"Cool Hand Luke" - Film Review

“What we have here is a failure to communicate,” the prison warden tells the inmates a little over halfway through Cool Hand Luke. It’s a great line and the scene from the film most people remember when they think of the film. It’s a line that’s become part of colloquial expression and pop culture consciousness. But it also marks a change in the tone of the film.

Up to that point, Cool Hand Luke is about as feel good as a movie about prisoners can be. Luke (played wonderfully by Paul Newman) gets sent in on some petty crime for taking off the heads of parking meter while drunk. His rebellious, jovial, aloof, devil-may-care attitude initially puts him at odds with the inmates, but he slowly wins them over. He’s willing to do anything to stop the boredom and tedium of working a prison chain gang. He makes absurd bets in a poker game; he has them rush the tarring of a road; he eats fifty eggs in an hour.

But soon it’s not enough. He learns his mother Arletta (Jo Van Fleet) has died and he can’t stand the prison any longer. He plans an escape with the help of the other inmates but doesn’t make it very far before he’s sent back. He breaks free again and it seems like it might work, but Luke is apparently shit out of luck. The warden isn’t going to put up with this anymore; he decides he’s going to break Luke and puts him through hell. He’s sent to solitary confinement every night; he’s beaten relentlessly at work; and he’s given needlessly difficult and pointless work assignments. The wily smiles and jokes soon fade to reveal the sadness hiding behind Luke’s carefree persona.

The film is inhabited with a rich world of characters. There are a number of great bit roles. This is especially true of the prisoners particularly George Kennedy who won an Oscar for his role as Dagget, the de facto leader of the prisoners. Strother Martin is also fantastic as the prison warden, the Captain.

Stuart Rosenberg's direction is frequently clumsy and awkward. Cool Hand Luke’s tonal shifts don’t always work and this is largely due to some unfocused plotting and some scenes with great writing but a peculiar presentation. However, overall the film is funny, compassionate and moving.

Grade: B+