Cool Hand Luke Review

 Cool Hand Luke

Director: Stuart Rosenberg

Stars: Paul Newman, George Kennedy, Lou Antonio, Strother Martin, Clifton James, Morgan Woorward, Jo Van Fleet, Anthony Zerbe,Dennis Hopper, Harry Dean Stanton & Joy Harmon.

Running Time: 126 mins

Release: 1 November 1967

in the late 1940's after serving in WWII Luke Jackson (Newman) is arrested and put in a prison chain gang for being drunk and disorderly whilst cutting off the heads of parking meters because he's in a 'Small town, not much to do in the evenin'. The film is about Luke's fight to never give up or conform to the rules of society or prison headed by Captain (Strother Martin). Whilst becoming a hero and inspiration for his fellow prisoners.

I've heard of Newman and seen his films in passing though never really paid attention to them till now and I have heard that this is one of his most famous iconic roles alongside Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid, The Sting, Hud, Harper and The Hustler.

I was in complete awe of him in this film, he gives a completely outstanding nuanced performance bringing Luke to life giving him real heart and soul so that you can relate, like and sympathise with him. It's a trait that i've heard he possesses for all his roles. He's simply put an everyman and I feel Luke is the true epitome of cool. He starts off being a complete loner and outcast and very much likes it that way. He never gives up nor conforms to any constraint of society be it in the outside world or in prison he'll always fight the rules and get back up from the beatings or put in the box, he does not know how to quit. He has a very laid back attitude hence the nickname Cool Hand Luke.

Early on the film he angers Dragline (Kennedy) who's the big man of the prisoners and they have a boxing match the next day and Dragline keeps knocking him down and he keeps getting back up fighting no matter the beating. Dragline is impressed with Luke's defiance and drive to never give in and begins to respect him and become his friend. After consuming 50 eggs in a hour for a bet he garners the admiration and respect from his fellow prisoners whom hero worship him which he never understands the nature of. He never wanted or chose the role. It then puts unwanted expectation of him to live up to his rep which he'd rather live without !. He's very intelligent, brave, cynical, witty, laid back and charismatic. He also has a cheeky smile which shows his defiance for authority. He has some absolutely amazing lines in this film including “Yeah well....sometimes nothing can be a real cool hand”, “Nah- calling it your job don't make it right. Boss” and “Well that oughta be easy for a genuine son of a bitch”

He is one of my all time favourite characters and Dragline says it's best with “He's a natural born world-shaker”

George Kennedy is equally compelling and loveable as Luke as the big, burly and kind-hearted somewhat man-child Dragline. I could see why he won an Oscar for his role. Him and Luke don't exactly start on the right foot at the beginning of the film but they soon become firm friends. Dragline is inspired and in awe of Luke as he has the fight in him that he himself has lost since been put in the can and conformed And in some part Luke has given him back that fighting spirit. You can tell he cares for Luke greatly when Luke gets put in the box and they come in from roadworks he looks at the box knowing his friend is inside without saying a single word. It expresses so much.

He has such an iconic booming voice too. At first I didn't like Dragline at all but as the film developed he grew on me as a character as Luke brings out his character development. He may be a big man but he's no bully he's much quite the opposite. He also has some absolute fantastic lines in this film, so much son in fact I won't say any of them. Dragline is one hell of a good character.

Strother Martin is a character actor mostly famous for his western roles as that's what he mostly done created an iconic character Captain the Man of the chain gang prison. Who's known for uttering the most quoted line from the film: “What we have here is. . . failure to communicate” which serves as a tagline to the film.He likes all the prisoners to fall in line and Luke is a stickler for the rules, the fly in his ointment and he'll never break him no matter how hard he tries. He also refers to the prisoners that attempt to jump the fences have rabbit blood in them. He's a tough man who does not do all that much he keeps his clean and as Luke would say “he is one rough old boy”. He also has a great southern American accent.

Jo Van Fleet plays Arletta Luke's mother she's only in one scene in the film as it's a pivotal one as it shows the differences between the two and what she wanted for him. Though she understands that her son won't conform to society and that he needs to find his place in the world. It's a great scene. It's not much of a spoiler she dies in the film and we see Luke's wordless reaction to her death.

Lou Antonio plays Koko, Dragline's friend and sort of lackey, his face looked familiar though I can not place it. He's very good in the role.

Anthony Zerbe plays Dog Boy a inmate who works for the officers of the prison who's in control and charge of the dogs of which he uses as a tool to threaten the inmates, he's a rather nasty character but you can sympathise with him how he feels about his dogs.

I didn't know that Harry Dean Stanton in this he plays Tramp a fellow prisoner who comes in at the same time as Luke, like him he has come in for petty offences. He's very good in his small role he sings Just a Closer Walk With Thee which suits the tone of the film completely.

Dennis Hopper plays Babalugats. His character does not really talk it's mostly a silent role and I didn't expect him to be in this film and I was surprised he was in this film. His character is called Babalugats as he babbles quite a lot in the film and does not talk much sense.

Clifton James plays Carr an officer who looks over the bunk house where the inmates sleep. Most famous for his absolutely brilliant 'Night in the box' speech it's a really iconic scene.

Morgan Woodward plays Boss Godfrey or 'No Eyes' as he's called as he wears aviator shades that cover his eyes making him looks soulless he's a stoic and a iconic figure who puts fear into most inmates aside Luke of course. He's the law of the chain gang and is just waiting for someone to cause trouble so he can shoot his gun.

Joy Harmon plays the Girl or Lucille as Dragline likes to call her. She's in only one scene the carwash scene which has been regarded one of the most sexiest scenes in film history. She's provocatively washing a car whilst wearing a very tight dress which garners the chain gangs attention it's a iconic scene and Dragline has some brilliant lines in this scene including one of my favourites “Anything so innocent and built like that just gotta be named Lucille”. Watching the documentary after I had seen the film really gave it some insight to the scene and Harmon's remark on the scene is terrific she supposedly didn't know what she was doing !.

The iconic composer Lalo Schrifin composed the score for Cool Hand Luke and what a beautiful score it is, it's a rather laid back easy going sound score much like the character Luke himself though it can rack up in the more tense scenes of the film,. I have heard of his work before but never of him he's done a great score on this film, I was really impressed with it.

Stuart Rosenberg has done a outstanding and phenomenal job shooting this film. It looks great for a film that came out in 67 especially on Blu-Ray it looks incredibly cinematic and far better than I was expecting I love the air shots in the film where the camera is looking down on the vans which are transporting inmates and when they clear the roads it really gives you a scope of the setting and it looks very barren there. The close up shots are great too especially Godfrey which him look other-worldly.

This film is very thematic covering conformity, society, authority, rebellion, friendship,the human spirit, being an outcast and a underdog who'll never conforming to the rules of society of what's expected of you.Also in some part heroism. You may notice the biblical references in this which I won't say but gives you another way to look at the film, that part is not heavy handed mind you.

The film is an absolute American classic, a one off like Luke never to be seen again. Luke is an anti-hero and a iconic one at that and one of the last true rebels to be seen on the silver screen. I'll watch this film again and again it's a masterpiece in every single sense of the word.