Coogan's Bluff (1968 Don Siegel)

Oh dear. Time has not been kind to Coogan's Bluff -  it seems more dated than our recent thirties films and Clint seems to have reversed in the cool stakes since The Good The Bad and the Ugly - he's a kind of randy raccoon - quite embarrassing. Grotesque characters abound in Arizona sheriff-out-of-water in NYC comic book violence crazyland.

Important, I know, because of the teaming of Clint and Siegel - they went on to better things. Blame the writers (none of whom I'd heard of - similarly the cameraman and editor). The awful highlight is the 'groovy' 'Pigeon Toed Orange Peel' section which is so bad it warrants inclusion in a Family Guy episode.

For the record, actors are Lee J Cobb, Susan Clark, Tisha Sterling, Don Stroud and - get this for weird - King's Row's Betty Field as the psycho's mother.

Lalo Schifrin's score - piano, vibes, percussion - is very much of the moment. Some nice location shooting at least. Alexander Golitzen is credited as a production designer.

What's the 'bluff' of the title anyway?