“What we got here is failure to communicate, some men you can't just reach…” The words made famous by the Guns And Roses™ cong “Civil War” The movie Cool Hand Luke™ the 1967 movie starring Paul Newman and George Kennedy portrays the life of a born looser and highlights his adventures and experiences on a prison chain gang.
After attempting a prison break he was chained by the ankles. When my editor asked me to write a review on this movie a first I thought oh great, a flick from when I was only seven, this is going to really be bad, but actually it wasn't, I thought it was a good movie. It had a strong plot, and a great story line.
After his leg irons are placed on he attempts another break from prison persuading two little boys to assist him in taking off his leg irons with a double sided axe. This movie directed by Stuart Rosenberg, and screen play written by Donn Pearce, and Frank Pierson is essentially a movie about a man who refuses to conform to prison life. It was actually one of the top ten films ever made, and is now considered a classic.
The Movie Won an Oscar and Another 4 wins & 6 nominations for other awards. In 1968 George Kennedy won an Oscar for best supporting actor, Paul Newman himself was nominated for an award for best leading actor, but never received his Oscar. It was also nominated for best music, as well as Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium. Among some of the other awards included the Golden Globe, Laurel Awards, and in 2005 it was nominated for the National Film Registry.
Luke (Lucas) Jackson is a cool, gutsy prisoner in a Southern chain gang, who refuses to buckle under the authority, and attempts escape several times only to be recaptured. After being forced to dig his own grave in the prison court yard, he finally decides to submit to the prison boss, and begs him not to hit him anymore swearing he has “his mind right this time” Paul Newman portraying the role of Luke (Lucas) Jackson does a dramatic performance, in which I believe to be his finest work as an actor.
Will the prison guards ever truly break this ruthless and carefree man? You will just have to watch the film for yourself to find out. As the film opens it shows Luke (Lucas) cutting the tops off of parking meters, apparently intoxicated he is arrested by the police and convicted to a two year sentence for destruction of public property, which apparently happens off screen.
Upon arriving at prison Luke who had been a sergeant in the army busted down in rank to a private meets Dragline portrayed by George Kennedy, who is clearly the leader of the prisoners on the inside. After refusing to to willingly submit to Dragline and saying something that is clearly a challenge to his authority Dragline arranges a boxing match between him and Luke. Being larger and stronger he literally pummels Luke, but Luke refuses to stay down. Eventually after the prisoners and even dragline beg Luke to stop fighting, winning the affections and respect of all the prisoners including Dragline.
All in all a very well written screenplay with exceptional actors playing the roles of prisoners in a southern prison, the movie fades on the vision of a cross roads shortly after Luke is shot by prison guards.-JS
