A Stand-Up Guy: "The Friends of Eddie Coyle" (1973)

The early 1970’s was a fertile time for cops and robbers pictures. Gritty urban dramas like “The French Connection”, “The Taking of Pelham 1-2-3”, and “Dog Day Afternoon” were critical as well as box-office hits. A lesser known, yet just as worthy film, is “The Friends of Eddie Coyle”, released by Paramount in 1973. Peter Yates, who had directed the Steve McQueen classic “Bullit” five years earlier, employs less flashy, yet still crisp and controlled direction that moves the story forward and keeps hold of the viewer’s interest. Especially good is a lengthy early scene of a bank robbery that builds tension naturally and effectively, primarily through Yates’ direction.

Though the costumes and Dave Grusin’s slightly intrusive score mark the picture as a definite product of the early 70’s, the plot remains fresh, concerning double crossing and “friends” who may turn you in to save their own skin or invite you out to dinner and a hockey game. Set in, and filmed around Quincy, Massachusetts, the film benefits greatly from Gene Callahan’s production design, which creates a self-enclosed world of dingy barrooms and clandestine meetings in out of the way places between small-time hoods and fences, one of whom is the Eddie Coyle of the title, played by legendary movie tough guy Robert Mitchum.

Mitchum was always an interesting actor to watch, as he always looked like he’d just as soon kick your ass as shake your hand. As the picture starts, Eddie’s facing a hearing for an incident where he was caught driving a truck full of stolen liquor, and seemingly makes a living buying guns to sell to a gang of bank robbers. In this world, who you trust can be a matter of life and death, and the cast of familiar faces (you may not know the names Alex Rocco, Joe Santos, Richard Jordan, and Steven Keats, but film fans will surely recognize them) playing cops, and both big and small-time crooks is a pleasure to watch. Getting back to Mitchum, however, I submit that by this time in his career he could’ve played Eddie Coyle in his sleep, he is great in the role; never coasting on his familiar image and investing the character with real emotions and concerns.

An exceptionally good supporting performance is given by Peter Boyle as Eddie’s pal Dillon. If you’re only familiar with Boyle’s comic acting in “Young Frankenstein” or his grumpy grandpa on the long-running “Everybody Loves Raymond”, you may be surprised at how well he handles the multi-layered character here. Dillon, like every other character in the film has his own agenda, which doesn’t become entirely clear until late in the film, and the reveal adds a chill when you recall how early in the film he tells Eddie “You’re a stand up guy.” It is precisely because Eddie is that kind of guy that he finds himself in the situation that he’s in.
　
"The Friends of Eddie Coyle" succeeds not only as one of the better urban crime dramas of the early 70', but also, thanks to Mitchum and his iconic presence, as a link to the classic Hollywood genre film; well worth viewing!