SYNOPSIS

Peter Yates, the Oscar-nominated director of riveting crime classics Robbery and Bullitt, teamed up with the incomparable Robert Mitchum for an unforgettable excursion into Boston’s criminal underworld.

Based on the acclaimed novel by George V. Higgins, The Friends of Eddie Coyle follows an ageing gunrunner’s troubles at the peripheries of the local mob once he finds his options split disastrously between the threat of a fresh prison sentence or police cooperation.

One of the best, most unexpected gangster films of the 1970s, The Friends of Eddie Coyle is a gripping tale of low-lives and loyalties, presented with the director’s trademark authenticity and naturalism, and an extraordinary array of performances, led by a never-better Mitchum. The Masters of Cinema Series is proud to present this masterpiece for the first time on home video in the UK.

Reviews

“a masterclass in drama-free dramatics ★★★★★” – Mail on Sunday

“a brilliant Mitchum finds tragedy in worldweariness, the dishevelled flipside to his famous screen villains ★★★★” – Total Film