Cool Hand Luke is a 1967 American film starring Paul Newman and directed by Stuart Rosenberg .

Paul Newman stars in the title role as Luke, a prisoner in a Georgia prison camp who refuses to submit to the system.

The character of Luke is often interpreted allegorically as a Christ figure, and the film plays on many aspects of the story of Jesus.

The screenplay was adapted by Donn Pearce and Frank Pierson from the novel by Pearce.

Other members of the cast include George Kennedy, J.D. Cannon, Lou Antonio, Robert Drivas , Strother Martin, Jo Van Fleet, Morgan Woodward , Wayne Rogers, Harry Dean Stanton, Dennis Hopper and Joe Don Baker.

It won an Academy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role (George Kennedy), and was nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Paul Newman), Best Music, Original Music Score and Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium.

The musical score, by Lalo Schifrin, has been used for many years for the background music on several ABC television stations' news programs.

Famous quotation

Strother Martin to Paul Newman:

Now what we have here is a failure to communicate. Some men you just can't reach. So you get what we had here last week. Which is the way he wants it. Well, he gets it. I don't like it anymore than you men.

This quote is used in the opening to the Guns N' Roses song Civil War

Another quote during a punishment scene is

Luke, what's all this dirt doing in my ditch?

External links

• Cool Hand Luke Exposé