Harper
Seen it?1966 | 121 min | Mystery, Crime, Thriller
Sunday Safe BetWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
It earned strong reviews (95% on Rotten Tomatoes). A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for crime fans and anyone who likes to be kept guessing. If you loved The Big Sleep or The Lincoln Lawyer, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Tense, gritty.
- The pace
- Fast-moving, at 2 hr 1 min.
- What might put you off
- Made in 1966: an older pace and style.
Harper is a cynical private eye in the best tradition of Bogart. He even has Bogie's Baby hiring him to find her missing husband, getting involved along the way with an assortment of unsavory characters and an illegal-alien smuggling ring.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
95% on Rotten Tomatoes, 51 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
6.7 out of 10
- AwardsBelow par
Nominated for 1 WGA Award.
- Box office & staying powerSolid
$12 million worldwide on a $4 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 87K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
More like this
The Big Sleep
Friday Night FlickAlso stars Lauren Bacall, in another critically acclaimed detective crime thriller.
The Whisper Man
Weeknight WatchAnother detective crime thriller, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
The Lincoln Lawyer
Saturday SpecialAnother detective crime thriller, and a Saturday Special.
A Walk Among the Tombstones Weeknight WatchAnother detective crime story, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
American Gigolo Weeknight WatchAnother detective crime story, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
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Cast & crew
Directed by Jack Smight
- Paul NewmanLew Harper
- Lauren BacallElaine Sampson
- Julie HarrisBetty Fraley
- Arthur HillAlbert Graves
- Janet LeighSusan Harper
- Pamela TiffinMiranda Sampson
- Robert WagnerAllan Taggert
- Robert WebberDwight Troy
- Shelley WintersFay Estabrook
- Harold GouldSheriff Spanner