Because of Paul Newman‘s success with “H”-titled films, Ross MacDonald’s cool private eye Lew Archer became Lew Harper for this crisp whodunit. Engaged by flinty socialite Elaine Sampson (Lauren Bacall) to track down her missing millionaire husband, Harper (Newman) encounters a string of ruthless suspects and some devastating double-crosses. Crackling adaptation of MacDonald’s “The Moving Target” co-stars Shelley Winters, Julie Harris, Arthur Hill, Janet Leigh, Robert Wagner, and Pamela Tiffin.
Earning a whopping $12,000,000 during its initial release in 1966, Harper was a box office sensation. As a result, a sequel — The Drowning Pool — was released in 1975. (With the tagline “Harper days are here again,” naturally). As portrayed by Newman, Lew Harper remains a dynamic cinematic private investigator.
Harper is now available on Blu-ray.