The Drowning Pool poster & wallpaper
Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward, Anthony Franciosa, Murray Hamilton, Gail Strickland ... see more see more... , Melanie Griffith , Linda Haynes , Richard Jaeckel , Paul Koslo , Joe Canutt , Andrew Robinson , Coral Browne , Richard Derr , Helena Kallianiotes , Leigh French , Peter Dassinger , Cecil Elliott

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 Louisia... read more read more...na, 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. Matters become more complicated when Iris' mother-in-law Olivia (Coral Browne) is found murdered. Eventually, Harper traces the blackmail letter to Kilborne (Murray Hamilton), another bayou oil baron, and along the way encounters Schuyler (Melanie Griffith), Iris' young but ripe daughter; Pat Reavis (Andy Robinson), Olivia's former chauffeur and a key suspect in her murder; and Detective Broussard (Tony Franciosa), a police investigator who, like Harper, was once involved with Iris. This was Coral Browne's first film after her marriage to actor Vincent Price in 1974. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

49% liked it

584 ratings

Critics

58% liked it

12 critics

PG, 1 hr. 48 min.

Directed by: Stuart Rosenberg

Release Date: January 7, 1975

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: November 14, 2006

Get It:

Stats: 62 reviews

report incorrect info

Photos

The Drowning Pool The Drowning Pool The Drowning Pool The Drowning Pool The Drowning Pool
Upload a Photo | View All The Drowning Pool Photos

Your Rating


clear rating

Flixster Reviews (62)

  • ythelastman89
    January 31, 2010
    ythelastman89
    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. ... read moreStuart Rosenberg made a film that isn't just fluff, it's extremely well made. If you enjoyed the first, I can't see you not liking this.
  • garyX
    August 6, 2009
    garyX
    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 dete... read morective, hard-nosed cops, promiscuous young girl, shadowy land baron and the inevitable mix of small time hoods and snitches. The plot is very similar to that of Chinatown (although lacking its subtlety) but it actually works rather better than its predecessor because of the lack of swinging sixties style gimmicks; it has dated rather better as a result. A decent detective story that lacks flash or even a hint of originality but is good, solid entertainment.
  • jjnxn
    June 11, 2009
    jjnxn
    mediocre and muddled but Newman is good as always.
  • jam233
    December 26, 2009
    jam233
    Good, but nothing extraordinary, and considering the cast, I would have expected more. It?s well made, a little to slow in parts, but generally satisfying.
  • letamagee
    October 20, 2008
    letamagee
    I chose to go see this with one guy over going to see Joan Jett and the BlackHearts with another guy... DUMB MOVE!!!!!
  • thrusz
    January 23, 2008
    thrusz
    I started out with Harper and I'm ending with The Drowning Pool. How appropriate. (Okay, it's really not going to work this way because I have to wait for Flixster to put up Pocket Money, but they're pretty good at that.) Drowning Pool has Paul Newm... read morean revisit his titular character from Harper investigating something. I forget because the initial reason he's there isn't important.

    Like Harper, the detective story is actually pretty light and it really is more about the ride than solving this superficial puzzle. I can't really complain about this movie again because it really is just a light-hearted romp. Lew Harper isn't so much of a great detective (although the movie paints him to be a genius) as he is a guy who gets lucky when it comes to solving crime. There's the same old character, but some of the emotional stuff is really gone. Lew had to deal with losing his wife in Harper, but has a distant relationship to Joanne Woodward's character, which really fails to get into any depth. For a while, I was wondering if Joanne Woodward was playing Janet Leigh's character until we find out about her fifteen year old daughter.

    What I will say that The Drowning Pool offers over Harper is some very cool visuals. The title scene is a very interesting one where things don't work out exactly as they are supposed to. But that's really about it. I mean, the ending of Harper really is this personal, dynamite scene. Unfortunately, that moment is never really explained in Drowning Pool. I guess we don't need it explained because Harper is back in this one.

    As much as this is a sequel, it really isn't. Yes, Paul Newman is still playing the same character, but this character is coming down the track ten years later. He doesn't have any of the problems he had in the first one. The first movie doesn't even come into play. Very much like James Bond, you don't need to see them in order (outside of On Her Majesty's Secret Service). Yeah, it's a good time, but not a memorable one again. Newman still brings his charm to the screen and, at times, that's all you can really ask for out of this film.
  • tjo7
    October 9, 2007
    tjo7
    Outstanding detective picture that they won't make any more. A sequel to 1960's Harper. I'm still waiting for it to be released on DVD. I worked at a first screen house when it was released, and it didn't get the attention it greatly deserved.

View All The Drowning Pool Reviews

Critic Reviews

Variety Staff
June 5, 2008
Variety Staff, Variety

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

A.H. Weiler
May 9, 2005
A.H. Weiler, New York Times

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

Roger Ebert
October 23, 2004
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

A confusing and not very exciting private eye caper. Full Review

Don Druker
January 1, 2000
Don Druker, Chicago Reader

An interminable drag. Full Review

June 17, 2008
TV Guide's Movie Guide

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. Full Review

Steve Crum
February 17, 2008
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com

Solid Newman-Woodward detective thriller.

January 26, 2006
Time Out

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

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
January 18, 2004
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice

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

May 24, 2003
Film4

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

Cynthia Fuchs
October 22, 2005
Cynthia Fuchs, PopMatters

No review available.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Cast

More Like This

Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • The Big Sleep
    The Big Sleep (100%)

More Movies like The Drowning Pool

Facts

Submit a Fact | View All
    • Detective Franks: There's nothing wrong with southern California that a rise in the ocean level wouldn't cure.
Submit a Fact | View All

The Drowning Pool : Watch Free on TV

The Drowning Pool Trivia

  • In "THE DROWNING POOL" Paul Newman starred along with his real life spouse, being  Answer »
  • I STARRED IN THESE FILMS: Crazy in Alabama (1999), Lolita (1997), The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990), The Drowning Pool (1975), Cecil B. DeMented (2000), Milk Money (1994).  Answer »
  • What was the sequel to the Paul Newman movie "Harper"?   Answer »
  • Paul Newman movie? The Drowning Pool  Answer »
More The Drowning Pool Trivia

Movie Quizzes

No quizzes for The Drowning Pool. Want to create one?

Video Clips

No video clips yet. Want to upload one?

Meet Other Fans

Add The Drowning Pool to favorites

Recent News

No recent headlines. Got one?

Recent Lists

Make a List |

View All Lists

Most Popular Skin

No skins yet. Interested in creating one?