Condolences that you didn't see it as the second bill on a big 80s HBO Saturday night. Then again, heavy as it is, they might've bumped News Kids straight to late night, debuted it at ten or ten thirty maybe. I don't remember the slot, but it was definitely after the feature presentation.

I'm going to ask that the internet pull over and let me out.

I just logged on and have been trying to determine if this is your first time with The New Kids. I see now that it is.
Oh you sweet summer child. You'll want to note this one in your diary.

Credit to the Germans for actually finding Greenland, something that an average American would struggle to do.

The reason I say this is because Harper is such a fantastic slice of 1960s Los Angeles. It's like a well packed time capsule. I'd like to have seen '70s L.A. with similar treatment. The Drowning Pool doesn't really give us that kind of look at a Seventies South and Louisiana, more of a glimpse.

I wasn't wild about Harper at first, but I attribute that to being a lot younger at the time and just not getting the vibe of the film. Now it's a favorite that grows on me with each viewing. Love The Drowning Pool as well, though part of me wishes they'd done L.A. again instead of Louisiana.

Art Carney at 59 and Paul Newman at 73.

Prior to Twilight, I recommend watching Harper and The Drowning Pool. Even if you've seen them before, it's worth the refresher. A lot of folks (myself included) consider Twilight to be the unofficial third film in a Harper Trilogy.

Definitely an homage. Of the two films in which Benton explored this theme, The Late Show is more light hearted than Twilight, but his humor tends to run dark even then.

Might also have a look at Chandler (1971), a middle age approach to a detective who's past his prime and stuck in another era.

Around the same time I make my debut at the ice capades.

If I did that I'd wind up on a registry.