Coogan’s Bluff

• Directed and Produced by Don Siegel
• October 2, 1968

A deputy sheriff from Arizona travels to New York City to extradite a fugitive wanted for murder.

As Walt Coogan in Coogan’s Bluff Clint Eastwood does what he does best. He is the charming asshole who is also tougher than the toughest. And he doesn’t try to hide it. His Coogan has a code of ethics which often is in sharp contrast to the rules he is supposed to follow. It makes him difficult to control but clearly makes him good at his job as demonstrated in the opener when he abandons his task and captures the bad guy much to the consternation and anger of his superiors.

Susan Clark as Julie Roth is the love interest of the story though I am not sure what she provides to the main narrative. It was a go-nowhere side plot that when you think a little bit about is odd. They met while she was getting groped at a police station! I still have no idea what she was doing there pretending to be a cop and allowing some rando feel her up. Furthermore she was still interested in him after she learned Coogan slept with a woman (Tisha Sterling) kind of just because. Those pre-Webster days were something else. Speaking of early days…

David F. Doyle plays general thug Pushie. As an actor Doyle is best remembered for his portrayal of kindly Angels handler John Bosley on the classic ‘70s TV series Charlie’s Angels. Pushie is completely in the opposite direction. If you are familiar with the aforementioned show it is a bit of casting that really stands out.

Coogan’s hunt for the criminal is almost incidental in comparison to everything else he does. But that’s the meat of the story of the movie-his interactions with everyone else. In other words you’re watching this to see Eastwood bed women and be a d**k as needed or even as not needed.

The story itself is straightforward. Coogan, frustrated with the slowness of the bureaucracy based on his own actions, comes up with a ruse to get his quarry (Don Stroud) who with the help of Bosley, er, Pushie and pals escapes. As a modern Western set in late 60s it as interesting trip through the NYC landscape of the time. It has great dialogue , a good running gag, and mild action that does not come off as excessive.

Coogan’s Bluff is a great old school movie. It has just enough of action and focuses more on the characters. Very entertaining.