Cool Hand Luke (DVD, 1997)

I cannot recall the first time that I viewed this film nor can I recall how many times I have seen it...quite a few over the years. Simply, "Cool Hand Luke" is my favorite movie. Combine a screenplay about a prison chain gang in the deep south, with Paul Newman playing the part of a sly, resourceful inmate bent on escape, and you have the ingredients of a masterpiece. By the way: Luke is incarcerated for cutting the tops off of parking meters. Why? You never quite find out!

Luke is a complex character who always seems to be in conflict with himself as well as all authority. He's certainly not a good role model, but everyone would want to be somewhat like him in a few ways. He earns the respect of his fellow inmates while conversely earning the enmity of the captain and the guards. "What we have here... is failure to communicate" is the classic line spoken by Newman's co-star Strother Martin in one of the most powerful scenes. That could very well be the theme of this movie.

"Cool Hand Luke" contains all of the ingredients of a fine film: good plot, conflict, drama, tragedy, and humor. The cast is one of the best ever assembled for this type of subject mattter. George Kennedy and Ralph Waite are other notable actors with prominent roles. For those concerned about mature content, it is pleasing to report that there is no foul language. There is violence but not graphic by today's standards.

I looked for this DVD in stores all around my area before finding it on Ebay. It will certainly be used often as I never tire of the superb acting and memorable scenes- a true movie classic. If you have not seen "Cool Hand Luke" I highly recommend it. Do you want to know if anyone can eat 50 boiled eggs in one hour? Buy the movie! James Lythgoe

For my money, Cool Hand Luke is in the top 20, maybe top 10, movies of all time. I'd rate it 'excellent' on so many levels:

Storyline: It's an unusual story about a man of generally high character that just can't seem to get ahead. If he has a tragic flaw it's that he can't abide unfair treatment. The literary will tell you that his story parallels the life of Christ (and go on about the symbolism of the scene after he eats the eggs).

Acting and Actors: Extraordinary dramatic performances by a young Paul Newman and George Kennedy. The movie was also featured Wayne Rogers, Harry Dean Stanton, Dennis Hopper, and Joe Don Baker early in their acting careers.

Setting: Just name another movie set in a chain gang in Florida. (In an episode of Cheers, the boys are arguing about the 'sweat-iest' movie ever made. Frazier trumps them all with Cool Hand Luke.)

Impact on Popular Culture: There are a number of elements in this movie that have become part of our culture. [And, I might add, none of them brazenly added with that end in mind.] "What we have here, is a failure to communicate" is, perhaps, the most common reference to this movie. Then there is the 50 eggs, Joy Harmon's car wash, "What's your dirt doing in [boss Kean's] ditch?", "Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand."

I've seen this movie many times over and I think it's Paul Newman's best role ever! I know alot of you probably like some of his other roles better, but to me, Newman's turn as the prisoner who outwitted the "man" and ran a bloodhound to death was the most AWESOME character I have ever witnessed. It also doesn't hurt to note that this dude was to eat ALL of those hotdogs (65 I think), in ONE HOUR!!! But the scene that had the most impact to me, is when Luke gets shot in the end and he has that sardonic smile on his face, like he outwitted the prison officals again, because he was escaping from them for the final time. The message to me was that NOBODY was going to keep Luke locked up against his will--NOBODY!!!

Cool Hand Luke is an all-time classic -- must-have movie!! Not only Paul Newman but George Kennedy's role was so perfect! We have all quoted lines from this movie but it is one that should be in your collection!

This is one of my favorite Paul Newman movies. As the title character who resisted authority and strived to play by his rules, I found this movie to be entertaining and have watched it several times. To watch Luke resist living by another’s standards only to have his will finally broken in the end reminds me of someone I have known for years. Another movie that I already had on VHS, it is one of several that I decided to purchase on DVD as well. A real treasure of a movie, by one of America's late and great actors, this is a highly recommended movie.