One of the best movies ever made. The genre or story might not be for everyone but everything about the production, from acting to directing to everything about the setting and atmosphere, it all just seems perfectly done.

Thanks Madison. Luke seemed to be a chaotic person, but he was a seeker. His war record proves that he was able to perform at the highest level but only when he had a meaningful mission in life. The problem is Luke found no meaning in day to day life in post WWII America. The conversation with his mother shows he was an exceptional person but found no meaningful role. His conversation with God in the chapel shows he hoped for spiritual meaning, but there was a block in his makeup that prevented finding it. The other major theme is how the prisoners dealt with someone like Luke. They couldn't develop their own identies, they had to live off an illusion they had of Luke. This was also a burden to Luke. He didn't have equal companions that were looking for meaning, like he was. They could only live off a fantasy they projected onto Luke. The camp and the guards represent how society deals with an exceptional person like Luke. They need to shut him down, keep him contained, so his influence is nullified.

Really have to recommend Paul Newman's 1982 film THE VERDICT. He was nominated for an Oscar for it. It's quite exceptional.

Finally someone reacts to this incredible movie. George Kennedy was on fire during this time. Him and Harry Dean Stanton are a caliber of actor you just don't see very often. Oh, and Strother Martin. The late 60s, through a good part of the 70s, had some remarkable movies made.

Robert Redford, Paul Newman and Steve McQueen.... Can't do no better than those three.... McQueen stars with Dustin Hoffman in a true account prison movie called "Papillon" that shouldn't be missed.... Set in the 1930s in French Guiana, the story of Papillon's struggles and hardships to be a free man again. ❤ 🏆 🎥

I believe Luke is angelic figure who offers hope for Dragline and the rest of the men. The warden and the man in the glasses are like devilish figures, draining the will and humanity from the prisoners. It's a classic fight of good and evil that is shown in the position Luke is in after eating all of the eggs.

I've always been a Paul Newman fan but this is the movie that made me find out more about Harry Dean Stanton. I think you would love finding about more Harry too. Like you, Harry was multi talented. He had the midas touch as well. The sheer number of movies that Harry had a part in, large or small, that were historically significant, even considered masterpieces is unbelievable for an actor that the majority of folks don't even know his name. Check out his filmography and then, once that blows you away, listen to his music. Cheers, another great reaction!

One of my favorites! There’s no failure to communicate my Love of the classics!

George Kennedy deservedly won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

Just about everybody in this extensive cast is quite recognizable. I love when well-established actors show up in early movies in their careers. Nice reaction, Madison. Thank you.

One of the earliest Anti-Hero films. We'd see dozens more into the '70s. George Kennedy was such a jewel in this film, and I didn't realize it for a couple of decades of his other films. CHARADE is a preceding film and that gives us a hint of his character flexibility. I don't rewatch this film even every decade, but I forget it is literally filled with B-movie and TV cast members for a couple of decades.

To break a man's spirit is truly a heartbreaking thing (I know; I'm living proof) and when you have literally nothing to lose that is a harrowing prospect to live with. Being 'cool' is a metaphor for one to remain sane in a crazy world and yes Luke was rudderless in his life yet fit in with the brotherhood of the prisoners by default. Paul Newman is one of my fave actors (and human beings) and this film cemented his stardom. I urge you to read his new autobiography - very impressive. I recommend THE HUSTLER, HUD, & my fave of his canon THE VERDICT. Such a naturally gifted man and again a beautiful human being. Glad you got to this Mads.

A very quotable classic with a very distinguished supporting cast. I remember when one music cue was used as a news program theme. I even had occasion to cite this film when analyzing "Portrait of a Lady on Fire."

The hard boiled egg scene is always hard for me to watch. I can feel how he is feeling. Whew!!! Paul Newman was a great actor.

Madison, if you're curious to see early Paul Newman you should watch the film which "made him" in Hollywood. "The Hustler" (1961) That role proved he was more than a pretty face.

To get the full impact of this movie, you should remember there was rebellion against the establishment and authority. Riots in the cities, the war in Vietnam. This movie was one of the first to tap into that.

The boxing scene towards the beginning was his establishing character moment. It showed that Luke is the kind of guy who doesn't give up. Even when everybody else around him is telling him to give up, he doesn't give up. Whether it's boxing, egg eating or prison escaping, he doesn't give up no matter how much pain it gives him. That's what makes Cool Hand Luke a truly great role model.

The great character actor STROTHER MARTIN (the prison warden) was in many Newman films. He had the distinction in 1969 to be in 3 blockbuster westerns including TRUE GRIT, BUTCH CASSIDY and THE SUNDANCE KID and THE WILD BUNCH. Not too shabby!

two Paul Newman flicks, my personal favorites ....The Hustler ..and ..The Color Of Money. these two are actually part 1 & part 2 set YEARS apart. part 2 also stars a young Tom Cruise. both are very good films

Madison, thanks for checking out this classic movie. I saw this in film class, but think I would have been as mystified as you as to understanding Luke's motivations/the bigger themes in this movie at first watch. What is easy to miss is all of the Christian symbolism in this movie - there are several uses of such imagery (Luke's splayed at on the table after the egg scene as if splayed on a crucifix is the easiest to spot) and biblical references (e.g., the guy with the sunglasses is essentially God). Luke represents a Jesus figure - he performs a series of "miracles" (eating 50 eggs, withstanding the fight with Dragline, etc.) that lead to his worship by his prison mates. They later denounce him when he doesn't live up to *their* expectations, but is ultimately "deified" in death. I suggest looking up some analyses of the film's themes/symbols - really leads to a much deeper appreciation of one of the all-time greatest movies ever in my opinion.

This is a badass movie!

The book this movie is based off of gives alot more insight into Luke's character. He was always a lost soul, but ww2 really changed him. He did some truly awful things in the war, and not under orders, some involving females. He was no Saint. And he never recovered. He could not handle authority either, not many soldiers come out as decorated as him, and are still a private. Just a story about a man who lost his way. Great reaction, thank you.

Love this movie!

He does have a worthy cause, he gave these men hope!

That green light turning red… best shot in the history of cinema.

Great reaction..please watch Newman as Brick in. Cat On A Hot Tin Roof..Tennessee Williams brilliant play and movie. Elizabeth Taylor plays Maggie the Cat..magnificently..also The Verdict with Newman is not to be missed..

"What we got here is a failure to communicate" that sample is used in the Guns-n-Roses song Civil War and it's great.

First, big 👍 on Lonesome Dove. Luke was the quintessential loner protagonist at a time when Hollywood was about to explode with them. Following years of westerns where the loner cleaned up the town or rode off into the sunset after saving the widow from the evil land grabber, the protagonist's fate was not a happy one. Easy Rider, Vanishing Point, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest ... just to name a few.

Please give the STAR TREK franchise a chance. 🖖🙂

“The Horse Whisperer” with Robert Redford is excellent and it’s Scarlet Johansson’s first movie and both of them do great jobs in it.

I’ve loved this movie since I was a kid. I think that he just fell through the cracks and didn’t care anymore. He lost hope and did know how feel anymore. I’ve acted like him in many phases of my life

Amazing masterpiece Cool Hand Luke starring Paul Newman and George Kennedy and of course the iconic line "What We Got Here is Failure to Communicate". Thank you Madison great reaction excellent😊👍👍👍

A huge ensemble of great character actors in this movie.

Thank you for reacting to this. It’s a all time classic. Paul Newman just at the top of his game. Please find time to do The Hustler next. Mr Newman and George C Scott put on a clinic about acting, with a side dose of Jackie Gleason.

Another classic "The Grapes of Wrath"... During the depression era.

Paul Newman made a ton of great movies but ROAD TO PERDITION, his final movie, is particularly great for getting a complete pespective on this iconic actor. I hghly recommend it. The Thomas Newman score is awesome, too.

Saw this film when it came out. I was 5 years old. The egg scene has never left me.

The mention of him being a war hero. I get the impression this film was about PTSD before PTSD was a thing. In the 1950s the term 'beatnik' originally referred to young men returning from WWII who were so beat-down by the experience that they couldn't function in society.

Excellent. I can remove this movie from my list of movies which haven't had a reaction but needed one. If you want more Paul Newman, his next 2 classics needing a reaction are THE HUSTLER and its sequel THE COLOR OF MONEY.

Thank you, Madison. This is one of my very favorites of all time. The movie is meant to be deep. I’ve enjoyed reading the opinions in the comments, and, for sure, I enjoyed your analysis. I can relate to Luke. I see him as a man who, somewhere along the way, maybe because of the war, missed out on his calling or some kind of opportunity. It’s like he knew his talents would forever be unused and unnoticed. This made him feel helpless, yet, he couldn’t help but try to have fun and smile about almost anything. He would become popular wherever he was, yet he felt empty and lost.

Definitely check out The Hustler 1961 , besides Newman's great performance George C Scott , Jackie Gleason and Piper Laurie made an amazing cast

Great reaction as always Madison. If you're interested in another great prison escape film might I recommend "Papillon" from 1973 starring Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman? A great film, I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

"callin' it your job don't make it right, Boss." "Stop feeding off me."

Loved your reaction to this classic film,I don’t know if you recognized the actor who was the first to spend a night in the box played the father in the Waltons.

Finally..... 1 of my favorites! Such a great classis. 👍👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

One of the classic films of all time, and most quotable. Also, catch Luke's search for faith and the Christian symbolism throughout- lying on the table in a crusifixed postition, the picture of Luke and the girls with a cross creased over his face. I commend you for watching an older film like this. Many younger reviewers avoid older films and as such, miss out on a lot. Cheers!

The Road to Perdition is a must watch, starring Paul Newman and Tom Hanks

Paul Newman is the one actor whom I will watch in ANY of his performances. The best.

Clint Eastwood "Outlaw Josey Wales". One of my favorites of all time. Western, drama, humorous, sad, great characters, and well written. Everything in it I think you would like Madison. It is Clint Eastwood's favorite movie too and he directed it. Never gets old.

One of the most iconic films ever made top 50 of all time. Many stars in this one, George Kennedy won supporting actor.

Back in the day, I worked at a local movie theater as an usher. This movie ran a couple of months. I know the dialog inside out and would regale my friends in school without them requesting it. Anyway, this is as good as it gets and I appreciate your reaction.

This movie is SO freaking good, it has been all but lost in so many so-so films, this is a true classic and a masterpiece, I would personally recommend Cool Hand Luke to anyone who has discovered Paul Newman is actually a darn good actor, and just too cool; forgot Harry Dean Stanton was in this film

I've been a fan of your channel and subscribed ages ago, and I'm shocked I'm now finding this reaction. This is my favorite film.

Such a great movie! Thank you!

A lot of this film was shot on liberty rd in California. It's on the border of Amador County. I live right down the road. They shot toward the west, because to the east is foothills, like right there.

Paul Newman was an American treasure. Another film of his that is often overlooked is "Absence of Malice" with Sally Fields. Not a perfect film, but a very good understated performance from Newman.

Whenever I see someone doing a classic movie reaction I think ..."damn, that really was the best movie ever." And this one is no different. Great reaction Madison. (Esp your egg-cellent pun, and your somewhat shocked reaction at the end.) Now as to Lonesome Dove - YES!!!!!! Now I have to go and watch that reaction.

Great film. Such a loaded cast as well, a lot of talent. The DP was Conrad Hall, he would shoot Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid two years later. Hall also shot In Cold Blood (1967), a true story about two murderers awaiting execution (based on a Truman Capote book). It has Robert Blake and Scott Wilson in the leads. Hall accidentally discovered a lighting technique. A character is talking about something sad while it's raining outside the window. The light makes the rain running down the window cast a shadow on the actor. It looks like he's crying, but he isn't. The director loved it... a happy accident. You can find it on KZfaq as "In Cold Blood (1967) rain scene" if you don't watch the whole movie.

We might but this movie doesn't seem to age. It is one of my favorites

Hi Madison. I have 2 suggestions for you. Both Paul Newman movies and in both he plays the same character. In The Hustler Paul stars as a young pool player named Fast Eddie Felson. His co-star is Jackie Gleason who portrays real life legend Minnesota Fats, one of the greatest pool players and pool hustlers of all time. One night the two find themselves in the same pool hall and that is all I will tell you. Years later Paul portrays Fast Eddie again as an older man who has been out of the game for some years. He meets a brash young pool player/hustler played by Tom Cruise. That is The Color of Money. Both are wonderfully acted, and well worth the watch. Great reaction here as always.

This is my all-time favorite! Totally excited for lonesome Dove you're going to love it!

The guy who is put in "The Box", early in the movie is Ralph Waite, who played Pa Walton in "The Waltons".

This is my all time favorite movie. So glad you liked it. Amd looking so forward to lonesome dove. It's 6 hours but still watch it once a year it's very good. Book is amazing too

Finally someone is reacting to this!! Love your reaction!

Great movie. I went to work for Florida Division of Corrections in 1976 and the “prison slang” was exactly the same. The author of Cool Hand did time in a road prison in Tavares, Lake County, Florida. This story is based at a notorious road prison in Duval county. The prison hospital referred to was in Lake Butler in Bradford county a good hour drive.

Another amazing Paul Newman performance is in 'The Hustler' (1961) co-starring Jackie Gleason. Martin Scorsese's 1985 sequel 'The Color Of Money' is interesting too, with Newman and a young Tom Cruise.

I have loved this movie since I saw it. Your commentary I think was spot on. Luke was always looking for a fight or challenge. I think he was also looking for something he wanted to fight for. He kept testing the waters but never found it.

I was a 5th grader when this movie was theatrically released. The following year, our entire 6th grade class group (some 200 or so, both girls and boys) watched this film in an auditorium, the movie projected on a large screen from a 16mm print. I don't exactly remember the "moral lessons" talked about by one of the priests following the movie, but there certainly are several jumping off points. One could question why adult teachers would even think to show a PG13 movie to pre-teens, especially because of that car wash scene. I remember feeling embarrassed for that grown woman, and put off by the men leering, so perhaps it was the right age. I was never a fan of strip clubs as an adult. I went to one in my 20's, a co-worker's birthday party, and again felt embarrassed for that younger than me woman. Lesson learned, Catholic School.

I think the key to understanding this movie lies in remembering the decade it came out of. The '60s was a time when the counterculture became the culture. And Hollywood was always trying to tap into that spirit by introducing characters that were at complete odds with the system. Luke was just one of those cultural icons that caught on. Jeremiah Johnson was another, so was Billy Jack, Easy Rider, Jack Nicholson in all his late 60s early 70s movies, Steve McQueen in PAPILLON and THE SAND PEBBLES, the list is very long. And it all started I think back in the '50s with how immensely popular James Dean and Marlon Brando became after the release of REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE and THE WILD ONE.

Loved this one, Madison! Glad you're enjoying the train ride. 🙂 Looking good in the new lights!

"people are fickle." Truer words have never been spoken.

Lonesome Dove is a terrific miniseries

I feel like Luke wanted freedom so deeply in his bones that he had no control over that desire to be free, even if he didn't know what to do with it when he had it. Rebel without a cause incarnate. I think he really represents the classic American spirit. He fought til the end to remain himself, no matter what manner of control was levied against him. Freedom for the sake of it, good, bad or otherwise. Sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand. Long live Luke.

Don't forget a youngish Dennis Hopper. Who's great in many films including Hoosiers. And Wayne Rogers of M.A.S.H. tv fame. Always been one of my favorites.

Hombre, starring Paul Newman and Richard Boone is one of the great westerns imo, especially Newman's performance as John Russell.

You should do True Grit (2010). It's a western starring Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, Josh Brolin, and Barry Pepper. The soundtrack includes some Johnny Cash. It was directed by the same guys who did Fargo and No Country for Old Men. There's also the original one with John Wayne, Robert Duvall, and Glenn Campbell. Great movies.

Awesome movie. Cool Hand Luke was one of my older brother's favorite movie. Two other great Paul Newman movies: The Hustler; and The Color of Money; The Verdict

I'm sooooooo happy that you're reviewing this movie because it's an absolute MASTERPIECE yet nobody ever reviews in on KZfaq🙃 I love this movie & I'm glad you did too because it's kinda been lost & not many people today know about it but hopefully that begins to change 😎

One of my favs. Good character study. I like your take at the end. I think the contrast between military service and civilian is important because he had a purpose when serving and excelled at it. Came back to civilian life and couldn't adapt if not having a purpose.

Really touching reaction, Madison.

The Hustler..😉 Newman's magnum opus!

I've always felt this movie was a tad overlong, but I'm extremely glad to see this channel working through the Newman and Redford catalogue. So many great films between them which I'm sure this host will love.

If you remember, when the captain asked "why'd you do that?" (asking about his charge), his reply was, "just mostly settling old scores I guess"... I always took that as a hint that some authority figure somewhere had taken advantage of their authoritative position concerning him. Possibly towing his favorite vehicle, or maybe writing him one too many tickets that he couldn't afford (or felt like he didn't deserve) or something like that, and Luke's naturally rebellious nature just couldn't abide that, without striking back at the system that he felt had wronged or taken advantage of him. In other words, I don't really think that it was his actual intent to land himself in prison,, but once that wheel started rolling, his "one-up" nature and rebellious kind of personality just couldn't "go along to get along" enough to get him back out of the trouble he'd found himself in. In the end, he WAS right about one thing though.... "Sometimes 'nothing' can be a real cool hand". R.I.P. Paul Newman! 😔🙏 Great review btw! 👍

The sweatiest movie of all time. Great flick and fun reaction :)

You need to watch Newman opposite Liz Taylor in Cat On A Hot Tin Roof. Tennessee Williams softened his material for Hollywood, but it still packs a punch. Burl Ives reprises his stage role as Big Daddy Pollitt.

There was a short series on TV in UK a few years ago that tried to recreate things that may or may not have been actually possible in films. The 50 eggs thing in Cool Hand Luke was tried by making a simulated stomach. It couldn't be done. The number would have burst the stomach.

You're really going to like Lonesome Dove. In my opinion, the best thing ever put on film.

Cool Hand Luke was a hit on the screen, when it first came out. The ending was great, but sad. You mentioned Robert Redford. You should watch the Twilight Zone Episode called, NOTHING IN THE DARK. It's Robert Redford's breakout in the becoming a star. NOTHING IN THE DARK, was also the most widely seen episode of Twilight Zone, at least since Robert Redford was interviewed on the, "2014 Santa Barbara International Film Festival." It it is my favorite Twilight Zone episode. When Robert tells the old woman, "Mother, give me your hand," it gave me chills and goosebumps. "At the 2014 Santa Barbara International Film Festival, Redford stated he has been told by the production company of the series that it is the most often viewed episode of The Twilight Zone."

My pops loved this film.. and over time as I grew older and wiser..I grew to love it too. 👍🏾

A really good Robert Redford movie is Three Days of The Condor (1975] …and I don’t think anyone has reacted to it on KZfaq.

Hi Madison. So glad you're really enjoying the Newman & Redford films. I recommend Cat On a Hot Tin Roof, Three Days of the Condor, The Verdict, The Long Hot Summer, The Hustler, The Great Waldo Pepper, Barefoot In the Grass, Hud, Life & Times of Judge Roy Bean, The Way We Were, and All the President's Men.

Another movie Paul Newman should have won an Oscar for. He should have won at least 5 Oscars!!! Watch Newman in “Verdict” he was superb in that movie.

Since you brought up Lonesome Dove, I STRONGLY suggest you watch the two-part miniseries The Sacketts with Tom Selleck and Glenn Ford. I'm not sure where you can get it tho but if there's a way, please do a reaction on it. Friends out there, maybe you can help her find a copy or an online source for it along with your recommendations for it if you're a fan of it.

Newman is great--there's a documentary about him and his wife (actress Joanne Woodward) called "The Last Movie Stars" I believe on HBO Max that came out in the last year or so, based on a transcript of a series of audio recordings that Paul made which he subsequently burned--the recordings I believe were of actual letters and/or journal entries--and actors such as George Clooney and Laura Linney read those passages that span most of their years together. The docu highlights both of their careers, and I think Joanne actually was "famous" first, particularly due to her work in the theater and Broadway. Anyway it's really interesting and might be something you'd go for. Newman I think got his first real critical recognition with the great film "Hud" and then "The Hustler," which Scorsese followed up with a sequel of sorts casting Newman as the same character 40 years down the road, training a new pool hustler in the form of one Tom Cruise in "The Color of Money." I think Cruise maybe gave a nod to Newman's character of Luke in this with his performance in "The Last Samurai": someone who does not bow, bend or break to authority, no matter what.

Madison, if you like character studies see Newman portraying the darker side of human nature in 'Hud' (1963). It's a masterpiece! :0)

This movie was a star maker for almost all the actors in it!, and I believe this was George Kennedys first film, he won best supporting actor!!!

Young Harry Dean Stanton, Dennis Hopper, Robert Blake, one of the guys from MASH, in here. Also gives feels of the original, The Longest Yard!

Seeing this a year after you did this reaction. Remember they talked about him winning all those military service medals? Did he have "survivor's guilt," or a form of PTSD that kept him doing "missions" in civilian life because he was in the habit of needing to push and punish himself to overcome? And yet nothing truly made him happy. To me, it's the sad story of a life with amazing potential cut short because he had a very dangerous compulsion to be punished in whatever way to give him a sense of value. Maybe way, way off on my speculations. Thanks for showing it though. I remember seeing it decades ago, and since I like happy endings, it wasn't a fave of mine.

If you really want to get into true "Robert Redford films," not just other directors' films that he happened to be cast in, Madison, check out the films Robert actually directed: _Ordinary People,_ _The Milagro Beanfield War,_ _A River Runs Through It,_ _Quiz Show,_ _The Horse Whisperer,_ for a start. _Quiz Show_ is one of my favorite films ever.

EXCELLENT MOVIE!!!