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The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

A story that's too fascinating to pass by...

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

Harper has a great meaning for me,because l was sixteen years old when l watched this picture,never forget Harper making coffee in early morning but don't find nothing in tin can,so he looked at garbage can and get back a used coffee again,after take a coffee he made a gesture which seemingly the taste wasn't good enough,so on the picture is a delight and pleasant entertainment...Harper has to faces all kind of dangers and odd people who came around and in the ending allowed us an enigmatic end point!!! Resume: First watch: 1978 / How many: 4 / Source: TV-Cable TV-DVD / Rating: 8.25

Perfectly capturing the flavor and atmosphere of Ross McDonald's novel, "The Moving Target", this movie marks a great improvement on television director Jack Smight's first two movie efforts, namely "I'd Rather Be Rich" (1964) and "The Third Day" (1965). Of course, Smight does have a great cast here, including top-of-the- bill Paul Newman who is a brilliant selection for Lew Harper, and Lauren Bacall, making a welcome re-appearance on the big screen as Mrs. Sampson. The other acting credits are also top hat with Julie Harris, Janet Leigh, Pamela Tiffin and Shelley Winters vying for our attention.Incidentally, IMDb, Ross McDonald spells his name with a capital "D" – or at least he does just that in the British editions of his books!

What we have here is basically a Paul Newman show in a noir movie. Newman is good as the cynical , smart ass detective. I have to say that the mystery is intriguing and the answers are surprising. The dialogues are good. The movie also has some nice women to look at – Lauren Bacall ("Key largo") is quite hot despite her age , same goes for Janet Leigh ("Psycho") and Pamela Tiffin is certainly HOT.The movie is long and unfortunately the pacing isn't always good. "Harper" does seem to drag in few places and I was wondering was it because of the direction or the length. Probably both. "Harper" doesn't have the necessary tension and doesn't really grips the viewer into the movie world. I found myself bored in few places , like the movie was wondering where to go next. Jack Smight could have done better job.The biggest problem I have is the ending. I'm talking about the very last scene of the movie which is incredibly lame. I was like "WTF ! That's it ?!" after watching the movie. I know that old movies often have unimpressive endings , but this was unintentionally laughable.Despite the problem with the direction and lame ending "Harper" is still a solid thriller. I give it 7/10.

So where else could you get a chance to catch a fleshy Shelley Winters snore like a moose in heat. But you have to give it to the former glamour girl—she does the blowzy barfly really well. Poor Harper. Just the thought of maybe having to couple with her in the line of duty gives him the shakes and thoughts of a different line of work.All in all, it's a good gumshoe movie. Harper (Newman) has to track down a kidnapped rich guy even though nobody really wants the old tyrant back. Certainly not his silken, sarcastic wife (Bacall), nor his shapely, spinning-top daughter (Tiffen), nor even the live-in pretty boy (Wagner). Still, gumshoe Harper gets to tour about every happening nightspot in '60's Hollywood, and we get to go along for the noisy ride. And catch the icky Strother Martin as the high priest of love, or is it the sun god, or maybe even the high priest of illegal aliens! Anyhow, there he is in his open-air temple on top one of those scrubby LA hills that burn every year. Yes indeed, no smog city movie would be complete without at least one of these wacko frauds.I'll say this for Newman—he sure earns his money. I've never seen a PI get clobbered so many times without even a love tap in return. Lew Harper is clearly no Mike Hammer. And what's with the long-suffering wife (Leigh). Her role as Mrs. Harper sort of dangles from the plot like a glued on appendage. Nonetheless, if I were he, I'd be spending all my nights at home. But catch actress Julie Harris doing some big-time emoting. I knew her New York stage talents were in the cast for some good reason. And I really like the ending, so right for an American culture moving into a new era.No, this gumshoe saga won't make you forget the Maltese Falcon or even Kiss Me Deadly, but it's sure a colorful way to pass an entertaining couple of hours.