I read all of George V. Higgins' books and saw this one when it first hit the cinema. I watched it again a few years ago and really had a much greater appreciation for it. All the performances were on the money, but Robert Mitchum as the desperate, worl-weary Coyle is simply great. And his 'Max Cady' is why I prefer the first "Cape Fear" over the remake. FWIW, I believe that the movie "Killing Them Softly" is also based on a Higgins book.
Killing Them Softly was based on the Higgins novel Cogan's Trade. A very reasonable updating preserving the spirit of the original novel. Thanks for commenting, Kenneth. Appreciated. T.
This is one of my favorites, kind of ahead of its time with how non-nonsense and gritty it is, you can tell how influential it is on many films, i noticed right away when ben affleck stole some of the bank heist scene and used it in 'the town.'
The focus on character and mood, the minutiae of criminal life caused it to stand out for me. And yes, later on you can certainly identify how influential it's been. Many thanks for commenting. T.
I've had this film on my calorific list since 2021 and I still haven't seen it, looks promising though, coincidentally I was actually browsing your channel just a few hours ago to see if you uploaded anything :)
Could have sworn I had this scheduled for upload on the 30th. Ah well, clearly I wasn't paying attention. Yeah, Streed, I definitely think it's worth a look. It's relentlessly downbeat and I know a lot of people don't rate it - it is pretty much devoid of glamour and flashy excitement. But, it has distinct mood and feel. Thanks for commenting, as always. T.
@@tonybush555 "It's relentlessly downbeat and I know a lot of people don't rate it - it is pretty much devoid of glamour and flashy excitement." brother, you just described my taste in cinema, I've definitely gotta see this, I live for depressing, gritty atmospheric films, The Ascent (1977) is a great Russian war film that fits neatly into that category👍
Great stuff. I remember picking the book for a book review at middle school! My teacher was simultaneously impressed and a bit worried (my brother read a lot of crime fiction- Higgins, Jim Thompson, Elmore Leonard etc and recommended them to me). The film really does the book justice in this case - though in the book I vaguely recall not being aware Dillon was going to shoot Eddie until he actually does it(?), everyone is at the top of their game, dirty and sleazy, even (or especially) the hippies in the van. Great review as ever mate.
Another cracking review T. Saw this again last year and was very impressed. Always thought Yates far better as a drama /character director than science fantasy (krull ) and his strongest movies often appear like that. Thought Richard Jordan , Peter Boyle and Rober mitchum all top notch in this and Jordan particularly good as a highly duplicitous government agent uninterested in how many die to appease his career Boyle and mitchum both made good heavys either playing sympathetic or unsympathetic. EDDIE COYLE certainly one of best of its type. Great review
@@tonybush555 no worries mate always like your stuff. Do you remember a while ago you posted stuff you collected over years? There's a thing on TH-cam called reelthings. (I think) and it movie (or movies) of different years with all the trailers and adverts as you'd see at local fleapit. Very rewarding. Keep safe 🙏
@@tonybush555 I rewatched Young Frankenstein last year and I absolutely loved it! it was a fond memory from my childhood that I used to watch on repeat, in fact it was my introduction to the Frankenstein franchise🤣
I don't think I said it was released in '74. The comment was about hippies and peace and love being a thing of the past by '74. 1974 was the year I saw it, the year it made it's way to my local cinema - films took a while to make it to the provinces in the UK. Apologies for any confusion. T.
I have seen this several times. My cousin is from Quincy and never saw it. So I had him watch it with me. He loved it. Alex Rocco was a member of the winter hill gang and took Robert Mitchum around to meet them. Loved the film.
Finally watched it and it is a very good film. A great view of the foot soldiers, no glam, no fancy clubs or parties. Yes, there is the message of not very bright guys - probably most of them did not go past 10th grade. Gives a great view of the drudgery of the small time crook. One thing to keep in mind - the 20 bucks payoff for info was a lot more money when this film as made. About the hippies - there were radicals who wanted to rob banks and help 'political prisoners' escape so they would have been gun shopping. This film would easily fit in today but not just guns, drugs too. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Based on a Harold Pinter play, funded by some industry celebrities like Burton, Taylor, Saltzman, Sellers and Noel Coward because no distributor would bankroll it, with the cast, director and writer taking no payment, it's a uniquely executed oddity. That I've never seen. One of those elusive items I keep meaning to get around to, but to date it's not happened. Do you rate it, Streed?
@@tonybush555 9/10, near masterpiece but I will warn you, the ending is far too abrupt, everything else however is absolutely magnificent, it's one of those films I call an "atmosphere piece" almost nothing happens yet the tension, atmosphere and characters are what completely carry the film, I honestly think if the film hadn't starred shaw, bates & pleasence, it probably would've been a boring vacuous waste of time but it's an experience I long to share with others, it's actually free on TH-cam, no rush but if your looking for a disquieting, eerie British drama that takes place in one location, The Caretaker (1963) is for you :)
I can give this great film no higher praise than to say it is one of the 50 best of the 1970s. When Jackie Brown tells an associate that he (Jackie) is a nice guy, I partially believe him. A nice guy who also happens to be a scumbag. I mention this because it is that niceness or friendliness that causes Jackie to slip and prove the truth of his best line in the movie, "This life is hard, man, but it is harder if you're stupid!" Someone smarter and more careful would never tell a fellow criminal like Eddie so much of his business and where he will be doing it later that day. Not mentioned in your excellent summary was Jack Kehoe as one of Jackie's seedy associates. From this and The Sting to The Pope of Greenwich Village, Midnight Run and The Untouchables to his last role in The Game, Kehoe was always someone I was very happy to see in any movie. If the "nephew" looked familiar, he had a small part in another classic crime film (though a little overrated, imo) as a trigger-happy cop in L.A. Confidential. Thanks, and have a nice day.
higgens was a district attorney in boston and based his great crime trilogy the diggers game cogans trade and the friends of eddie coyle on wiretaps and statements from real boston lowlifes.his early novels are very dialogue heavy.he was mitchum recalled as cynical as jordan in the picture.having lunch discussing it he told mitch about a case theyd just busted using a guy they turned as in the movie.what happened to him ? oh we fished him out of the bay eels swimming out of his eye sockets! dillon is the character that ties the three novels together.regarded by all as the most trusted crook in boston...a legend.in hindsight its not hard to think he was based on whitey bulger then unknown to most of us who indeed ran the underworld in the city while being a long term federal informant.
Higgins was a terrific writer, up there with Chandler and Elmore Leonard. Despite not being perhaps as widely known, his influence on crime fiction, books and movies, is extensive. Thank you for an informative comment, Mike. Appreciated. T.
On this preceeding Tarantino's criminals with quirky tendencies to ramble anecdotes, Tarantino is undeniably, as some have already called him, "God's own plagiarist". If he is half the kynophilo I repute him to be, he chose the Jackie Brown name on purpose as a private joke on this film (which I doubt very much he hasn't seen loads of times before he made "Jackie Brown", given his 1970s hard-on).
Seems a fair bet to me, Vitor, which was my motivation for drawing attention to it as sounding familiar. The character in Elmore Leonard's novel Rum Punch upon which Jackie Brown the movie is based was called Jackie Burke, if memory serves. Tarantino changed it. Referencing TFOEC seems likely.
I'd forgotten that Yates diected 'The Hot Rock', which is a fun variation on the heist movie.
Featuring two major Hollywood stars of the period.
Doyle = "spiritual cannibal whose only concern is where his next meal is coming from". 3 point shot, man. thx
Thank you, Rico. T.
A terrific motion picture...Mitchum is a towering force to be reckoned with playing the loser. Great review Tony, thank you
On the contrary, thank you for watching and commenting, Jatinder. Appreciated. T.
I read all of George V. Higgins' books and saw this one when it first hit the cinema. I watched it again a few years ago and really had a much greater appreciation for it. All the performances were on the money, but Robert Mitchum as the desperate, worl-weary Coyle is simply great. And his 'Max Cady' is why I prefer the first "Cape Fear" over the remake. FWIW, I believe that the movie "Killing Them Softly" is also based on a Higgins book.
Killing Them Softly was based on the Higgins novel Cogan's Trade. A very reasonable updating preserving the spirit of the original novel. Thanks for commenting, Kenneth. Appreciated. T.
This is one of my favorites, kind of ahead of its time with how non-nonsense and gritty it is, you can tell how influential it is on many films, i noticed right away when ben affleck stole some of the bank heist scene and used it in 'the town.'
The focus on character and mood, the minutiae of criminal life caused it to stand out for me. And yes, later on you can certainly identify how influential it's been. Many thanks for commenting. T.
I've had this film on my calorific list since 2021 and I still haven't seen it, looks promising though, coincidentally I was actually browsing your channel just a few hours ago to see if you uploaded anything :)
Could have sworn I had this scheduled for upload on the 30th. Ah well, clearly I wasn't paying attention. Yeah, Streed, I definitely think it's worth a look. It's relentlessly downbeat and I know a lot of people don't rate it - it is pretty much devoid of glamour and flashy excitement. But, it has distinct mood and feel. Thanks for commenting, as always. T.
@@tonybush555 "It's relentlessly downbeat and I know a lot of people don't rate it - it is pretty much devoid of glamour and flashy excitement." brother, you just described my taste in cinema, I've definitely gotta see this, I live for depressing, gritty atmospheric films, The Ascent (1977) is a great Russian war film that fits neatly into that category👍
Thanks
Richard, man, you are an absolute star. Grateful thanks for your generosity once again. Obliged. T.
Great stuff. I remember picking the book for a book review at middle school! My teacher was simultaneously impressed and a bit worried (my brother read a lot of crime fiction- Higgins, Jim Thompson, Elmore Leonard etc and recommended them to me). The film really does the book justice in this case - though in the book I vaguely recall not being aware Dillon was going to shoot Eddie until he actually does it(?), everyone is at the top of their game, dirty and sleazy, even (or especially) the hippies in the van. Great review as ever mate.
Thank you for commenting, John. Enjoyed reading. T.
Another cracking review T.
Saw this again last year and was very impressed. Always thought Yates far better as a drama /character director than science fantasy (krull ) and his strongest movies often appear like that.
Thought Richard Jordan , Peter Boyle and Rober mitchum all top notch in this and Jordan particularly good as a highly duplicitous government agent uninterested in how many die to appease his career
Boyle and mitchum both made good heavys either playing sympathetic or unsympathetic.
EDDIE COYLE certainly one of best of its type.
Great review
Thanks as always, Graeme. I'm ever grateful for your input. T.
@@tonybush555 no worries mate always like your stuff.
Do you remember a while ago you posted stuff you collected over years?
There's a thing on TH-cam called reelthings. (I think) and it movie (or movies) of different years with all the trailers and adverts as you'd see at local fleapit. Very rewarding.
Keep safe 🙏
Love this slow burn classic. All of the acting is top class but special mention for Stephen Keats in one of his first films.
Thank you for taking the time to comment, Paul. Appreciated. T.
Great movie! Your review was spot on!
Thank you for taking the time to comment, Robert. Much appreciated. T.
As lacking in artistic bent as it may make me appear, i simply can't watch Peter Boyle without thinking of Young Frankenstein.
Well, there is no finer or more memorable version of Putting On The Ritz anywhere in the world.
Also the best reason to watch Everybody Loves Raymond. His twisted, cynical old man role is splendid.
@@tonybush555 I rewatched Young Frankenstein last year and I absolutely loved it! it was a fond memory from my childhood that I used to watch on repeat, in fact it was my introduction to the Frankenstein franchise🤣
The movie was released in Summer 1973, not in 1974.
I don't think I said it was released in '74. The comment was about hippies and peace and love being a thing of the past by '74. 1974 was the year I saw it, the year it made it's way to my local cinema - films took a while to make it to the provinces in the UK. Apologies for any confusion. T.
Cheers mate i`ve always wanted to see this one
Cheers Wayne. T.
I think it's a very good movie that got lost in the shuffle. Like "The Seven Ups", another crime movie from that era.
The Seven Ups is another firm favourite. Review here: th-cam.com/video/wsHZd3voLUE/w-d-xo.html
I have seen this several times. My cousin is from Quincy and never saw it. So I had him watch it with me. He loved it. Alex Rocco was a member of the winter hill gang and took Robert Mitchum around to meet them. Loved the film.
Thanks again for commenting, Stanley. Appreciated. T.
Finally watched it and it is a very good film. A great view of the foot soldiers, no glam, no fancy clubs or parties. Yes, there is the message of not very bright guys - probably most of them did not go past 10th grade. Gives a great view of the drudgery of the small time crook. One thing to keep in mind - the 20 bucks payoff for info was a lot more money when this film as made. About the hippies - there were radicals who wanted to rob banks and help 'political prisoners' escape so they would have been gun shopping. This film would easily fit in today but not just guns, drugs too. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
You're a master wordsmith, my friend, and you have impeccable taste in testosterone cinema. Cheers.
TFOEC is a hard boiled tale. It’s a great tour of Boston, MA…Love Story is a close second.
Re: Love Story. You're just talking geography, right?
Great movie great actors and Mitchum as his best
On the same page. Thanks for commenting, Mary. Appreciated. T.
completely off topic but I just finished a film called The Caretaker (1963) have you ever seen it? very enigmatic and eerie
Based on a Harold Pinter play, funded by some industry celebrities like Burton, Taylor, Saltzman, Sellers and Noel Coward because no distributor would bankroll it, with the cast, director and writer taking no payment, it's a uniquely executed oddity. That I've never seen. One of those elusive items I keep meaning to get around to, but to date it's not happened. Do you rate it, Streed?
@@tonybush555 9/10, near masterpiece but I will warn you, the ending is far too abrupt, everything else however is absolutely magnificent, it's one of those films I call an "atmosphere piece" almost nothing happens yet the tension, atmosphere and characters are what completely carry the film, I honestly think if the film hadn't starred shaw, bates & pleasence, it probably would've been a boring vacuous waste of time but it's an experience I long to share with others, it's actually free on TH-cam, no rush but if your looking for a disquieting, eerie British drama that takes place in one location, The Caretaker (1963) is for you :)
I can give this great film no higher praise than to say it is one of the 50 best of the 1970s.
When Jackie Brown tells an associate that he (Jackie) is a nice guy, I partially believe him. A nice guy who also happens to be a scumbag. I mention this because it is that niceness or friendliness that causes Jackie to slip and prove the truth of his best line in the movie, "This life is hard, man, but it is harder if you're stupid!" Someone smarter and more careful would never tell a fellow criminal like Eddie so much of his business and where he will be doing it later that day.
Not mentioned in your excellent summary was Jack Kehoe as one of Jackie's seedy associates. From this and The Sting to The Pope of Greenwich Village, Midnight Run and The Untouchables to his last role in The Game, Kehoe was always someone I was very happy to see in any movie.
If the "nephew" looked familiar, he had a small part in another classic crime film (though a little overrated, imo) as a trigger-happy cop in L.A. Confidential.
Thanks, and have a nice day.
Thanks for taking the time to comment, anrun. Enjoyed reading. T.
higgens was a district attorney in boston and based his great crime trilogy the diggers game cogans trade and the friends of eddie coyle on wiretaps and statements from real boston lowlifes.his early novels are very dialogue heavy.he was mitchum recalled as cynical as jordan in the picture.having lunch discussing it he told mitch about a case theyd just busted using a guy they turned as in the movie.what happened to him ? oh we fished him out of the bay eels swimming out of his eye sockets! dillon is the character that ties the three novels together.regarded by all as the most trusted crook in boston...a legend.in hindsight its not hard to think he was based on whitey bulger then unknown to most of us who indeed ran the underworld in the city while being a long term federal informant.
Higgins was a terrific writer, up there with Chandler and Elmore Leonard. Despite not being perhaps as widely known, his influence on crime fiction, books and movies, is extensive. Thank you for an informative comment, Mike. Appreciated. T.
"This life is hard, man,
but it's harder if you're stupid."
George Higgins wrote it,
Steven Keats said it.
And so many live it. Thank you for commenting. T.
Yates directed THE DEEP - Jacqueline Bisset in a wet and clingy tee shirt. Hard to beat that.
The Deep reviewed here: th-cam.com/video/yoGlOwKEsZE/w-d-xo.html
On this preceeding Tarantino's criminals with quirky tendencies to ramble anecdotes, Tarantino is undeniably, as some have already called him, "God's own plagiarist". If he is half the kynophilo I repute him to be, he chose the Jackie Brown name on purpose as a private joke on this film (which I doubt very much he hasn't seen loads of times before he made "Jackie Brown", given his 1970s hard-on).
Seems a fair bet to me, Vitor, which was my motivation for drawing attention to it as sounding familiar. The character in Elmore Leonard's novel Rum Punch upon which Jackie Brown the movie is based was called Jackie Burke, if memory serves. Tarantino changed it. Referencing TFOEC seems likely.