Coogan's Bluff (1968)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Don Siegel

Writers:

Herman Miller (screenplay) &
Dean Riesner (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

2 October 1968 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime

Tagline:

Before "Dirty Harry"... there was Coogan.

Plot:

Coogan, an Arizona cop, is sent to New York to collect a prisoner. Everyone in New York assumes Coogan is from Texas...

Plot Keywords:

New York | Escape | Police | Fish Out Of Water | Probation Officer

US TV Schedule:

Wed. July 15	1:30 AM	AMC
Wed. July 15	10:15 AM	AMC

Cast

Clint Eastwood	...	Deputy Sheriff Walt Coogan
Lee J. Cobb	...	Det. Lt. McElroy, NYPD
Susan Clark	...	Julie Roth, Probation Officer
Tisha Sterling	...	Linny Raven, Ringerman's Girlfriend
Don Stroud	...	James Ringerman
Betty Field	...	Ellen Ringerman
Tom Tully	...	Sheriff McCrea, Piute County
Melodie Johnson	...	Millie, Coogan's Girlfriend
James Edwards	...	Sgt. Wallace, Stakeout Cop
Rudy Diaz	...	Running Bear
David Doyle	...	Pushie, Tavern Owner (as David F. Doyle)
Louis Zorich	...	Taxi Driver
Meg Myles	...	Big Red
Marjorie Bennett	...	Mrs. Fowler, Little Old Lady
Seymour Cassel	...	Joe, Young Hood

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Spain:18 | Singapore:NC-16 | West Germany:16 (re-rated) (DVD) | West Germany:18 (f) | USA:Approved (certificate #21735) | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 (1993) | Norway:16 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R (re-rating) (1968)

Filming Locations:

23rd Precinct Building, 23rd Precinct, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Malpaso Company, The

Trivia:

Was the inspiration for the TV series "McCloud" (1970) starring Dennis Weaver,

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Lampposts: The movie is set in New York yet shows side street lighting usually found in San Francisco. By 1967, half of New York had replaced street lighting with new aluminum poles, and those that had not been replaced would have seen the more common 'bishops crook' masts or 'long arm' poles.

Quotes:

Mrs. Ellen Ringerman: [angry] Who do you think you are? Stupid-looking Texan coming in here with your fancy cowboy get-up, fancy boots, fancy hat... do you know what you are?
Coogan: Fancy!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Eastwood & Co.: Making 'Unforgiven' (1992) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Everybody

A good, exciting action picture that mixes the western and the city crime drama.

The film borrows from the older city crime dramas adding a new twist, Eastwood's character, a police lieutenant from Arizona who will use any means to apprehend his prey. This film, shot on a relativley tight budget in New York City, captures the dark side of New York City in the late 60's, amidst the "free love" atmosphere. Particularly notable are the sharp fight sequences, the amazing sequence at the "Pidgeon Toed Orange Peel" dance club, and the chase sequence at the Cloisters. This film inspired the "Dirty Harry" series, and also paved the way for cowboy in the big city flicks such as "Midnight Cowboy" (and there are a few interesting resemblances). An overall exciting picture that should keep your interest.