Harper (The Moving Target) (1966)
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100% of critics liked it
(16 reviews) -
70% of users liked it
(1,475 ratings)
Screenwriter William Goldman has claimed that Paul Newman agreed to do Harper, the film that established the grateful writer's career, only because he was working unhappily on Lady L. (1965) in Europe, and was looking for something as unlike that film as possible. He stars as Lew Harper, a hip… More Screenwriter William Goldman has claimed that Paul Newman agreed to do Harper, the film that established the grateful writer's career, only because he was working unhappily on Lady L. (1965) in Europe, and was looking for something as unlike that film as possible. He stars as Lew Harper, a hip L.A. private dick whose business has gotten so bad that he's re-using his coffee grounds. At the suggestion of his friend, attorney Albert Graves (Arthur Hill), the detective takes on the investigation of the disappearance of the wealthy husband of waspish cripple Elaine Sampson (Lauren Bacall). After finding a photograph of former actress Fay Estabrook (Shelley Winters), Harper locates the alcoholic actress in a bar, plies her with booze, and takes her home to search her apartment while she's unconscious. There he takes a call which leads him to another bar to meet Betty Fraley (Julie Harris), a singer with a heroin problem. To curtail his inquisitive behavior, some large and unpleasant gentleman beat him up outside the saloon. Hoping for sympathy from his soon to be ex-wife (Janet Leigh), who has just filed divorce papers, the weary detective is much more successful than he has any right to expect. ~ Michael Costello, Rovi
- Directed By
- Jack Smight
- Written By
- William Goldman
- Genres
- Mystery & Suspense, Drama
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Feb 23, 1966 Wide
Critic Reviews
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, TIME Magazine
By combining flamboyant suspense with a sunbaked slice of life and lots of good mean fun, Director Smight makes every clue a pleasure to follow.
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Variety Staff, Variety
Director Jack Smight has inserted countless touches which illuminate each character to the highest degree.
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Derek Adams, Time Out
Enjoyable performances throughout. Just the same, a very minor Big Sleep.
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Bosley Crowther, New York Times
[Newman] is too fresh, too ruggedly good looking to be consistent as the sort of beat-up slob that his shady detective is intended to be and as Mr. Bogart used to be.
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Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Supported by colorful characters (played by Lauren Bacall, Shelley Winters, Julie Harris), Paul Newman gives a solid performance in his first private detective role, which catapulted him to major stardom and brought the genre back to the mainstream.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Paul Newman
as Lew Harper
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Lauren Bacall
as Mrs. Simpson
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Julie Harris
as Betty Fraley
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Arthur Hill
as Albert Graves
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Janet Leigh
as Susan Harper
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Pamela Tiffin
as Miranda Simpson
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Robert Webber
as Dwight Troy
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Shelley Winters
as Fay Estabrook
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Harold Gould
as Sheriff Spanner
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Strother Martin
as Claude
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Martin West
as Deputy
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Jacqueline de Wit
as Mrs. Kronberg
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Eugene Iglesias
as Felix
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Richard Carlyle
as Fred Platt
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Roy Jenson
as Puddler
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China Lee
as Dancer
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Tom Steele
as Eddie Fraley
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Robert Wagner
as Alan Traggert
