"Cool Hand Luke" by Stuart Rosenberg: a review

Cool Hand Luke is a film about a non-conformist named Luke Jackson played by Paul Newman. Luke got into trouble with the authorities when he cut off parking meters due to drunkenness. He received a two years sentence to a stretch on a southern chain gang in a Georgia road prison camp run by a sadistic captain played by Strother Martin. While in prison, Luke refuses to conform to the system and this is where the story of the film revolves.

Being a decorated veteran, prisoners initially call Luke “Lucas-War Hero”. However his neck name was changed to “Cool Hand Luke” after a few important events in Luke’s prison life. First, Luke had a fistfight with the prisoner’s de facto leader named Dragline played by George Kennedy. Although Dragline is a bigger opponent, Luke’s persistence and refusal to stay down tire down Dragline who eventually refuses to fight. Although Luke suffers from a bad beating from Dragline he gains the respect of his fellow prisoners. On another event Luke wins a poker game even with bad cards by playing it smart and staying cool. Then he comments that “sometimes nothing can be a real cool hand” and listening to this Dragline gives Luke his new neck name “Cool Hand Luke”.

Although prison condition is often harsh and brutal, Luke becomes more optimistic about his situation after her mother visited him at prison. Hard physical labor and confinement at the box are the most common conditions prisoners like Luke suffer while serving time in prison. Despite all these harsh conditions, Luke shows a voracious spirit which gains the admiration of other prisoners. Luke becomes the prisoner’s idol.

Luke refuses to conform to the system and tries to find a way to make things easier for other prisoners. He finds a way to help prisoners finish their tasks earlier giving them enough time to rest. During the course of his time in prison, Luke’s mother died. Luke became so depressed upon learning of her mother’s demise. Because of this he makes a plot to escape. His attempts to escape were unsuccessful at times. However, he was persistent and tries to escape again after failing to succeed in his attempts. When Luke finally made a successful escape he sends magazines to fellow prisoners with photos of him with women. This freedom however was short lived and he was captured again. He escapes and recaptured again, each episode becomes harder than the first ones. Later his actions became a symbol of hope for many prisoners.

This 1967 movie was nominated for four academy awards including Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Music Score. Aside from the stellar performance of Paul Newman and George Kennedy, the movie Cool Hand Luke was ably supported by actors including Ralph Waite, Harry Dean Stanton, Wayne Rogers, Dennis Hopper, and Joe Don Baker.

Cool Hand Luke was directed by Stuart Rosenberg and written by Donn Pearce and France Pierson. The music was done by Lalo Schifrin and cinematography by Conrad Hall.

Cool Hand Luke was released in 1967. It is a story that pays tribute to the human spirit, and its need to be free. Donn Pearce, and Frank Pierson wrote the script, and Stuart Rosenberg directed this film. Paul Newman plays the lead role, i.e., the role of Cool Hand Luke. Other stars include George Kennedy (as Dragline), Strother Martin (as Captain), Charles Tyner (as prison guard/Boss Higgins), John McLiam ( as prison guard/Boss Keen), Morgan Woodward (as Boss Godfrey), Lou Antonio (as Koko), and J.D. Cannon (as Society Red).