After finding out about his mother’s death, the film shows Luke playing the popular song, “Plastic Jesus”, Paul heavily suggested that he’d play the banjo while singing. Seemingly convinced that he could play well, producers took on that idea.
Well, in reality, Newman didn’t actually know how to play the banjo. Consequently, his idea delayed the film schedule as he needed to be taught to play the instrument by Harry Dean Stanton who also acted in the film.
Newman Didn't Like Eggs
The scene where Newman's character eats all those eggs was probably the most famous bet in the film. For those who don't quite remember, the bet happens when Luke brags to his fellow inmates that he can eat 50 hard-boiled eggs in under just one hour. This scene is when we're met with one of the most famous lines in the movie: "Nobody can eat 50 eggs."
In reality, though, Newman wasn't so fond of eating eggs and didn't actually swallow any of them. Luckily for him, a bit of some film tricks and a hidden trash can made the actor really seem like he could devour those 50 eggs!
A Christ-Figure Film
Though you may need to re-watch the film to really comprehend it, "Cool Hand Luke" actually was a particularly relevant and classic example of a "Christ-figure film". This kind of messianic imagery was fairly common in films like Braveheart, ET, or the Gladiator. This film, though, had far more Christological richness than any of the other modern films.
The film encourages us to examine the parallels between two particular shots which were surely designed to draw some comparison to the life of Jesus. The first shot of Cool Hand Luke lying down exhausted on the table after eating 50 eggs is probably the most obvious shot in relation to the crucifixion of Christ. Additionally, Luke is seen speaking to God several times throughout the film, even singing praises.
The Author’s Cameo
Donn Pearce, though famous for his works, isn't necessarily the most recognized face. This is probably why you might not have noticed that he was actually included in the film! Pearce makes his own cameo appearance as a character named Sailor, one of the convicts as well.
Pearce could definitely have had more screen time but the man apparently had some anger issues. After punching someone during the final day of filming, he was banned from the set and even from the movie premiere! This must have stirred up some real controversy.
The Set Wasn't Actually in Florida
You know just how legitimate a film production is when they can make a set look like a different state! In reality, "Cool Hand Luke", was actually filmed in Sunshine State, though it was set in Florida in the film. This successful production can be attributed to the meticulous work done by the film crew who were actually sent to Tavares Road Prison to take measurements and pictures.
The crew had to accurately re-model the set into the Tavares Road Prison, which included them reconstructing dozens of buildings in Stockton, California. Such attention to detail really made the set seem absolutely seamless! You probably wouldn’t even notice that the barracks, guard houses, and mess hall were all duplicates!