MovieChat Forums > Coogan's Bluff (1968) Discussion > Did I miss something?

Did I miss something?

posted 5 years ago by LTUM (969)
2 replies | jump to latest

I ask that ^^ rhetorically. Because, I know I didn't, because it's just not there.

This:

I don't get the jump from him kissing her in the bathtub straight to the next shot of the chopper putting down on a roof in NYC. What happened? He was going to the sheriff's desk (bathtub convo) in one hour then BOOM he's in NYC on a chopper.

How did this happen? I don't get it. Feels like a huge chunk got left out.

If this was intentional, then I must say it's very odd editing by the filmmakers. Strange sequence with huge lack of continuity.

Just saying.

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

I dunno.

[–] Wuchak (8075) 3 years ago

In the bathtub sequence, the Sheriff acknowledged Coogan as a loner-type and said he had a one-man job for him; he was instructed to report to his desk in an hour. There was enough time for Coogan & Millie to have a 'quicky' before making it to the Sheriff's office.

Since the very next scene is Coogan landing in NYC on a chopper the viewer assumes that Coogan's assignment has something to do with traveling to the Big Apple, which Coogan explains to a passenger on the chopper (he was there to extradite a prisoner back to Arizona for sentencing).

You're right that it's an abrupt shift, but I saw it as the director (or whoever) cutting out the fat to keep the runtime trim. In other words, getting straight to the point -- New York City -- rather than blowing more time in Arizona. Compare it with Eastwood's "The Eiger Sanction" (1975), which contained too many details & redundancy, bulking the film up to 2 hours, 9 minutes. This movie, by contrast, is lean at 1 hour, 33 minutes.