Coogan’s Bluff

A deputy sheriff from Piute County, Arizona, sent to New York City to extradite escaped killer James Ringerman. He relies on street smarts and instinct, bluffing his way into a prison hospital and bending the rules to pursue Ringerman. His methods clash with the NYPD’s bureaucracy, but his determination drives the case forward. The pursuit takes him from the airport helipad to the Cloisters, ending with a personal moment of connection with Julie Roth.

Escaped killer who is recovering from an LSD overdose. He masterminds his escape with Linny and Pushie, using deception to stay one step ahead of Coogan. He hides out at the Cloisters and in other city hideouts, tossing his stolen weapon as the net tightens. His presence adds menace and unpredictability to the pursuit.

Ringerman’s girlfriend who is on probation. She guides Coogan toward Ringerman but also uses him to evade capture, highlighting the ambiguous loyalties of those entangled with criminals. Her actions propel the chase through clubs and back rooms across the city, and her loyalties remain ambiguous.

A probation officer who catches Coogan’s eye during a lunch invitation. She becomes a human link in the case, with files that reveal Linny’s address. Her presence adds a rare personal connection amid the pursuit, and she ultimately witnesses Coogan’s choice between romantic involvement and the formal process.

Ringerman’s henchman who ambushes Coogan in a pool hall and becomes one of the casualties in the ensuing fight. He embodies the violent, chaotic edge of Ringerman’s circle. His confrontation underscores the film’s raw physical confrontations.

NYPD Detective Lieutenant who informs Coogan of the extradition hurdles and later confronts him again when the city’s system fails to capture Ringerman quickly. He represents formal authority and the weight of process, often clashing with Coogan’s improvisational methods.