I think Paul Newman was inspired in this role. Cool Hand Luke is a non-conformist, that guy who never backs down. We've probably all known someone like that, this movie epitomises that quality in a fascinating setting, life on a chain gang in Florida; the film smacks of authenticity.
After seeing it, I read the book. It was fascinating discovering what did and didn't make it into the movie.
Donn Pearce based his novel on his experiences as a convict in Florida in the early 1950s. He is the narrator known as Sailor in the book who tells about a legendary convict, Cool Hand Luke, who went against the grain refusing to have his spirit broken. In the book, Luke is already gone; the story is based on the prisoners' memories of him.
In an interview, Pearce, who had a hand in writing the screenplay, revealed that Luke was based on a real character, they did not meet and he was only told about him. Maybe it gave him free reign to create the legend.
Pearce attributed some things he witnessed to Luke's character. The fight between Dragline (George Kennedy) and Luke isn't in the book, Dragline loved 'mah boy' from the get go. But Pearce witnessed the meanness of the guards; the walking bosses. The build-up of resentment to Luke's defiance is nastier in the book. The Captain, "Git your minds right", and the guard in the reflective glasses, "The Boss with No Eyes", are straight from Pearce.
Lalo Schifrin's captivating score is built around a lilting banjo theme capturing Pearce's descriptions of Luke's ability with the instrument. Schifrin also captures Luke's unbreakable spirit as he shows the gang that the way to beat their degrading condition was to perform more than required.
The film only mentions that Luke had been a war hero. In the novel, Pearce's anecdotes about Luke's combat were possibly gleaned from veterans shooting the breeze. It wasn't first-hand knowledge, underage, Pearce was actually pulled from the army.
However, when you read Pearce's descriptions of the pandemonium when a prisoner escaped, you know the guy saw these things. The book is full of detail about life on a rural chain gang and the mindset of the prisoners. They inhabit almost an alternate reality with their guards.
There are odd protocols, and even language: "Gettin' up Boss", "Shakin' it Boss". Pearce gave the film all that, but he also felt the film unnecessarily alluded to the social issues of the 1960's. The book is more pragmatic; the prisoners try to get by with the least amount of pain - except Luke.
Pearce may even have been a little like Luke. The final third of his book is riveting. Rosenberg's film simply had to recreate those vivid scenes to give this film its unique quality.
The ending in the film didn't need those repeat images of Luke smiling, it missed the life-goes-on sadness of the novel, but Paul Newman created a memorable character. Loners and rebels are a staple of movies, but Newman's Luke eclipsed most, thanks in no small part to Pearce's powerful storytelling.
After seeing it, I read the book. It was fascinating discovering what did and didn't make it into the movie.
Donn Pearce based his novel on his experiences as a convict in Florida in the early 1950s. He is the narrator known as Sailor in the book who tells about a legendary convict, Cool Hand Luke, who went against the grain refusing to have his spirit broken. In the book, Luke is already gone; the story is based on the prisoners' memories of him.
In an interview, Pearce, who had a hand in writing the screenplay, revealed that Luke was based on a real character, they did not meet and he was only told about him. Maybe it gave him free reign to create the legend.
Pearce attributed some things he witnessed to Luke's character. The fight between Dragline (George Kennedy) and Luke isn't in the book, Dragline loved 'mah boy' from the get go. But Pearce witnessed the meanness of the guards; the walking bosses. The build-up of resentment to Luke's defiance is nastier in the book. The Captain, "Git your minds right", and the guard in the reflective glasses, "The Boss with No Eyes", are straight from Pearce.
Lalo Schifrin's captivating score is built around a lilting banjo theme capturing Pearce's descriptions of Luke's ability with the instrument. Schifrin also captures Luke's unbreakable spirit as he shows the gang that the way to beat their degrading condition was to perform more than required.
The film only mentions that Luke had been a war hero. In the novel, Pearce's anecdotes about Luke's combat were possibly gleaned from veterans shooting the breeze. It wasn't first-hand knowledge, underage, Pearce was actually pulled from the army.
However, when you read Pearce's descriptions of the pandemonium when a prisoner escaped, you know the guy saw these things. The book is full of detail about life on a rural chain gang and the mindset of the prisoners. They inhabit almost an alternate reality with their guards.
There are odd protocols, and even language: "Gettin' up Boss", "Shakin' it Boss". Pearce gave the film all that, but he also felt the film unnecessarily alluded to the social issues of the 1960's. The book is more pragmatic; the prisoners try to get by with the least amount of pain - except Luke.
Pearce may even have been a little like Luke. The final third of his book is riveting. Rosenberg's film simply had to recreate those vivid scenes to give this film its unique quality.
The ending in the film didn't need those repeat images of Luke smiling, it missed the life-goes-on sadness of the novel, but Paul Newman created a memorable character. Loners and rebels are a staple of movies, but Newman's Luke eclipsed most, thanks in no small part to Pearce's powerful storytelling.