Cool Hand Luke
Regie:
Stuart RosenbergKamera:
Conrad L. HallMusik:
Lalo SchifrinBesetzung:
Paul Newman, George Kennedy, J.D. Cannon, Lou Antonio, Robert Drivas, Strother Martin, Jo Van Fleet, Clifton James, Luke Askew, Morgan Woodward (mehr)Streaming (3)
Inhalte(1)
Wegen des Demolierens von Parkuhren bekommt der heimatlose Kriegsveteran Luke zwei Jahre Arbeitslager aufgebrummt. Mit cleverem Pokerspiel und verrückten Esswetten verschafft sich der rebellische Luke bald den Respekt der Mithäftlinge. Doch dann zieht er den Hass des Direktors und der Wärter auf sich. Luke beginnt seine Flucht zu planen. Ein viel zu hohes Urteil für das Demolieren von Parkuhren. Wegen dieses Vergehens wird der heimatlose Kriegsveteran Luke (Paul Newman) zu zwei Jahre Arbeitslager verurteilt. Dort macht der Einzelgänger schnell Bekanntschaft mit der Hierarchie unter den Inhaftierten. Ihr Anführer ist der bullige Dragline (George Kennedy), der dem Neuen sogleich bei einem brutalen Boxkampf die Grenzen aufzeigt. So leicht lässt sich der unberechenbare Luke aber nicht unterkriegen. Seine Stärken liegen woanders, etwa beim Pokern oder in der Annahme verrückter Esswetten. Mit der Zeit akzeptieren die Mithäftlinge Luke. Auch Dragline sieht ein, dass er ihm zumindest intellektuell unterlegen ist. Doch als Luke beginnt, die Strafinsassen gegen die unwürdigen Bedingungen im Lager aufzuwiegeln, schafft er sich mächtige Feinde. Mit Einzelhaft und Schikane wollen der Gefängnisdirektor und die Wärter den Rebellen disziplinieren. Luke unternimmt einen ersten vergeblichen Ausbruchsversuch, auch die zweite Flucht misslingt. Lukes unbeugsamer Charakter scheint damit gebrochen. Oder handelt es sich dabei nur um einen weiteren seiner Tricks? (ServusTV)
(mehr)Kritiken (7)
A role that I believe was written right on that blue-eyed playboy’s body. A dude who gets up undefeated even after the toughest uppercut. The scenes with the egg eating, the asphalting of a road and the hole digging are masterpieces.
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Cool Hand Luke is one of the most perfect prototypes of indomitable human spirit ever depicted on the movie screen. While it can't be denied that its formal pace, which was relaxed and clearly reflected the protagonist's state of mind thirty years ago, is now somewhat stretched, that can easily be overlooked when we focus on the absolutely fantastic performance by Paul Newman in the lead role. In his career-defining performance, he delivers charming smiles and mischievous glances with his bright blue eyes, making even the most hardened cynic crack a smile. With the skilled support of George Kennedy in his Oscar-winning role and the entire cast of inmates and prison guards, they created the most endearing gang of criminals. Cool Hand Luke becomes the ultimate cool experience that is simply irresistible when you're in the right mood for it. It’s interesting to note that the word "fuck" is not mentioned even once.
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For nearly thirty years before Shawshank, film prisoners had hope. And Luke never took it away from them. Despite the calm pace, the story of invincibility, desire, and the familiar urge to do something captivated everyone. Besides, Newman's smile got to me so much that I would go to a similar facility to be locked up with this gang right away if I could. Just to experience that almost animalistic mixture of emotions. I can eat fifty eggs.
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An extraordinarily impressive drama about the cost of human freedom and dignity, set in the prison environment of the United States in the 1960s. Those mirrored glasses on the guard's eyes will stay in my memory for a long time. One of Paul Newman's pivotal roles. Overall impression: 90%.
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A heavy-handedly narrated prison drama with solid atmosphere, Paul Newman's mesmerizing face and a specific feel-good vibe. Good as a precursor to The Shawshank Redemption, but hand on heart, Darabont's opus tells the story of get busy livin' or get busy dyin' more comprehensively and on a whole other level.
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The jailbreak is certainly one of the most widely used themes in Hollywood, it could almost be called a safe bet. Cool Hand Luke, however, beats its great competition without any trouble and clearly deserves its status of an undying legend. Of course, the main credit goes to the phenomenal Paul Newman, who doesn't even have to act – he’s that cool – the other actors could run around and dance on the set completely naked and nobody would even notice thanks to that foxy smile and bright blue eyes. Moreover, behind the camera, director Rosenberg orchestrates his life's work of longing for freedom, friendship, endurance and cruelty with such confidence that I'm beginning to suspect who Frank Darabont had as his filmmaking model. It can’t compete with Shawshank Redemption, but it’s still AWESOME.
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"A film that is only a small step away from perfection. Paul Newman portrayed this role incredibly naturally, mainly through minimalist acting. The overall plot is brilliantly structured, with a depressive progression that ultimately leads to what was inevitable. And yet, at the end, I didn't have the feeling that everything turned out completely wrong. For that, the excellent George Kennedy could also be credited."
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