Harpers what makes a movie great

So if you're curious, see this film, you will enjoy same. The wife thinks that he's ran off with another woman but soon Harper begins to feel that he was kidnapped.

The film noir genre had pretty much dried up during the 50s and many considered HARPER a nice throwback to those days where flawed men got caught up in bizarre crime cases. All of the noir elements are on hand here but of course this was updated to the decade as it was in color, shot 2. The best thing going for the film is the terrific cast with Newman leading the way with another strong performance.

He certainly has the right attitude for the part and I thought he was very believable in the part. That laid back style certainly shines through. The supporting cast includes a nice turn by Bacall who gets to play her age and does it quite well.

Janet Leigh only appears in a couple scenes but she's good as Newman's estranged wife. Shelley Winters is also very good in her small part as is Strother Martin.

I've never fully loved the film like some people as I think there are some flaws along the way. One such flaw is the first forty minutes of the movie are good but just nothing overly special. I think it's the second half where things start to pick up and especially once Harper finds himself over his head. Another issue I had with the film is some of the humor, which just doesn't work at all. In the somewhat confusing "Harper", Paul Newman plays the title detective who gets hired to find a kidnapped man.

As this was back in Newman's heyday, we might all think that we want to check this out as a historical reference at the very least. The truth is, "Harper" doesn't seem to be much else.

It's not any kind of masterpiece the way that "Hud" or "Cool Hand Luke" were. It seems like a way to pass time more than anything, but just how many detective movies can there be? An OK movie, I guess. I mainly decided to try this film because it was recommended and the leading star was appealing, even with not much knowledge of the plot.

Basically Mrs. As he searches for Mr. Sampson he meets all the people who may have been last to have seen him, all an assortment unsavoury characters. He also gets himself into some scrapes and difficult situations, and doesn't seem to be getting any closer to actually finding Mr. Samspon, in fact, in the end he doesn't. Newman does a confident performance, the direction is pacey in moments, it is a detective thriller with some good moments.

Very good! Woodyanders 26 February Laidback private detective Lew Harper superbly played with biting cynical wit by Paul Newman gets hired by bitter wealthy lady Elaine Sampson a fine snarky portrayal by Lauren Bacall to find her no-count missing husband.

Harper's subsequent investigation finds him sifting through the dark underbelly of Los Angeles, with all kinds of peril and colorful low-lives at every turn. Director Jack Smight relates the absorbing and intricate story at a steady pace, makes excellent use of assorted sunny L.

William Goldman's crafty script boasts lots of zingy one-liners and a tricky, yet still engrossing plot. Newman's highly engaging and easygoing persona keeps things humming throughout. Kudos are also in order for Johnny Mandel's groovy score and Conrad L. Hall's crisp widescreen cinematography. An on the money winner. This is very much like a late s film noir, except it's filmed in the mid s. It has that same edgy dialog and feel to it as private eye "Lew Harper" goes looking for a missing man.

His character is based on Ross McDonald's best-selling P. Then there's the overweight has-been entertainer "Fay Esterbrook" Shelly Winters , the druggie jazz singer "Betty Fraley" Julie Harris , the New Age scam artist "Claude" Strother Martin and a bunch of gangsters and thugs who are the obvious targets.

Of them all, I though Winters was the biggest hoot. Along the way, Newman wins all the verbal bouts but loses the physical contests. He zings everyone with some great put-downs, but takes a physical beating a few times, too. He sports a nice shiner in the last half of the film. This film will put you smack into the time period, when people danced "The Frug" and referred to cops as "the fuzz.

In here, at least, he's old school, tough, relentless and suspicious of everyone Johnny Mandel's music score adds to the "coolness" of this film, too. It ought to have everything going for it. What a cast! And they're all good -- with Paul Newman's Lou Harper at the top of his game, and, somewhere closer to her usual norm, Pamela Tiffen.

Newman's performance is among his best. He's a gum-chewing cynical PI who's determined the find the truth behind the disappearance of millionaire Sampson. He has all the necessary tics, nudges, winks, and shrugs.

And he registers exquisite pain when somebody clobbers him. There is, for instance, a scene in which a big thug named Puddler sucker punches Newman in a bar, then takes him out back and begins to deliver one or two heavy, deliberately placed body blows.

Wagner sneaks up on Puddler, knocks him out, then gaily begins to help Newman walk back to his car. But Newman groans and leans against the wall, puffing and holding his belly, and begs Wagner, "Wait a minute. Shelly Winters is equally good in a comic role as an overripe over-the-hill ex-movie star and alcoholic. I can't imagine anyone doing better than Winters when she's berating a hotel orchestra for not playing La Cucaracha, shouting that they can't be REAL "Mescins" or they'd have their guitars, and then stumbling off the platform.

Shelly Winters is often nailed for spoiling the pictures she's in but I'm not sure why. Her whining evokes both irritation and pathos. She's brought some pizazz to some other films she's been in too. Ham should always be considered a part of any proper buffet. So why doesn't the picture come together? Why is the sum less than its parts. Where is the subtrahend? It has a flattish made-for-TV quality.

Settings are all comfortably upscale, as in an episode of "Colombo. Compare "Chinatown" or "Farewell My Lovely. Type keyword s to search. Today's Top Stories. Goodbye to All That. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below. Giraffe Pictures. Paul Schiff Productions.

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