The Drowning Pool (1975)

An L.A. private detective (Paul Newman) is hired by a New Orleans oil heiress and ex-flame (Joanne Woodward) to deal with a blackmailer (Andy Robinson). But a routine case of blackmail quickly turns into homicide and skeletons in closets. Based on the novel by Ross MacDonald, Newman returns to the role he played in HARPER nine years earlier. If it doesn't have the star power or noir-ish sheen of the 1966 film, it's still a more than decent detective mystery. The film benefits from having the great Gordon Willis as the cinematographer who gives the Louisiana locations an atmospheric gloss which compensates for the often uneven direction by Stuart Rosenberg (COOL HAND LUKE). The performances are okay with only the 17 year old Melanie Griffith standing out as Woodward's troublesome daughter. With Anthony Franciosa, Richard Jaeckel, Coral Browne, Murray Hamilton, Gail Strickland, Helena Kallianiotes, Richard Derr and Linda Haynes.