I began hmmmm an idiom I'm unaware of so I went down the google aisle to research and before my turn was complete it came to me....what's all that dirt doin' in my box, luke
My grandfather and i used to watch this when i was little. He loved this movie so much. He died this morning and i just cant stop listening to the song in this scene. Ill always miss you, my hero
@@RONALD511 What a lovely comment. I believe humanity finds its best in the arts. I was fortunate enough in 1978 to be in Florence and visit the Duomo to view the Pieta by Michelangelo. Off to the side was a small room with some rough sketches, mostly hands and feet studies, hanging on the wall and it was like staring into the face of God. The mind of the master getting busy. I was staggered. Later in my trip, at the Louvre I saw his "Slaves" semi-finished statues and got the same reaction. Cool Hand Luke has got to be in the top 10, maybe 5, best movies ever made on so many levels. Paul Newman, very classy guy. My brother had a friend who raced against him and was having a problem. Paul walked by, had a look and said "Come with me". He took him over and handed him the part or tool or whatever was needed and told him to bring it back after the race. Of course, he did. A year later Paul spotted him in a restaurant and said "You and your wife, come join us". That's not "acting."
George Kennedy says this was shot straight after Mr Newman was informed his mother had passed away. Here's the article, ew.com/article/2008/09/30/george-kennedy/?#
I think this movie is a prime example of what really makes a sad scene because a man crying isn't as sad as a scene with a man trying his damndest not to cry... I love this scene and this movie
Like the quote from Bryan Cranston, “If you cry in a scene it takes the pressure off the audience to cry, when you try not to cry is when the audience does”
I don't care if it rains or freezes Long as I got my plastic Jesus Sittin' on the dashboard of my car Comes in colors, pink and pleasant Glows in the dark, 'cause iridescent Take it with you when you travel far Get yourself a sweet madonna Dressed in rhinestone, settin' on a Pedestal of Abalone Shells Goin' 90, I ain't scary Cause I got the Virgin Mary Assuring me that I won't go to hell
It’s shocking - absolutely shocking that Newman didn’t win an Oscar for this role. This scene alone was so powerful. Out of any role, this is his most range he showed. Ironic that George Kennedy (taking nothing away from him) got an Oscar for this movie, when Newman was the one that made this film a classic.
It is because he made it look so easy. James Garner said in an interview about good acting, “ don’t get caught at it”. He’s another overlooked actor as is Sidney Poitier. That era of actors that pretty much emerged after the golden age of Hollywood actually acted, put range into it. Much as I like some of the GA of H they just played themselves. People went to see Clark Gable, Humphrey Bogart, Edward G Robinson, etc to see them in a different role and movie but not for their incredible acting ability and versatility. They were any character you would want but it was always them, the star that brought the crowds to let them watch them as themselves. John Wayne was John Wayne no matter what he portrayed. Too many of the others like Newman, etal were passed over. Then the Academy rushes to get a Lifetime Achievement Award presented as if they’d better hurry before they die. It’s pathetic.
Luke is one of the most fascinating characters of any movie in my opinion. You could see the movie 100 times and you still realize something new about his character. You could almost write an entire book about the Luke character.
I remember crying over this scene during a particularly sunny Sunday afternoon in 1987 when I was eight years old. My mom came in, and I turned round. She looked at me, then at the TV screen, and I could see a tiny hint of a smile on her face before she walked back out. I turned back to watch the rest of the movie. Good times!
My old Mam caught me crying me eyes out to this scene on a Sunday afternoon when I was 9 or 10. She hugged me, wiped my fringe away, dried my teary eyes and kissed me and said "It's only a film Love" and then went back into our tiny kitchen. After about a minute I followed her in to get some tissues and she was standing at the sink crying too. I remember hugging her for what seemed like forever. I love remembering things like this 🐯
Amazing acting! All the little pauses he puts in because Luke is trying to remember the words while he has a million other things running through his mind and emotions welling up. Just outstanding acting.
The pauses are there because Newman didn't know how to play the banjo. He learned enough to strum for this scene the night before/morning of the shoot. The pauses were literally him making a mistake and having to think his way into the next note/word. After the take, Newman asked the director to run the scene again because he was sure he could do better. The director said something like "Are you kidding? *No one* could do it better than that. It was perfect".
My dog died today, he was named Luke after this movie. Hardest part is he was such a happy and loving dog, wouldn't cry so much if he wasn't so perfect. ;_;
+Joey Sinko I don't know If I'll find any Other dog as good as Lenny Smart and friendly and his faults were few; Happy chasing sticks or walkin' Or just just listenin' while I'm talkin' I'll miss Lenny, best dog that I knew
+Jake Bartlam my furry baby jake alexander died of a horrible cancer at age 8- He was a majestic & magickal german shepherd. The last 2 months of his life I nursed him -encouraging him to eat.. he died at home with my husband & myself present..- He was a gentleman even in death. People who have never had a beloved dog or cat do not understand the loss... So sorry for all of us-
@@OttoMack1 He's saying this is already an incredibly powerful song, and coupled with the fact that his character just lost his mom, tearing up for this scene may not have been as difficult as one might think.
@@mikebaxter6771 One statement does not follow the other. The song, recorded as a humorous ad spoof in 1962, has power only because of the context and Paul Newman's talent. It would be a challenge for any actor to do all three things at once. This might have been the first scene of the movie filmed - even more difficult. Could you do all three: sing AND play AND make yourself cry, simultaneously - on command - take after take after take. That's a challenge, my dude.
@@OttoMack1 Oh I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you would take this as an attack on Paul. He’s a pro actor with skill. The scene is sad. The song “with context” is sad. He cried. Great acting but not surprising.
@@rneoman yep. I’ve seen actors in really crappy roles where they appear mediocre at best, then see them in a movie with great directing and screenplay, and they shine. I just wish more movies like this were made now
“Take it with you... when you travel far”, That slight pause before saying “when you travel far” almost as if In that instance Luke is forced to stomach all his feelings about his mama, and in saying “when you travel far” realizes, with extreme reluctance just how far away mama has gone. Luke’s pain is so damn palpable. But in true Luke fashion, he comes back stronger with that second verse as if to bid farewell, victoriously. The Lyrics speak for Luke as much as for his mother, “Going 90 I ain’t scary, cause I got my Virgin Mary, assuring me that I won’t go to hell.” Luke’s got nothing but his Virgin Mary - his own nothingness, as his sole guardrail on the freeway of life. Come from nothing, back to nothing, but as they say, Sometimes nothing can be a really cool hand.
watched this movie today for the first time, and WOW it's much better than almost every movie i've seen today. the story, the acting, the way they actually play the music in the scene not just lipsing and pretend to play the song.
One of the greatest scenes in cinema history. Paul Newman was a truly special artist and, more importantly, human being (which is what made him a great actor). Such a quality American. Charitable and gracious. Genuine and humble. Represented the best in all of us and still does, even from beyond. Rest in solace Paul Newman, a man we should all strive to be like.
Probably the sexiest actor in his prime, could have likely had any woman in Hollywood he wanted, and he was a one-woman man. Happily married to his wife, Joanne Woodward, for 50 years.
The best goodbye song ever sang by anyone. End of Story. Every time someone leaves, I sing this song and raise a small snifter to their memory and health in the afterlife. Paul Newman was a person of great class. I even sang this on the day he died, and wished him well.
I am watching this movie right now and then one of the most beautiful scenes came along. so I had to come here and check what people feel about this. Everything about the movie is so well and Paul Newman god i wish i was born in his time.
I'm 75 years old and I was fortunate to have lived when Mr. Newman was in the prime of his long and wonderful career. Another favorite is "Hombre." And, what about "Hustler," .... or "Hud."
I wasn’t that torn up at all. My mother played favorites and I wasn’t one she preferred. Weeks before she died she stared at me with hate in her eyes. I never understood it and it’s a wonder I’m not a woman hater.
One of the greatest movie scenes of all time. Every time, as he starts crying at the end, I tear up. "assuring me that I won't go to hell' pure unadulterated genius.
Paul Newman told the director he could sing this better if he had an other chance. The director told him NOBODY could have done it better. It was the tear jerking part of the movie. Paul Newman, Gorge Kennedy, Strother Martin ,and the entire cast was perfectly selected for this My favorite movie. COOL HAND LUKE, there is no better movie. Josie Wales with Clint Eastwood comes close, but its my second favorite. COOL HAND LUKE is Number one!
He did actually play it. There was a guy on the set who played guitar and banjo and he worked with Paul on this song for about a month. It was the last scene that was shot in the movie. Paul had never played any instrument before.
The man who taught Paul Newman to play the banjo is Harry Dean Stanton, one of the actors in the film.Though it took some time, the film producer thought it was well worth it.
"Originally, the scene where Luke plays "Plastic Jesus" as an ode to his mother was scheduled for the beginning of the shoot, but after Paul Newman insisted on learning the instrument, director Stuart Rosenberg delayed it a few weeks. When they tried it, and the playing was unsatisfactory, it was bumped until the next-to-last day of production. Newman and Rosenberg had a shouting match after Newman still couldn't get it down. In what George Kennedy remembered as a "tense, electrically charged, quiet" place, Newman tried again. When he finished, Rosenberg called "Print". Newman insisted he could do better. "Nobody could do it better", Rosenberg replied."
I'm here today because it is my mom's birthday. This scene captures the sense of loss I feel since her passing. What a great scene. What a great actor.
Paul While I love the Dragline character if it weren't for him Luke wouldn't have died in the end, he led the cops back to the church. Still hard to blame him though cause you could tell he grew to sincerely love Luke.
Kyle Barefield , Luke experienced enough hardships along the road of life, pretty sure being locked up for the rest of his life in that sweat camp was not in his plans. Luke decided his fate irregardless of putting blame on any one person. Dragline was a chapter not the whole novel.
If Dragline didn't lead the cops back to the church, the allegory wouldn't have been so perfect. Protagonist is tempted by the devil (in a woman's form), spends a night in the box. Protagonist eats an egg for all the sinners, spends a night in the box. Protagonist questions the existence of God, spends a night in the box. Protagonist tries to change societal order, despairs to God (why have you forsaken me?), his biggest follower turns traitor, gets killed to uphold societal order. Who am I talking about? Luke is Jesus.
Happy Birthday dear Paul- I remember meeting at the local fruit stand.... I bet there are lots of cherries where you are now- Your foundation is doing great :) we miss you so --- another year has gone by... Herb is 88- He remembers your heads nods & hullos at Compo Beach dock. RIP
@@lequay1454 but they don't make movies like this anymore... There's nothing ideological about popular Hollywood movies now. you can't believe ready player one or crazy rich Asians belong in the same universe as this movie. I use those comparisons because they were also popular. Movies like the Florida project are good, but they're not popular and they don't dramatize questions about what freedom means or what the death of God means like cool hand luke did. US by Jordan Peele is the only exception to this that I can think of.
@@matthewadams7036 there will always be great and fascinating movies released every year, and you can't claim they don't make movie "like this" anymore if you don't seek out films beyond popular hollywood blockbusters.
@@lequay1454 but this movie is so special because it was popular. A culture agreed that it was important and that it reflected their values. I agree that you can find good movies currently being made, but that's not what I like about cool hand luke - that it's a good movie. I like that it puts simply a couple of questions which are relavent to everyone participating in society: what's freedom mean when success only leads to serving a boss with more leniency? and is God meaningless when we've organized a strictly controlled society around capital?
I remember about 2 years ago I was having a really shit, lonely and depressing day and for some reason this song wouldn't stop playing in my head. I still to this day can't understand why.
Perhaps my favorite Paul Newman moment and he has hundreds of them. What a piece of acting. This song always brings me comfort when I am sad. RIP Blue Eyes
Listen to this in hard times and always feel right as rain after. This version, with Newman’s raspy, soft voice and the out of tune banjo gets me every time.
You're right, the Banjo is slightly out of tune. The out of tune banjo speaks volume about the brokeness within us. GG Allin sung ''When I die'' with an out of tune guitar. Also gets me every time.
Seriously though his phrasing in this is perfectly imperfect I can't even emulate it it makes it so emotional for such a goofy song makes you tear up a bit even if you don't know what just happened in the movie. He really was a talented dude
I've written an entry in the Message Boards of IMDB about this movie, and just read the anouncement telling that Message Boards will be disabled on February 20, 2017. So I copy my message here: "MASTERPIECE: I don't know how many times I've watched this movie, at least 10 times I guess. I was 10 years old when I watch it first time in 1984. Every time I watch, I realized a new point about this movie. Every strip of this movie is a masterpiece. Director Stuart Rosenberg, writers, actors Paul Newman, George Kennedy, and all other actors made a great job. I am sure I will watch this movie 10 times more at least."
My favorite movie of all time as well! Luke, is what every man wishes he was deep down inside but is too afraid to go through with it, because today people have become so docile and accept any authority over them! Lucas Jackson is indeed truly the unsung hero, who had the guts to stand up to the ever more controlling and bullying society! People who always play it cool and stand up for what's right are a rare dying breed in todays world of corportate suits and mindless buearocratic nonsense!
This is my favourite film of all time and I love this scene it's briliant acting by Paul Newman , here's a film that was a masterpeice back when films didn't rely on special efects to be great films, great story, great directing and great acting. In my personal opinion cool hand luke is the best film ever made.
I watched this movie yesterday and this scene hit me like a ton of bricks. First, let me give you a little back story and just bear with me for this little rollercoaster ride. The first time I ever heard this song it was in the 80’s and Mom and I were watching a comedian named Vic Dunlop and he sung the beginning of this song in his skit and then Mom popped out laughing and sung the rest. Here’s the link to that skit if you care to see it, ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Zb3-1uKI1Bo.html (starts at the 7:00 mark). Then sometime after that I see the movie “Cool Hand Luke”, and that scene instantly reminded me of us watching that comedian. Mom recently passed away this past June on a Tuesday evening. After everything was done and over with the hospital and setting up arrangements for the funeral, I went back to work that Thursday to try to get back to some normalcy, I needed to keep busy. After work I came home to an empty house and I didn’t know what to think or do with myself. My wife and daughter weren’t home so I had to fill the silence with something so I grabbed my guitar. Mom used to always enjoy me playing anything for her. “Play me a song, Trav. Anything, it doesn’t matter. I just want to hear you play.” So I played the first song that came to mind. I don’t know why, but I recorded myself on video with my phone. The song was “Dead Flowers” - by Townes Van Zandt. Now the first time I ever heard that version of that song was in the movie “The Big Lebowski” and it just stuck with me. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-UwbKkNUyE64.html Then I watch “Cool Hand Luke” yesterday and this scene plays and emotions started flooding back to me. It reminded me of us watching that comedian and laughing and I couldn’t help but to draw a parallel between Luke and I and how we both got our instruments and took the silence and filled it with something from the heart. No matter how arbitrary the meaning of each song is to the current situation, it was just a feeling inside. It helped somewhat in the healing process. That comedian, those movies and those songs will now forever be tied to one another in my mind. I’m 42 years old and I tend to hold in my emotions and try to be strong for my family. I lost my father in June of 2015 and we had a close bond, but there’s just something between a boy and his mother. No words can express, only feelings. Music to me is a strong expression of feelings that words simply cannot capture alone.
A truly exceptional film and Mr. Paul Newman delivers the performance of a lifetime. I was a boy in Florida at the time this film was released and I can still remember seeing the chain gangs out on the roads . It had a distinct impact on who and what I would become in life . I'm well into my 60s now , served my country for over 20 years. Decorated 5 times , and I too had my own troubles with law enforcement as a younger man . Absolutely magnificent film and Mr Newman is beyond comparison in my book . Thank you Sir for all of your fine work .
“Has it ever struck you that life is all memory, except for the one present moment that goes by you so quick you hardly catch it going?”― Tennessee Williams
Really listened to the words today.THERE NEVER WAS AND NEVER WILL BE ANYONE IN THIS WORLD TO COMPARE TO PAUL LEONARD NEWMAN. I said it before and I'll say it again.......HE WASN'T PERFECT...... BUT WHEN GOD CREATED PAUL NEWMAN - HE GOT IT RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!HIS CLASS AND ACTIONS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES!!!!!!
A mother is a very big thing for anyone. They will faulter in their lives but they will God willing raise their own right.. My mother is a gentle woman who is a standard of motherhood. This cuts me up everytime..
FUN FACT: Cool Hand Luke takes place about 10 years before the song was written and recorded. The book mentions that Luke picked with a group before the war. It’s implied that he’s actually the author of the song.
Although I am not a Catholic, I am a christian, and I love this tender moment from the movie"Cool Hand Luke". Paul Newman was one of the best actors of all time : )
I absolutely can't believe I waited until I was almost 55 years old to see this movie. I saw it yesterday and am in love with Paul Newman again. What a great film! And there are now 28 people who are gonna have to spend the night in the box.
