"Harper" (1966)

There is no way in Hell Shane Black didn’t watch this prior to writing “The Last Boy Scout” or “The Nice Guys.” This is a L.A. detective story, and it’s hardboiled as you can make it. Except, it’s not grim. It’s a lighter touch of goofy Los Angeles crime story.

The story introduces us to “Harper” (title character played by Paul Newman). He’s a dirtbag gumshoe. Which we learn a few things about his life, just in the opening sequence. He sleeps in his disaster of an office (Joe Hallenbeck in “The Last Boy Scout”). He drinks terrible coffee. He drives a car that was nice at some point of its life. And he is on some oddball case that a friend gave to him, again “The Last Boy Scout.”

A rich guy is missing and his wife (Lauren Bacall) is trying to find him. She’s a little less than enthusiastic about the investigation, since it’s a half-ass effort, but she goes along with it as her sex kitten step daughter, Miranda, played by Pamela Griffin attempts to find him. Her attempt is equally as pressed, as she’s taken with both a young man named Allan Taggart who lives with them played by Robert Wagner.

A ransom is demanded by the kidnappers and now it’s up to Harper to figure out who it is. The fog of Hollywood in the 60’s is great. Headcase, New Agey shit is on full display. As is raw unfiltered language of insensitivity. As when they deal with an aging starlet named Fay Estabrook who has turned fat played by Shelley Winters. They don’t pull any punches with her. Poor Shelley, now the butt of both this movie and “The Poseidon Adventure.”

This movie has some real laughs in it. As it was penned by William Goldman, I wasn’t surprise the tongue-in-cheek goofiness that he provides. What could be a dark angry movie turns to be a more bouncy hip 60’s movie. The music, cars and style of this movie is great. As is the look of the movie, shot by a young Conrad Hall. The movie looks great. A lot of style and buoyancy to the era. To me, this is the perfect time period that withstands aging. Yes, the wardrobe is dated, but as with most fashion, most likely a few returns.

There is a great moment between Harper’s ex-wife and himself…the wife played by Janet Leigh. Her character is a fed up partner who understands he’s a dog chasing cars. It doesn’t know why it does it, but it must. Though buried in optimistic hope, it always comes back to the hard nature of his profession. And his inability to drop focus for a minute. He’s a noble guy in a town of morally bankrupt people, yet he’s seen more the outsider.

A great detective fun movie. Laughs a plenty. And great to see Newman get into being an unlikeable dude.