Product Details

• Actors: Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward, Anthony Franciosa, Murray Hamilton, Gail Strickland
• Directors: Stuart Rosenberg
• Writers: Lorenzo Semple Jr., Ross Macdonald, Tracy Keenan Wynn, Walter Hill
• Producers: David Foster, Hawk Koch, Lawrence Turman
• Format: Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Language: English, French
• Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Warner Home Video
• VHS Release Date: February 7, 1995
• Run Time: 108 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6300270335
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #238,037 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Harper, the wisecracking private investigator, goes to New Orleans to help out an old flame, Iris Deveraux. After the murder of her mother-in-law, someone implicates Iris and attempts to blackmail her. Harper has more suspects than he needs - Iris' sixteen-year-old Lolita-esque daughter, a former chauffer, a businessman and his kinky wife, and even Iris herself. What he uncovers is a web of tangled affairs and distractions all clouded by the murky water of the drowning pool.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Newman in N'awlins...or at least Louisiana!, January 14, 2003

By 

Banitac "bajmoldova" (Lawton, OK United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Drowning Pool [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This fine film is not a mystery, though some methodical detective work occurs. It is not a drama, though some very broken lives are exposed. It is Paul Newman exploring the backwoods and bayous of Louisiana, meeting a host of eccentric--but not, as another reviewer suggested, unrealistic--characters driven by greed, envy, selfishness, and in Newman's case, personal integrity.

Look for Melanie Griffith as a terribly temptatious teenage tart. Look for Newman effortlessly reflecting his pity for and simultaneous identification with the lost souls of this tale. Great acting, scenery, dialogue, and insight from a rewatchable classic.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Paul Newman delivers a great performance..., March 24, 2003

By 

Justine "movie fanatic" Smith "border_c2001" (Montreal, QC Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Drowning Pool [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This mystery is a great way to showcase Paul Newman's superb acting skills. Without him, this film, would not have worked. The film is an odd mystery that takes many odd turns, without subtle hints that are few and far in-between, so, you'd assume figuring out who the killer is would be difficult. Yet, towards you get it right at the beginning, despite the fact they never investigate the suspcet you get a feeling of who it is. Paul Newman, none theless gave it all, as always. He is an amazing actor, and the movie is worth seeing just for his baby blue eyes, and intelligent police work. Without him, as I said, it wouldn't work. I would have had to give it a 1 or 2 stars without him

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars As a former New Orleanian...., July 5, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Drowning Pool [VHS] (VHS Tape)

...I find this a very entertaining film. Growing up in another state, this was my first introduction to southern Louisiana in any form and a teasing glimpse of the city I knew I must one day call home...at least for a while. I find the acting in this movie exquisite from the ENTIRE cast; this being almost the one time that I found any of Melanie Griffith's work to remotely resemble her talented mother's. As for the characters, having lived and travelled often in that part of the country I find them most believable and their dialogue quite adequate. True, some of the plot is a bit of a stretch, but this is a drama and even the Greeks jazzed up their work; no pun intended. This is a good glimpse into the world of a people who guard their secrets like they guard their family names and community status. A world that still exists in New Orleans.