Unlike his 'Dirty Harry' movies, Clint Eastwood plays a more laid back cool Deputy Sheriff here displaying a toughness and resilience that draws respect from the New York police. Relentlessly hunting a convict on the run, Coogan never lets the objective of his visit from Arizona weaken as he comes up against some wierd and tough characters. He gets his man after a thrilling chase but the visit to the Big Apple does after all soften him a bit. A great watch with some excellent dialogue between the city slickers and this man from the outback.

The first of many collaborations between Clint Eastwood and Don Siegel, this, Eastwood's second film after the Dollars trilogy, has him as an Arizona Deputy Sheriff sent to NYC to bring back a wanted criminal. The fish out of water scenario as Coogan (dressed in stetson and cowboy boots) confronts the pecularities of the Big Apple. Susan Clark as the romantic interest, Lee J. Cobb as Lt McElroy, Don Stroud as Ringerman (the wanted criminal), Tisha Sterling (daughter of Robert Sterling) as his drugged out girlfriend. Look out for David Doyle (Bosley on Charlie's Angels) and in the "Pigeon Foot Orange Peel" long time Eastwood friend actor Albert Popwell (bank robber in DIRTY HARRY, pimp with Draino in MAGNUM FORCE, Big Ed Mustafha in THE ENFORCER and Callahan's buddy Horace in SUDDEN IMPACT). Nice score by Lalo Schifrin.

The movies came when promised, were in excellent shape, and I have no complaints about the service at all.

The second Don Siegel movie from 1968 about a cop in NYC hunting the killer who stole his gun. (Paging Dr. Freud.) This one has some of the same cast as Madigan, but it's more set-bound and has a T.V. movie feel. Not to mention the instantly dated hippie scenes. (Plus, it's hard to feel much menace when one of the principal heavies is played by David Doyle!) It's odd to think that Clint didn't always enjoy a solid reputation as an actor, because he's easily better than anyone else here.

And note the motorcycle chase through the Cloisters that foreshadows Black Rain.

Coogan's Bluff DVD

Clint Eastwood stars as an Arizona deputy sheriff sent to New York City to extradite a prisoner back to Arizona to stand trial. Of course he's successful in the end, when is he not?

The interesting thing about Eastwood is the number of lesser known actors and actresses that he carries from one of his movies to another. Is this Eastwood or just chance?

Highly recommended for fans of Clint Eastwood. This movie will give you a good look at "early Eastwood". It was made in 1968, forty years ago.

Gunner March, 2008