In this classic Southern prison drama, social misfit Lucas "Luke" Jackson (Paul Newman) is incarcerated for a petty crime and sentenced to a chain gang. Luke is a sullen and laconic young man whose cool defiance of the sadistic warden and bullying inmates earns him the title "Cool Hand Luke." But as the prisoners' respect for Luke grows into hero worship, he finds that he must risk everything in order to live up to their expectations. Filled with dozens of memorable scenes (Luke eating 50 eggs) and quotable lines ("What we have here is a failure to communicate."), COOL HAND LUKE is a testament to excellent screenwriting (Donn Pearce and Frank Pierson) and Newman's charm and skill as an actor. The film also features an outstanding supporting cast that includes George Kennedy, Strother Martin, and early screen appearances by Dennis Hopper and Harry Dean Stanton.

Filmed in Panavision near Stockton, California; color by Technicolor.

Jalem Films is actor Jack Lemmon's production company.

Excerpt: "What we have here is a failure to communicate."--Captain (Strother Martin) to Luke (Paul Newman)

"Small town, not much to do in the evenin'."--Luke, explaining why he cut the heads off parking meters

"I can eat fifty eggs."--Luke
"Nobody can eat fifty eggs."--Dragline (George Kennedy)

"Wish you'd stop bein' so good to me, cap'n." Luke to Captain, after he's been put in chains

"He's a natural born world-shaker."--Dragline, about Luke

DVD Features:

Region 1
Snap Case
Anamorphic Widescreen - 2.35
Full Frame - 1.33
Letterbox - 1.85
Audio:
Dolby Digital Mono - English
Dolby Digital Mono - French
Dolby Digital Mono - Spanish
Additional Release Material:
Trailers: Original Theatrical Trailer
Interactive Features:
Scene Access
Interactive Menus
Text/Photo Galleries:
Production Notes

Paul Newman: Oscar-winning American actor, THE COLOR OF MONEY
George Kennedy: American actor, COOL HAND LUKE
Strother Martin: American Supporting Actor
Jo Van Fleet: American Actress
J.D. Cannon: 
Lou Antonio: Film & TV Director/Actor
Robert Drivas: Supporting Actor
Clifton James: Star, Film and TV movies/appearances, '50s-90s, LONE STAR
Morgan Woodward: Supporting Actor
Luke Askew: American Character Actor
Dennis Hopper: American actor/director
Harry Dean Stanton: American character actor
Joe Don Baker: American Actor, WALKING TALL

Stuart Rosenberg: 

Gordon Carroll: 

Donn Pearce: Novelist/Screenwriter
Frank Pierson: Screenwriter, Director, mid '60s-early '90s, COOL HAND LUKE

Lalo Schifrin: American Composer, THE BEGUILED (1971)

Sam O'Steen: American Editor/Director, THE GRADUATE (1967)

"...This is a fantastic ensemble piece led by a career-high performance from Newman and stylish direction from Rosenberg..." -- 5 out of 5 stars
"...Paul Newman had one of his best roles....Much of the fun today comes from eyeing minor players. Newman's fellow rock-splitters include Dennis Hopper and Richard Davalos..."
4 stars out of 5 -- "Simultaneously biting and blithe....Newman's effortless performance drives things..."
"Paul Newman enjoys one of his finest hours as the endlessly defiant convict in Stuart Rosenberg's prison-set drama."
"Surrounded by such great character actors as Dennis Hopper and Strother Martin...Newman has never looked more godlike." -- Grade: B+
4 stars out of 5 -- "As a supreme showcase for Paul Newman's charisma, COOL HAND LUKE is pure magic....It was impeccably cast, superbly acted, [and] beautifully shot by Conrad Hall."