Cool Hand Luke (1967)

Luke Jackson (Paul Newman) is a cool, gutsy prisoner in a Southern chain gang, who, while refusing to buckle under to authority, keeps escaping and being recaptured. The prisoners admire Luke because, as Dragline (Oscar Winner George Kennedy) explains it, "You're an original, that's what you are!" Nevertheless, the camp staff actively works to crush Luke until he finally breaks. Hilarity ensues, Boss!

Trivia: Bette Davis was first offered the role of Luke's mother, but refused the bit part. Luke's prison number (37) is a reference to the Bible - Luke 1:37. ("For with God nothing shall be impossible.") The movie's line "What we've got here is failure to communicate." was voted as the #11 movie quote by the American Film Institute. Truckloads of Spanish moss was shipped from Louisiana to the set in California to hang in the trees around the prison.

Talking about the movie Boss! One thing you need to learn if you want to survive in a southern prison camp is to make sure the Bosses (Guards) know what you are doing. You are in prison you know. If you don't do what the Bosses want you to do, you spend the night in the box. Paul Newman did a pretty good job as Luke "Sometimes nothing can be a real cool hand" Jackson. George Kennedy won an Oscar for playing Dragline. This movie is full of great quotes too, besides the most famous one said by Strother Martin (Luke says it too later on). Supposedly there is a lot of religious symbolism in the movie and you can see some of it. After Luke eats 50 hard boiled eggs on a bet he is left in a pose similar to Jesus on the cross. One of the head guards is known for not having eyes (he always wears mirrored sunglasses and is never shown without them) that makes him feel demonic, stuff like that. Anyway, it was pretty subtle. O Brother Where Art Thou would later use the man with no eyes character as the devil. Cool Hand Luke is a good movie.