The Friends of Eddie Coyle

When George V. Higgins’s first novel, The Friends of Eddie Coyle, was published in 1970, it was widely acclaimed as an insider’s look at Boston’s criminal underbelly. Three years later, Peter Yates directed Robert Mitchum in one of his best performances as the mid-level gunrunner who is tempted to help “uncle” by turning in his associates to the cops. Join Mike and Dan as they talk about how Robert Mitchum eating pie is better than a thousand bank robberies and how the dialogue for which Higgins is so rightly praised is like the kind of negotiations we make all the time at work, regardless of what we’re selling. Hide the irons inside that rustling shopping bag and give it a listen! If you’re interested in the terrific novel upon which the film is based, you can find it here. Incredible bumper music by John Deley. Please leave us a rating or review, follow us on X and Letterboxd, email us at [email protected], and let us know what you’d like us to watch and discuss. Also check out Dan’s Substack site, Pages and Frames, for essays about books and films.