Watching Paul Newman in “Harper”

Watching the 1966 movie “Harper,” on Turner Classic Movies was an enjoyable experience.

Paul Newman gave a fine performance, albeit not as great as in many of his films including “The Sting” and “Cool Hand Luke.”

Harold Gould (“Kid Twist” in “The Sting”) and Strother Martin (who tells Paul’s “Luke” “we have a failure to communicate” in “Cool Hand Luke”) were both in “Harper.”

A character with few redeeming features in “Harper” is “Ralph Sampson” the same name as the basketball player, who was good in the pros but never near the great player he was supposed to become.

That note makes me appreciate the often great and never less than fine work of actor Paul Newman.