Released in 1967, "Cool Hand Luke" continues to be one of the most popular films in American history. (Belton, 2008) The film starred famous actor Paul Newman and was based on the trials and tribulations that occurred inside a Florida prison camp. One of the main reasons why Cool Hand Luke continues to be relevant today is due to his incisive observations regarding the criminal justice system. Although the film was released more than forty years ago, Cool Hand Luke's relevance continues to this day. This article will provide a synopsis of the film and character analysis of Cool Hand Luke; furthermore, the article will analyze the film from the perspective of someone who is not familiar with the criminal justice system and a professional of the criminal justice system. Cool Hand Luke was based on the experiences of Lucas Jackson, a war hero returned to the world. United States. Lucas is sentenced to prison after being caught cutting off the heads of parking meters for no apparent reason. For this crime, Lucas is sentenced to two years in a notorious Florida prison camp run by a hard-core warden. Initially, Lucas is not well liked by either the guards or the inmates because he sees himself as independent and ignores the pecking order in the prison. Lucas' reputation begins to change when he shows resilience in a boxing match with Dragline, the alpha male inmate. His reputation was cemented when he bluffed a losing hand at poker, earning him the nickname "Cool Hand Luke". From this point on Luke is revered by the other inmates and seen as a leader and role model. As the film progresses, Luke begins to try to escape from prison several times. Whenever caught and punished severely... middle of paper... in most cases, the incorrigibility of prisoners arises from other root causes and is highly dangerous to the society. In conclusion, Cool Hand Luke is a highly entertaining character film for anyone, whether they have had experience with the criminal justice system or not. From start to finish, the film offers a variety of insights into the workings of the criminal justice system. While not all of these insights are rooted in reality, the film feels authentic in many ways. Cool Hand Luke remains an American classic and one of the best prison films ever created. Although others have been produced since 1967, it's hard to argue that the film has lost any of its credibility or fan following. References Belton, J. (2008). American cinema, American culture. New York: McGraw-Hill Publishing Cole, G. (2000). American criminal justice system. Chicago: Wadsworth Publishing