Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- humid
- suspenseful
- classic noir night
- 1970s cinema marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly found the Paul Newman vehicle visually polished and intermittently atmospheric but undermined by pedestrian direction, thin characterization, and a neglected thriller plot.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The investigation unfolds around Louisiana bayous, New Orleans, Cajun culture, and an antebellum mansion.
Lew Harper endures beatings, traps, and inducements while retaining his decency and commitment to the case.
The wealthy Louisiana household and its expansive antebellum estate conceal infidelity, coercion, and dangerous secrets.
The film emphasizes New Orleans, bayou environments, the mansion, and carefully composed visual presentation around a conventional thriller structure.
Films like The Drowning Pool, and why
Harper
private-eye mystery, neo-noir atmosphere, morally compromised characters, and a charismatic investigator
The Long Goodbye
1970s detective thriller with a laconic protagonist, corruption, and stylish but grounded crime plotting
Night Moves
sunny yet dangerous neo-noir mystery centered on a private investigator navigating betrayal and criminal intrigue
Movie Details
- Director
- Stuart Rosenberg
- Release Date
- 1975-07-18
- Runtime
- 109 min
- Rating
- 6.3 / 10 (144)
Cast
- Paul Newman
- Joanne Woodward
- Anthony Franciosa
- Murray Hamilton
- Gail Strickland
- Melanie Griffith
- Linda Haynes
- Richard Jaeckel
- Paul Koslo
- Joe Canutt
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Drowning Pool about?
- A laconic Los Angeles private eye enters Louisiana’s humid maze of infidelity, old money, and concealed danger.
- What is The Drowning Pool like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Drowning Pool as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Drowning Pool violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Drowning Pool as mild.
- What did critics think of The Drowning Pool?
- Critics broadly found the Paul Newman vehicle visually polished and intermittently atmospheric but undermined by pedestrian direction, thin characterization, and a neglected thriller plot.
- Which films are like The Drowning Pool?
- Films with a similar feel include Harper, The Long Goodbye, and Night Moves.
- How long is The Drowning Pool?
- The Drowning Pool runs 109 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Drowning Pool?
- In United States, The Drowning Pool is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
