Cool Hand Luke

United States, 1967

Drama, Crime

Synopsis

When Luke Johnson is sentenced to two years on a chain gang in a rural Florida prison, he refuses to let it break his spirit and becomes an emblem of hope to the other inmates.

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Cool Hand Luke Directed by Stuart Rosenberg

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Awards & Festivals

Academy Awards

1968 | Winner: Best Actor in a Supporting Role

1968 | 3 nominations including: Best Actor in a Leading Role

Directors Guild of America

1968 | Nominee: Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures

Golden Globes (USA)

1968 | 2 nominations including: Best Actor - Drama

National Society of Film Critics Awards

1968 | 2nd place: Best Cinematography

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Articles from the Notebook

Daily Briefing. Prison Breaks and Bank Heists

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Critics reviews

Film Comment

What holds the film together, irresistibly, is Newman, who was unmatched at creating characters who were at once romantic and cynical, hard-bitten and yearning, idealistic and self-destructive. No American actor has ever embodied wounded, confused masculinity with more skill or grace; you want to know Luke even as he pulls away from everyone and into himself, and his struggle to get wherever he’s trying to go remains vivid and moving.

Mark Harris

November 22, 2017

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RogerEbert.com

Luke is one of those movies that seemed almost irredeemably dated maybe thirty years after it came out, but then left period associations behind and became timeless. It has its absurd or regrettable touches—such as that moment where the sexy young farm wife washes a car, nearly fellating a hose and squashing her breasts up against a passenger side window; images quickly appropriated by TV ads and sketch comedy shows—but its vagueness has proved more a benefit than a liability.

Matt Zoller Seitz

January 01, 2016

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What are people saying?

El Biffo's rating of the film Cool Hand Luke
El Biffo

Must see. Paul Newman's greatest film,and that is saying a lot! With George Kennedy, Strother Martin, and Harry Dean Stanton.
March 01, 2014 06:59
- 4
- 0
Filipe F. Coutinho's rating of the film Cool Hand Luke
Filipe F. Coutinho

Despite a masterfully written screenplay that thrives on themes primal to human nature, it is Paul Newman's minimalistic performance and never-ending talent that makes Cool Hand Luke into a tale for the ages. Powered by Conrad Hall's breathtaking photography, Rosenberg's film showcases the power of simplicity in what very well may be considered a kind of southern-gothic new wave.
December 27, 2015 19:44
- 0
- 0
Wee Hunk's rating of the film Cool Hand Luke
Wee Hunk

The thing that I admired about Paul Newman was that he wasn't afraid to play an asshole as a leading man. Sometimes when you'd stare into those eyes, you just got lost. "Jesus he was a handsome man and what i want to know is how do you like your blueeyed boy Mister Death" And of course he did play Buffalo Bill, so that's appropriate.
January 24, 2019 18:04
- 3
- 0
Daniel S.'s rating of the film Cool Hand Luke
Daniel S.

Tells the stations of the cross of Luke who gains an undeniable Christian stature at the end of the road. You may have some fun by counting the blatant and the less obvious allusions to the Life of Jesus left by the screenwriters here. Academy award (well deserved) earned by George Kennedy in the Best Actor in a Supporting Role category. Masterpiece.
May 15, 2012 20:09
- 1
- 0
smndvdcl's rating of the film Cool Hand Luke
smndvdcl

The boxing match and the egg scene are a delight. The Newman persona shines bright in this prison drama.
April 10, 2015 22:43
- 1
- 0
Susanna-Cole King's rating of the film Cool Hand Luke
Susanna-Cole King

I can relate to Luke: a nonconforming, non-planner who's known to do it the hard way even if it hurts him, furthermore, Paul Newman is one hell of a handsome fellow & it didn't hurt to look at him for 2 hours. This film is full of fine performances & I'm a sucker for southern landscapes, the only component I felt iffy about is how well most the inmates got on. This is prison. Realistically, would they all be buddies?
March 04, 2011 02:39
- 0
- 0
Christopher R. Smith's rating of the film Cool Hand Luke
Christopher R. Smith

One of those film classics I should have seen years ago, but just got around to watching now - unfortunately, this one did not quite live up to its reputation. Excellent performances and great moments, but the story is slow and repetitive and just too long. Excellent cinematography by Conrad Hall, and a great score by Lalo Schifrin.
April 11, 2009 02:15
- 0
- 0
Drunken Father Figure of Old's rating of the film Cool Hand Luke
Drunken Father Figure of Old

The moral of the story: Prison is pretty fun and carefree until you start trying to escape from it!
April 04, 2012 18:34
- 0
- 1