Likable, if less known than some of Eastwood's films, it is not without significance. This movie neatly segues from the Leone westerns to Dirty Harry. Indeed this is where Eastwood and Siegel first pair up and the seeds of the subsequent violent thrillers are clearly visible. It is also significant in that being a 1968 film we get a depiction of sexual politics that still resonates today. There is an early scene where Tisha Sterling is talking to her 'client' or probationer played by Don Stroud and the slimy kid touches, strokes and finally takes a hold of one of her breasts. Eastwood's 'country boy' from Arizona, looking more like a cowboy than a cop takes exception and knocks Stroud away. Tisha's character, who seemed to accept the sexual attention, is upset that her 'client' is now upset. Even more odd, as we now look back, Eastwood then picks up his case, takes her by the arm and announces he's taking her to lunch, and more as it subsequently turns out. Within the storyline of a film of this period it doesn't seem all that strange, no more it was, but looked at now from the era of a new morality, quite astonishing. The story moves well, Siegel has an eye for composition and can choreograph a bar room fight or a chase as good as anyone. The final motorbike chase is set on the slopes of an autumnal Fort Tryon Park and looks very good. Also good looking and very well shot is a hippy gig with back projections, coloured lights, near naked boys and girls and painted faces. Well worth a watch.

What would happen if you put a cowboy in New York City. Coogan (Clint Eastwood) comes to the big city with an agenda. He is at his best in a pre-Dirty Harry movie. His actions are the same. He is a lawman who doesn't play by the rules, resorting to serious violence when he doesn't get the cooperation he wants. The key here is the whole Eastwood persona. He speaks in that guttural voice, almost a whisper. When he talks, people listen. He runs into some punks of course, and needs to teach them a lesson. He also has to go underground, dealing with some women who have no trouble engaging the big guy. Lately, Eastwood has really been ticking me off, but I have to admit that he has had quite a career.

Here Clint Eastwood gets to bring a little of the Western into an urban jungle, playing the title character, an Arizona deputy with his own way of doing things. His sheriff (Tom Tully) is tired of him, but assigns him the task of extraditing a criminal named Ringerman (Don Stroud), who's being held in NYC. Disgusted with the amount of red tape that he's obliged to wade through, Coogan obtains Ringerman through false pretenses - and then the young mans' associates get the drop on him, and Ringerman escapes. However, Coogan isn't about to let a little wounded pride get to him, as he continues to frustrate police lieutenant McElroy (Lee J. Cobb) with his methods of tracking a wanted man.Clint is a lot of fun to watch, showing off that natural screen presence that made him a star. He makes the most out of what many people agree to be a predecessor to his iconic screen role of Dirty Harry. The movie itself, produced & directed by Clints' frequent collaborator Don Siegel, works as a "fish out of water" type of story in which different approaches to law enforcement clash, and where the environment has a pivotal part to play. Use of various NYC locations is great, and Lalo Schifrins' music score is excellent. The climactic motorcycle chase is reasonably exciting, but the most striking scene of all has to be when Coogan tails Ringermans' lady friend Linny Raven (Tisha Sterling) to a nightclub. Among the images on the big screen there is a shot from "Tarantula", in which Clint had a small uncredited role.There's a great sexual chemistry between Clint and well-meaning probation officer Julie Roth (sexy Susan Clark); he also works well with Sterling, who's a delight as a cheery hippie chick. Stroud unfortunately doesn't get a lot to do, the way that the story is written, but the supporting cast, led by the always solid Cobb, includes familiar faces such as Betty Field, James Edwards, David Doyle, Louis Zorich, Seymour Cassel, Albert Popwell (who would go on to appear in four of the "Dirty Harry" movies), and Conrad Bain.A well paced and consistently entertaining movie, "Coogan's Bluff" later evolved into the 'McCloud' TV series with Dennis Weaver.Seven out of 10.

The first in a series of films that starred Clint Eastwood and directed by Don Siegel, they both worked together again for the films Two Mules for Sister Sara, The Beguiled, Dirty Harry and Escape from Alcatraz (might count Play Misty for Me as Clint gave Don a cameo role).Coogan's Bluff stars Clint as Sheriff Coogan who gets sent to New York City from Arizona to pick up a fugitive who is wanted for murder.The character Coogan is definitely a lot like the more iconic character Harry Callahan which came along a few years later in Dirty Harry. This is from a time though when Clint was just best known for the Dollars trilogy and the TV series Rawhide which makes it interesting to watch as it's Clint's first successful attempt to step outside the western and war genres.The film itself is pretty much a western but set in modern times and it works well. If you love the Dirty Harry films or a fan of Clint Eastwood or Don Siegel (or both), you'll love this one.