Lew Harper (Paul Newman) is a private detective based in Los Angeles. This morning, he has a meeting with Elaine Sampson (Lauren Bacall). Her husband is missing and she doesn't want to involve the police. Sampson's lawyer is Albert Graves (Arthur Hill), an old friend of Harper's and also the man who suggested him for the job. Harper begins his investigation by talking to the pilot who last saw Sampson, Allan Taggert (Robert Wagner). This leads him to a high-end hotel where Sampson has a room, which leads to a once famous actress, Fay Estabrook (Shelley Winters), and so on. Harper has a talent for adopting personalities that allow him to pump people for information. However, the further he digs into the case, the more he finds himself in danger. It isn't a simple missing person case.
To add to Harper's troubles, his wife (Janet Leigh) has filed for divorce. Harper has repeatedly dodged lawyer appointments to stave off the divorce. Sheriff Spanner (Harold Gould) is unimpressed by Harper's methods. Miranda Sampson (Pamela Tiffin) is the missing man's daughter and enjoys flaunting herself in front of men for a lark. She has a contentious relationship with her stepmother.
It amazes me that I had not seen this film or that it isn't more hyped as one of Newman's great roles. Oddly, I did see The Drowning Pool (1975), but I remember virtually nothing of it since that must have been 40 years ago. I'll have to watch it again. Harper is hugely entertaining and highly recommended. Great popcorn fun!
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