A 60s version of the private eye genre – instead of disheveled Bogart we have Paul Newman in a jacket and tie, constantly putting his feet up on furniture and acting casual (insolent may be more appropriate). He has an ex-wife, a smart mouth, and a code of honour, so you kind of know his mate is going to betray him, even if then it was new.
William Goldman wrote the screenplay which bears his marks: flip dialogue, lots of sarcasm, use of reversals (eg Bob Wagner tries to burst in the door which Newman then opens), solid structure, wacky characters, sexpot women. Strong support cast, with Lauren Bacall in a wheelchair, Julie Harris as a drug addict, Shelley Winters as an alcoholic, Robert Webber as a prick, Pamela Tiffin (gorgeous, big hair) does a shimmy dance in a bikini on a diving board (she’s pretty good in the role – what happened to her?). Best of all is Robert Wagner as the cheerful, boyish secretary keen to help Harper investigate – he has a big secret. Has that great 60s colour photography and slightly arty violent scenes. A bit smart-arsey at times and it seems to run out of steam when Wagner dies, but watchable regardless.
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