Principal cast
Paul Newman, George Kennedy, Luke Askew, Morgan Woodward and Harry Dean Stanton
Film 391 of 498 on the Screen Path
Cool Hand Luke
The man... and the motion picture that simply do not conform.
About the film
Cool Hand Luke at a glance.
Screen Path places this 1967 film at stop 391 in one curated journey through cinema. The learning experience adds context before you watch and deeper analysis after.
When petty criminal Luke Jackson is sentenced to two years in a Florida prison farm, he doesn't play by the rules of either the sadistic warden or the yard's resident heavy, Dragline, who ends up admiring the new guy's unbreakable will. Luke's bravado, even in the face of repeated stints in the prison's dreaded solitary confinement cell, "the box," make him a rebel hero to his fellow convicts and a thorn in the side of the prison officers.
Key craft credits
Conrad Hall (director of photography), Sam O'Steen (editor), Lalo Schifrin (original music composer), Donn Pearce (screenplay) and Frank Pierson (screenplay)
- Director
- Stuart Rosenberg
- Release
- 1967-11-01
- Runtime
- 127 minutes
- Genres
- Drama and Crime
- Country
- United States
- Quiz
- 50 questions
The Screen Path journey
Before. After. Remember.
The featured film is watched outside Screen Path. The app provides the learning experience around it: a guide, an analysis, and a quiz with explanations.
01
Before you watch
Start with a spoiler-free video guide to the context and filmmaking choices worth noticing.
Spoiler-free02
After the film
Return after watching for a deeper video analysis of craft, meaning, and legacy.
Contains spoilers03
Quiz yourself
Answer 50 questions with clear rationales designed to make the ideas stick.
50 questions in this journeyCitizen Kane is the complete public example: both learning videos and a five-question sample quiz are available below.
Start the example →Full cast
Full cast
- Paul NewmanCharacter: Luke Jackson
- George KennedyCharacter: Dragline
- Luke AskewCharacter: Boss Paul
- Morgan WoodwardCharacter: Boss Godfrey
- Harry Dean StantonCharacter: Tramp
- Dennis HopperCharacter: Babalugats
- Lou AntonioCharacter: Koko
- Robert DrivasCharacter: Loudmouth Steve
- Strother MartinCharacter: Captain
- Jo Van FleetCharacter: Arletta
- Clifton JamesCharacter: Carr
- Marc CavellCharacter: Rabbitt
Full crew
Full crew
- Stuart RosenbergCredits: Director
- Lalo SchifrinCredits: Original Music Composer
- Cary OdellCredits: Art Direction
- Fred PriceCredits: Set Decoration
- Larry JostCredits: Sound Designer
- Frank PiersonCredits: Screenplay
- Donn PearceCredits: Novel, Screenplay
- Sam O'SteenCredits: Editor
- Howard ShoupCredits: Costume Design
- Carter DeHaven Jr.Credits: Producer
- Gordon CarrollCredits: Producer
- Conrad HallCredits: Director of Photography
- Dan WallinCredits: Sound Re-Recording Mixer
- Hank MoonjeanCredits: Assistant Director
- Gordon BauCredits: Makeup Artist
- Jean Burt ReillyCredits: Hairstylist
- Barney KesselCredits: Additional Soundtrack
- Thomas Del RuthCredits: First Assistant Camera
- Harry SundbyCredits: Electrician
- Craig BinkleyCredits: Set Dressing Artist
- Jordan CronenwethCredits: Camera Operator
- M. James ArnettCredits: Stunts
- Chuck HicksCredits: Stunts
- Tommy MorganCredits: Additional Soundtrack
- Michael A. JonesCredits: Rigging Gaffer
- Wayne FitzgeraldCredits: Title Designer
- Hal DresnerCredits: Writer
- Robert C. ThomasCredits: Assistant Camera
Film data and images provided by TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.