Coogan's Bluff (1968)

An Arizona deputy sheriff (Clint Eastwood) is sent to New York City to extradite an escaped killer (Don Stroud). However, his crude methods and ideas of law and order clash with the New York City Police Department. Directed by Don Siegel (INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS), this was the first of the five film collaborations between director Siegel and star Eastwood. I'd say it was the weakest of their collaborations if it weren't for ESCAPE FROM ALCATRAZ (yes, I know that movie has its admirers). It's a typical "fish out of water" plot with a reactionary lawman adrift in a sordid New York City filled with criminals, hookers, junkies, hippies, homosexuals and grifters. The horror! Eastwood's Coogan is pretty sleazy himself. He breaks the law when it suits his own agenda, uses the one friend (Susan Clark in a demeaning role) he makes in New York to get information and abandons her when he gets it, has sex with the underage girlfriend (Tisha Sterling) of the man he's tracking down and bullies his way through out by flashing his badge though he has no authority outside of Arizona. This is our hero? But I'll give it its due, it's never boring and the entertainment value is strong. The inspiration for the TV series MCCLOUD with Dennis Weaver. With an unusually restrained Lee J. Cobb, Betty Field (who has one great scene), Tom Tully and Seymour Cassel.