Cool Hand Luke (1967)

Director:

Stuart Rosenberg

Writers:

Donn Pearce (screenplay) and
Frank Pierson (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

1 November 1967 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

"What we've got here is failure to communicate."

Plot:

A man refuses to conform to life in a rural prison.

Plot Keywords:

Prison | Prisoner | Escape | Guts | Chain

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 4 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Paul Newman	...	Luke
George Kennedy	...	Dragline
J.D. Cannon	...	Society Red
Lou Antonio	...	Koko
Robert Drivas	...	Loudmouth Steve
Strother Martin	...	Captain
Jo Van Fleet	...	Arletta
Clifton James	...	Carr
Morgan Woodward	...	Boss Godfrey
Luke Askew	...	Boss Paul
Marc Cavell	...	Rabbitt
Richard Davalos	...	Blind Dick
Robert Donner	...	Boss Shorty
Warren Finnerty	...	Tattoo
Dennis Hopper	...	Babalugats

Also Known As:

Luke la main froide (Canada: French title) (France) [fr]
Bouryoku datsugoku (Japan) [ja]
Der Unbeugsame (West Germany) [de]
Ha-Morred (Israel: Hebrew title) [iw]
La leyenda del indomable (Spain) [es]
La llegenda de l'indomable (Spain: Catalan title) [ca]
Lannistumaton Luke (Finland) [fi]
Luke Jackson: O megalos drapetis (Greece) (reissue title) [el]
Nick mano fredda (Italy) [it]
Nieugiety Luke (Poland) [pl]
O Presidiário (Portugal) [pt]
O megalos drapetis (Greece) [el]
Parmakliklarin arkasinda (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Rebeldia Indomável (Brazil) [pt]
Rebell i bojor (Sweden) [sv]
Skrappe Luke (Denmark) [da]

Runtime:

126 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Norway:16 | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Australia:M | Spain:7 | Portugal:M/12 | USA:Approved (certificate #21450) | Sweden:15 | France:-12 | New Zealand:PG | Finland:K-16 | Ireland:12 (blu-ray) (2008) | Ireland:15 | UK:15 | Singapore:PG | USA:GP (re-rating) (1970)

Filming Locations:

Jacksonville, Florida, USA

Company:

Jalem Productions

Trivia:

In the "road-tarring" sequence, the actors actually blacktopped a mile-long stretch of highway for the county.

Goofs:

Continuity: During scene when Luke is cutting chains from ankles, he throws the axe off to his left. When one of the trackers arrives, the axe head is resting on the stump with the axe handle off to the right.

Quotes:

Luke: Anybody here? Hey, Old Man. You home tonight? Can You spare a minute. It's about time we had a little talk. I know I'm a pretty evil fellow... killed people in the war and got drunk... and chewed up municipal property and the like. I know I got no call to ask for much...
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Apprentice: A Knight on Broadway (#7.4)" (2008)

Soundtrack:

Midnight Special

"Sometimes nothing can be a real cool hand to play..."

Cool Hand Luke is a great film that will last the ages. Newman's portrayal of the impulsive loner with the undying will is unforgettable, and Lucas Jackson may be one of the most memorable movie characters of all time. Luke's unfaltering spirit in the face of a life that never seems to deal him a fair hand will probably win you over sooner than later. A superb supporting cast, (including George Kennedy in his Oscar winning performance and Strother Martin ("what we got heehr is...failyuh to com-municate"), along with fine direction from Stuart Rosenberg catapult this timeless story, of an individual adrift in a vast and faceless world, towards classic status.

The basic plot line follows thus: Luke is arrested for the silliest of crimes and sent to prison (where the prisoners often work on a sort of chain gang, although largely without the chains). The atmosphere of the prison camp almost immediately begins to change after Luke's arrival, though not due to any conscious effort from his part. Just because he is who he is. At first, the other prisoners are hostile but they soon warm to him. They seem to begin feeling real camaraderie--perhaps even some unity.

Some of the most memorable scenes naturally stick in your mind: Luke's endless boxing match, the eggs (!), his escapes, and even when Luke is beaten by the prison captain...and, of course, the unforgettable smile. 10/10. A legendary performance from Newman and a true classic.