Paul Newman memorably plays the title role in this box-office hit based on Ross MacDonald’s The Moving Target. The first detective film in Newman’s then 23-film career, Harper revitalized the genre. Newman’s sleuth chews gum fast… and slips out of jams ever faster as he unravels a twisted case of kidnapping and murder. William Goldman’s clever script throws quips and a parade of LA-LA-Land characters Harper’s way. There’s a woman of means (Lauren Bacall), a gun-toting attorney (Arthur Hill), a poolside gigolo (Robert Wagner), a boozy ex-starlet (Shelley Winters), a jazz junkie (Julie Harris), Harper’s estranged wife (Janet Leigh) and the unholy order of the Temple of the Clouds (led by Strother Martin). Each may possess a clue. Or a bullet for Harper.

For thoughts on Harper, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:

[youtube https://youtu.be/-SIE4ZmeBEA?si=5cRSJlGbsZHVspc4&t=570]

Video Quality

Warner Archive presents Harper with a gorgeous 1080p master transfer in 2.35:1 sourced from a 2K scan of the Interpositive. Warner Archive knows how to treat its classic output with care, and this release is a great effort from them during the early part of their transition to HD. With each location, you are treated to a world of detail and clarity that will leave you stunned. The natural film grain elevates the picture with the texture you crave. The film features some deep colors within the costumes and production design that saturate the screen with an immense vibrancy. The film is nearly pristine with no noticeable instances of damage or dirt detected anywhere. Highlights remain strong and black levels are formidable. Compression artifacts, banding, and other such discrepancies do not serve as an issue in this transfer. Warner Archive knows how to deliver a quality product.

Audio Quality

The Blu-Ray comes with a remastered DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track that is perfectly in line with the sonic intentions of the film and free of damage. Dialogue and background noises are balanced admirably along with the cool score from Johnny Mandel. The dialogue comes through clearly with no elements drowning out the stylized language. The more thrilling moments are handled well and give the track a bit of excitement. There is no discernible age-related wear and tear to the track such as hissing, dropouts, or popping. Warner Archive has delivered a disc that sounds rock solid. There are also optional English (SDH) subtitles included for the feature film.

Special Features

Audio Commentary: Screenwriter William Goldman provides a terrific commentary track in which he discusses his transition into screenwriting, what Paul Newman brought to the role, the changes from the source material, the importance of the credit sequence, moments that irritate him, and much more that is certainly worth a listen.

Trailer: A nearly four-minute trailer is provided here.

Final Thoughts

Harper is a pretty great vehicle for star Paul Newman, who takes a character who is fairly straightforward on the page and injects some real outsized charisma. While it is debatable if this is a film noir, the narrative falls in line with many of the greats of the genre. The further these characters tumble down the rabbit hole, the more entertaining things become. This one really moves and delivers exactly what you want from a detective tale. Warner Archive has released a stellar Blu-Ray that sports a first-rate A/V presentation and a welcome commentary track. If you are a Paul Newman fan, this one is worth a watch. Recommended

Harper can be purchased directly through MovieZyng or various other online retailers.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Warner Archive has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.