Harper (The Moving Target) (1966)

100% of critics liked it
(16 reviews)
69% of users liked it
(1,386 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 L.A.… 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

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 2 hr. 1 min.
Directed By: Jack Smight
Written By: William Goldman
Genres: Mystery & Suspense, Drama

In Theaters: Feb 23, 1966 Wide
On DVD: Nov 14, 2006

Critic Reviews

, 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.
Variety Staff, Variety
Director Jack Smight has inserted countless touches which illuminate each character to the highest degree.
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.
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.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
William Goldman's adaptation of MacDonald's novel -- his first solo screenwriting credit -- is full of rapid-fire dialogue, but some of the characterizations are thin.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
While Harper looks too slick and neat for its own good, without much sense of mood or atmosphere, its star shines, and that's enough to draw us along.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
Harper shows the actor to good advantage, Newman's nonchalant demeanor well suiting the character of the PI.
Derek Adams, Time Out
Enjoyable performances throughout. Just the same, a very minor Big Sleep.
, Film4
Newman smoulders in the lead role, a private eye hired by Bacall to find her missing husband.

Read all 9 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

moon r

No more no less than a sixties update on Philip Marlowe, with dinner theater lines given good location shooting. The mystery is only a matter of eliminating the obvious which leaves the charisma of the actors involved to carry the piece. Newman has fun as Mar ... er ... the gumshoe.… More
No more no less than a sixties update on Philip Marlowe, with dinner theater lines given good location shooting. The mystery is only a matter of eliminating the obvious which leaves the charisma of the actors involved to carry the piece. Newman has fun as Mar ... er ... the gumshoe. Bacall is no longer the rich man's daughter but now his disgruntled wife although essentially the same character. Strother Martin as a cult leader is without a doubt just a fun casting choice.
Ken S

Harper has quite the pedigree, it stars Paul Newman, Lauren Bacall, Janet Leigh, Robert Wagner, Jacqueline de Witt AND Shelley Winters. It has a screenplay by Bill Goldman that's kind of a 60's "James Bond Cool" version of a Bogart detective film. Not only that… More
Harper has quite the pedigree, it stars Paul Newman, Lauren Bacall, Janet Leigh, Robert Wagner, Jacqueline de Witt AND Shelley Winters. It has a screenplay by Bill Goldman that's kind of a 60's "James Bond Cool" version of a Bogart detective film. Not only that it's shot by Conrad Hall! How can this not be awesome? *Shrug* The film ends up bumbling it's awesome ingredients and turns out to be a very passable, but unremarkable Who-Dun-It. C'est la vie
familiar s

A predictable detective story enriched by Paul Newman's stylish performance :P A few minutes into it and you'd probably know who the perpetrator is.
AJ V

This is a spy movie where everyone is a criminal, everyone! I bet you can guess the end just by knowing that. Now, what's the point in seeing this? I wish I hadn't wasted the time. Overall, it's not bad, it's just not good either.
Conner R

Just an amazing movie. It's got a great blend of comedy and suspense. Paul Newman gives a great performance as Harper, the world's greatest private eye. It's got a great plot that is both fun and intelligent. I think my favorite element is the above-average… More
Just an amazing movie. It's got a great blend of comedy and suspense. Paul Newman gives a great performance as Harper, the world's greatest private eye. It's got a great plot that is both fun and intelligent. I think my favorite element is the above-average cinematography and attention to detail. It's not just another detective story, it's a very unique and unforgettable character piece.
xGary X

Detective Paul Newman quips his way through a case for which he is hired by a cold-hearted Lauren Bacall to find her eccentric millionaire husband. Paul Newman displays his usual charm and humour in this noir style mystery, with Lauren Bacall fitting like a glove into her familiar… More
Detective Paul Newman quips his way through a case for which he is hired by a cold-hearted Lauren Bacall to find her eccentric millionaire husband. Paul Newman displays his usual charm and humour in this noir style mystery, with Lauren Bacall fitting like a glove into her familiar role of bitter femme fatale. Unfortunately the overly jokey tone compromises the darker edges of the plot and the garish photography and overly conspicuous 60s jazz-pop soundtrack have dated it rather badly, as does the supporting cast of TV movie caricatures. The overall effect is to make it feel like a feature length episode of The Rockford Files. But the fact is, I loved The Rockford Files. The jokes are funny, the plot keeps you interested and Newman is always worth watching. Dated, yes, but it never fails to entertain.
Tim S

The thing about this movie is that it has some weird story arcs which drove me crazy (the whole religious cult reminded me of Scientology) and, at times, it seems like the cast was having a little too much of a good time. Either way, the reason you watch it and keep watching it is… More
The thing about this movie is that it has some weird story arcs which drove me crazy (the whole religious cult reminded me of Scientology) and, at times, it seems like the cast was having a little too much of a good time. Either way, the reason you watch it and keep watching it is Newman, who is charming as shit and having a great time playing this character. There is also some great lines from William Goldman's script, but in the end the story falls flat. At least we get to see the beautiful Lauren Bacall (probably one of the easiest paychecks she ever earned) and a funny (and at times annoying) young Robert Wagner. I had a good time watching it, but was left wanting more.
jay n

An amazing cast in a film that doesn't quite jell.
Alice S

A good mystery and a comic detective to solve it.
Anthony V

Cool detective story.