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The Drowning Pool (1975)

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Average Rating: 5.4/10
Reviews Counted: 12
Fresh: 7 | Rotten: 5

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Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 4
Fresh: 1 | Rotten: 3

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Average Rating: 3.2/5
User Ratings: 566

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Movie Info

Paul Newman returns as private detective Lew Harper is this tale of blackmail and murder based on a novel by Ross MacDonald. Iris Devereaux (Joanne Woodward), the wife of a wealthy oilman from Louisiana, hires Harper after she receives a threatening letter. A blackmailer is threatening to tell Iris' husband James (Richard Derr) about a recent extramarital affair; she claims this indiscretion never happened, though she has been unfaithful in the past, and years ago had a brief fling with Harper.

PG, 1 hr. 48 min.

Drama, Mystery & Suspense, Classics

Directed By: Stuart Rosenberg

Written By: Tracy Keenan Wynn, Lorenzo Semple Jr., Walter Hill

In Theaters: Jan 7, 1975 Wide

On DVD: Nov 14, 2006

Cast

Paul Newman
Harper
Joanne Woodward
Iris Devereaux
Anthony Franciosa
Det. Broussard
Murray Hamilton
Kilbourne
Gail Strickland
Mavis Kilbourne
Melanie Griffith
Schuyler Devereaux
Linda Haynes
Gretchen
Richard Jaeckel
Detective Franks
Paul Koslo
Candy
Joe Canutt
Glo
Andrew Robinson
Pat Reavis
Coral Browne
Olivia Devereaux
Richard Derr
James Devereaux
Helena Kallianiotes
Elaine Reavis
Leigh French
Redhead
Peter Dassinger
Peter
Cecil Elliott
Motel Switchboard Opera...

Critic Reviews for The Drowning Pool

All Critics (12) | Top Critics (4) | Fresh (7) | Rotten (5) | DVD (3)

Stylish, improbable, entertaining, superficial, well cast, and totally synthetic.

June 5, 2008 Full Review Source: Variety

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Variety Staff

Variety

Top Critic

As a convoluted caper it generates action rather than character and surface mystery rather than meaning.

May 9, 2005 Full Review Source: New York Times

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A.H. Weiler

New York Times

Top Critic

A confusing and not very exciting private eye caper.

October 23, 2004 Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Top Critic

An interminable drag.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader

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Don Druker

Chicago Reader

Top Critic

This and a few other scenes are truly suspenseful, but for the most part the film is a synthetic, forced story peopled with some interesting characters and fine performances.

June 17, 2008 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide

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TV Guide's Movie Guide

Solid Newman-Woodward detective thriller.

February 17, 2008 Comment

Steve Crum

Video-Reviewmaster.com

Unfortunately, Rosenberg directs flatly, hopping from one set piece to the next, disjointedly throwing characters of varying interest across Newman's path.

January 26, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out

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Time Out

About a cool gumshoe with a one-track mind — solving the case he's on

January 18, 2004 Full Review Source: Spirituality and Practice

| Comment

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat

Spirituality and Practice

Dullish detective yarn that promises a great deal more than it delivers in story, direction or atmosphere.

May 24, 2003 Full Review Source: Film4

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Film4

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Audience Reviews for The Drowning Pool

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An excellent sequel to Harper. It takes everything great from the first film without being repetitive. Paul Newman delivered a great performance as did a young Melanie Griffith. The story was extremely intriguing and entertaining, while also having a light hearted, comedic tone. Stuart Rosenberg made a film that isn't

January 31, 2010

Conner Rainwater

Super Reviewer

Lew Harper returns to investigate a case of the blackmail of a wealthy southern woman and uncovers corruption and murder. As usual. The sequel to Harper is far less jokey in tone and is more of a straight noir style thriller. All the usual ingredients are here; smart mouthed detective, hard-nosed cops, promiscuous

August 6, 2009