“Cool Hand Luke” is a prison movie. It is also a movie about the difficulties that returning war veterans have in adapting to civilian life.
The main character in the movie, “Lucas (Luke) Jackson” (Paul Newman in one of his most celebrated roles), is a returning World War II war hero. It was obvious to me from the start, that Luke is suffering from shell shock, which has created in him a deep feeling of distrust to all types of authority. His time in prison works to enhance his anxiety. Luke comes from a small southern town, where one night while drunk, he decides that it would be entertaining to cut off the tops of all the parking meters in the town. For this prank he is sentenced to two years of hard labor, at a prison chain gang, located in the hot South. From there the film follows a storyline that will become iconic and repeated in later films, such as, “The Shawshank Redemption”. In fact, that celebrated film, owes quite a lot to, “Cool Hand Luke”. Initially Luke is looked upon like a weak pretty boy but will gain the overriding respect of the small group of convicts. This is the early 1950’s, and the jail is segregated to hold white people only. It is also a small prison holding what seem like only 50 prisoners. None of which seem to be of the hard-core type. Regardless of how dangerous the prisoners are, the prison is run by a cruel sadistic captain (Strother Martin in a wonderful performance) and a silent sunglass wearing enforcer called the walking boss (Morgan Woodward). The de facto prisoner leader is the big bodied “Dragline” (George Kennedy in a well-deserved Oscar winning performance). Dragline initially distrusts Luke’s sarcasm and aura of superiority, but will learn to respect and even love him. This is shown through a prison approved, and staged fist fight between the two, where the much bigger Dragline easily defeats Luke, but is impressed as to how Luke never gives up. The fight is one of the many memorable scenes found in the movie. The prisoners work as part of a chain gang, outside, in a brutally hot summer environment, clearing weed bushes and setting up tar for the preparation of building roads.
The movie takes its time in developing Luke’s character byway of a family visit of his dying mother. It is in fact how he is treated by the Captain after his mother dies that drives him to constantly attempt to escape. No prison movie would be complete without at least one escape attempt and, “Cool Hand Luke”, is no exception. Luke get’s the moniker from Dragline of being “Cool Hand”, after he successfully bluffs his way into winning a poker game with the other prisoners. It is Luke’s coolness, so to speak, that in my opinion is based upon his silent reflections and inner turmoil caused by the horrors he witnessed in the war. War destroys even its survivors and this movie is a testament to that reality. Newman give a brilliant, understated performance to his Luke. It is one of his best performances, and I also felt the simmering turmoil underneath the characters consistent smile.
There are many iconic scenes that have served as inspirations to future prison films. One example is the egg eating contest, which is funny and grotesque at the same time, where Luke bets the entire camp that he can eat 50 eggs in one sitting. There is also one scene where Luke convinces everyone to work faster in throwing sand on a newly paved road so that they complete the job two hours early, giving them the sweet victory of doing nothing but drinking a cold drink for two hours. “The Shawshank Redemption would copy this in that movie’s, roof tarring scene. There is also the famous quote made by the captain when he loses all patience with Luke. Even people who have never seen the movie are familiar with the, “What we’ve got here is failure to communicate”, quote, and its veiled threat.
Another element of the movie that separates it from other prison films that have used it as an inspiration, is the extreme religious element contained in the script. References to Christianity are all over the place in the movie. None more so then when as Luke completes his egg eating stunt, he lies on his bed in the exact same pose as the crucifixion. Luke will also argue directly with God, while at the same time relaying his deep belief in Gods existence. There is a bit of the book of Job, in Luke. The ending also hints at religious sacrifice for others.
As directed by Stuart Rosenberg, “Cool Hand Luke”, is not a Hollywood sanitized treatment of prison life. The harsh life and extreme heat are emphasized in the wide-angle scenes that feature views of the extreme white sun and unflattering depictions of sweat. The prisoners are mostly shirtless, but their unclothed state serves to emphasis dirt and suffering, rather then anything close to sex appeal. There is another scene where a sexy woman washes her car across the street from the prisoner’s chain gang. She wears a tight revealing dress and makes sure the dress gets soaked in all the right locations. I could feel the prisoners pent up sexual frustration in this brilliantly staged scene. Rosenberg made a few good films but would never come close to matching the aesthetic touch he brings to this, only his third movie.
“Cool Hand Luke” is an entertaining prison drama, that contains religious metaphorical themes along with strong character development and has something to say about humanity. That is why the movie never feels dated making it a phenomenal motion picture experience.
1001 Movies before you die 