Harper
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.
Critics Sentiment
Harper encounters Miranda Sampson and Allan Taggert at the pool
Harper confronts Graves about killing Sampson in the final scene
The film peaks during the pool scene with Miranda and Taggert but crashes at the very end with Graves's confession, which reviewers found deeply unsatisfying.
Harper maintains solid audience appreciation through most of its runtime, with Newman's performance and colorful supporting characters earning consistent praise. The film builds effectively through its mystery elements and character encounters, particularly the memorable pool scene and various villainous figures. However, the ending severely disappoints viewers, with multiple critics calling the final confrontation scene weak and unsatisfying.
Full cast
Showing 20 of 38
Paul Newman
Lew Harper
Lauren Bacall
Elaine Sampson
Julie Harris
Betty Fraley
Arthur Hill
Albert Graves
Janet Leigh
Susan Harper
Pamela Tiffin
Miranda Sampson
Robert Wagner
Allan Taggert
Robert Webber
Dwight Troy
Shelley Winters
Fay Estabrook
Harold Gould
Sheriff Spanner
Roy Jenson
Puddler
Strother Martin
Claude
Martin West
Deputy
Jacqueline deWit
Mrs. Kronberg
Eugene Iglesias
Felix
Richard Carlyle
Fred Platt
Al Bain
Bar Patron (uncredited)
Horace G. Brown
Bartender (uncredited)
David Cadiente
Immigrant (uncredited)
Steve Carruthers
Bar Patron (uncredited)
Crew
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