The Drowning Pool (1975)

58% of critics liked it
(12 reviews)
49% of users liked it
(584 ratings)

Paul Newman returns as private detective Lew Harper is this tale of blackmail and murder based on a novel by Ross MacDonald. Iris Devereaux (Joanne Woodward), the wife of a wealthy oilman from Louisiana, hires Harper after she receives a threatening letter. A blackmailer is threatening to tell Iris'… More Paul Newman returns as private detective Lew Harper is this tale of blackmail and murder based on a novel by Ross MacDonald. Iris Devereaux (Joanne Woodward), the wife of a wealthy oilman from Louisiana, hires Harper after she receives a threatening letter. A blackmailer is threatening to tell Iris' husband James (Richard Derr) about a recent extramarital affair; she claims this indiscretion never happened, though she has been unfaithful in the past, and years ago had a brief fling with Harper. Matters become more complicated when Iris' mother-in-law Olivia (Coral Browne) is found murdered. Eventually, Harper traces the blackmail letter to Kilborne (Murray Hamilton), another bayou oil baron, and along the way encounters Schuyler (Melanie Griffith), Iris' young but ripe daughter; Pat Reavis (Andy Robinson), Olivia's former chauffeur and a key suspect in her murder; and Detective Broussard (Tony Franciosa), a police investigator who, like Harper, was once involved with Iris. This was Coral Browne's first film after her marriage to actor Vincent Price in 1974. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 48 min.
Directed By: Stuart Rosenberg
Written By: Tracy Keenan Wynn, Lorenzo Semple Jr., Walter Hill
Genres: Drama, Mystery & Suspense, Classics

In Theaters: Jan 7, 1975 Wide
On DVD: Nov 14, 2006

Critic Reviews

Variety Staff, Variety
Stylish, improbable, entertaining, superficial, well cast, and totally synthetic.
A.H. Weiler, New York Times
As a convoluted caper it generates action rather than character and surface mystery rather than meaning.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
A confusing and not very exciting private eye caper.
Don Druker, Chicago Reader
An interminable drag.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
This and a few other scenes are truly suspenseful, but for the most part the film is a synthetic, forced story peopled with some interesting characters and fine performances.
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com
Solid Newman-Woodward detective thriller.
, Time Out
Unfortunately, Rosenberg directs flatly, hopping from one set piece to the next, disjointedly throwing characters of varying interest across Newman's path.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
About a cool gumshoe with a one-track mind — solving the case he's on
, Film4
Dullish detective yarn that promises a great deal more than it delivers in story, direction or atmosphere.

Read all 9 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Conner R

An excellent sequel to Harper. It takes everything great from the first film without being repetitive. Paul Newman delivered a great performance as did a young Melanie Griffith. The story was extremely intriguing and entertaining, while also having a light hearted, comedic tone.… More
An excellent sequel to Harper. It takes everything great from the first film without being repetitive. Paul Newman delivered a great performance as did a young Melanie Griffith. The story was extremely intriguing and entertaining, while also having a light hearted, comedic tone. Stuart Rosenberg made a film that isn't just fluff, it's extremely well made. If you enjoyed the first, I can't see you not liking this.
xGary X

Lew Harper returns to investigate a case of the blackmail of a wealthy southern woman and uncovers corruption and murder. As usual. The sequel to Harper is far less jokey in tone and is more of a straight noir style thriller. All the usual ingredients are here; smart mouthed… More
Lew Harper returns to investigate a case of the blackmail of a wealthy southern woman and uncovers corruption and murder. As usual. The sequel to Harper is far less jokey in tone and is more of a straight noir style thriller. All the usual ingredients are here; smart mouthed detective, hard-nosed cops, promiscuous young girl, shadowy land baron and the inevitable mix of small time hoods and snitches. The plot is very similar to that of Chinatown (although lacking its subtlety) but it actually works rather better than its predecessor because of the lack of swinging sixties style gimmicks; it has dated rather better as a result. A decent detective story that lacks flash or even a hint of originality but is good, solid entertainment.
jay n

mediocre and muddled but Newman is good as always.