Robert Drivas
    Robert Drivas
    • Loudmouth Steve
    Jo Van Fleet
    Jo Van Fleet
    • Arletta
    Clifton James
    Clifton James
    • Carr
    Morgan Woodward
    Morgan Woodward
    • Boss Godfrey
    Luke Askew
    Luke Askew
    • Boss Paul
    Marc Cavell
    Marc Cavell
    • Rabbitt
    Richard Davalos
    Richard Davalos
    • Blind Dick
    Robert Donner
    Robert Donner
    • Boss Shorty
    Warren Finnerty
    Warren Finnerty
    • Tattoo
    Dennis Hopper
    Dennis Hopper
    • Babalugats
    John McLiam
    John McLiam
    • Boss Keen
    Wayne Rogers
    Wayne Rogers
    • Gambler
    Harry Dean Stanton
    Harry Dean Stanton
    • Tramp
    • (as Dean Stanton)
      • Stuart Rosenberg
      • Donn Pearce(screenplay) (novel)
      • Frank Pierson(screenplay)
      • Hal Dresner(uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In the "road-tarring" sequence, the actors actually blacktopped a mile-long stretch of highway for the county.
    • Goofs
      At one point in the movie a "white on red" stop sign is shown. In the film's late-1940s time period, stop signs were "black on yellow."
    • Quotes

      [Luke wins a poker hand on a bluff]

      Dragline: Nothin'! A handful of nothin'. You stupid mullet head, he beat you with nothin', just like today when he kept comin' back at me, with nothin'.

      Luke: Yeah, well... sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.

    • Connections
      Featured in The 53rd Annual Academy Awards (1981)
    • Soundtracks
      Plastic Jesus
      (uncredited)

      Written by Ed Rush and George Cromarty

      Performed by Paul Newman

    User reviews386

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10
    What we have here is no failure
    Greetings again from the darkness. I went way too many years without watching this movie again, so when Cinemark included it in the summer classic film series, I was in my seat nice and early. Mention this movie and the first thing people do is quote one of the most famous lines in movie history: "What we have here is failure to communicate." No question that's a great line. But there is so much more to this movie and it holds up beautifully 45 years later.

    Based on the novel by Donn Pearce, who spent two years on a chain-gang, this is the story of Luke (Paul Newman) who just can't bring himself to conform to the rules, regardless whether those be the rules of the military, society, prison, or those self-imposed by the convicts. We are introduced to Luke as he drunkenly cuts off the top of parking meters on main street of a small town. Later, in a throw away line, we learn he was gaining revenge on someone. It's the clear indication that while he doesn't always want to fit in, Luke clearly knows right from wrong.

    There are so many terrific scenes in this film, that it's not possible to discuss each. Every scene with the prison warden, played by Strother Martin, is intense. Each of the Boss guards are frightening, especially Morgan Woodward as the sharpshooter behind the mirrored shades. There are numerous impactful scenes featuring the group of convicts. Even though we learn little about the individuals, we realize the fragile male psyche is on full display. Despite the power of all of these characters and scenes, the real strength of the film is the relationship between Luke and Dragline (George Kennedy). Watching the early cat and mouse game, and the subsequent transfer of power, feature two amazing actors at the top of their game.

    George Kennedy rightfully won the Best Supporting Actor award and continued on to become one of the most successful and prolific character actors of the 70's and 80's, and his career culminated with his iconic role in the Naked Gun series. As for Paul Newman, this is one of his best performance in a long line of standout performances. This one is in the middle stage of his career and he exuded manliness with a touch of sensitivity. He and Strother Martin would meet again in one of the best sequences of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

    Watching Luke win over all the convicts, including the previous leader played by Kennedy is stunning, yet gut-wrenching when offset by the scenes with the guards who are hell bent on getting Luke to understand his place. They understand the risk he poses to the systematic rhythms of the prison.

    The supporting cast is downright incredible. This was the feature film debut for: Ralph Waite (4 years later he became the beloved paternal figure of TV's The Waltons); Joe Don Baker(Buford Pusser from Walking Tall); James Gammon (later the crusty manager in Major League); and Anthony Zerbe, another iconic character actor of the 70's and 80's. Also featured are Dennis Hopper, Harry Dean Stanton (singing a few songs), Wayne Rogers (from MASH), Richard Davalos (James Dean's brother Aron in East of Eden), and Rance Howard (Ron's dad as the sheriff). In a brief, but truly great scene, Jo Van Fleet (also from East of Eden), appears as Arletta, and we quickly understand Luke's background.

    Often overlooked by film historians, "Lucille" putting on a show for the convicts as she washes her car, is a scene that is meant for more than titillation. As she creatively buffs the windows, the reaction of the convicts reminds us that these are still men and no amount of humiliation and degradation can change that. One of my friends argues that Joy Harmon was clearly cheated out of an Oscar for this scene.

    The score is the handy work of Lalo Schifrin and expertly captures the moment ... especially in the black top scene. Director Stuart Rosenberg was known only for his TV work when he got this script. He went on to direct another prison movie in 1980 called Brubaker. Starring Newman's Butch Cassidy co-star Robert Redford, the film was a decent prison drama, but not at the level of Cool Hand Luke ... which by the way, was installed into the National Film Registry in 2005.
    helpful•28
    7
    • ferguson-6
    • Jun 21, 2012

    FAQ6

    • When luke escapes for the second time, he seemed to have blended into the community by having photos made up posing with two ladies, what were the actual reasons behind his recapture.
    • Why did the prisoners take Luke's food (rice)?
    • Is 'Cool Hand Luke' based on a book?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 1, 1967 (United States)
      • United States
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Jacksonville, Florida, USA
    • Production company
      • Jalem Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 2 hours 7 minutes
      • Mono

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