Cool Hand Luke is a classic 1967 American prison drama film directed by Stuart Rosenberg, featuring an outstanding performance by Paul Newman in the title role. It tells the story of a prisoner who refuses to conform to life in a rural prison and has been revered for its hard-hitting performances and powerful script. The film has brought forth some iconic quotes that have stood the test of time and continue to inspire audiences.
Here are 20 of the most popular quotes from Cool Hand Luke:
- “What we’ve got here is…failure to communicate.”
- “Sometimes nothin’ can be a real cool hand.”
- “Boy, you’re just gonna sit there and let that ol’ man paddle you? You’ve got to go all out.”
- “I don’t care if it rains or freezes, as long as i’ve got my plastic Jesus sitting on the dashboard of my car.”
- “Any fool can stay in an air-conditioned office all day.”
- “A man’s gotta go his own way.”
- “You run one time, you got yourself a set of chains. You run twice you got yourself two sets. You ain’t gonna need a third set, ’cause you gonna get your mind right.”
- “You ain’t from around here, are you?
- “Small town, not much to do in the evening.”
- “One in the box, one in the bush.”
- “Oh Luke, you wild, beautiful thing. You crazy handful of nothin’.”
- “Get yourself a sweet madonna, dressed in rhinestones sitting on a pedestal of abalone shell.”
- “I’m shaking it, boss.”
- “You’re gonna get used to wearing them chains after a while, Luke. But you’re gonna remember that you’re in here for life.”
- “Man, you’re a real free spirit, ain’t ya?”
- “A man can’t breastfeed, no matter how right he do feel.”
- “I can eat fifty eggs.”
- “Why you got to go and say fifty eggs for? Why not thirty five or thirty nine?”
- “Maybe part of his problem was he had too many people who liked him.”
- “I’ve never seen an egg eatin’ boy before!”
The quotes from Cool Hand Luke continue to resonate due to their profound, philosophical, and sometimes comical nature. They contribute to the richness of the film’s narrative and the depth of the characters, making it a cinematic masterpiece that has left an indelible mark on American cinema.