The Friends of Eddie Coyle (Criterion Collection)

Robert Mitchum delivers a tough, affecting performance as middle-class Boston thug Eddie Coyle, hoping to avoid a two-year jail term even if he must sacrifice his honor by becoming a "stoolie." As pressures on Eddie mount, his options for salvation diminish and he finds himself struggling to rescue the last shreds of his dignity. Peter Yates ("Bullitt") helms this gritty filming of the George V. Higgins novel; Peter Boyle, Alex Rocco co-star. 102 min. Widescreen; Soundtrack: English Uncompressed mono; Subtitles: English (SDH); audio commentary by Yates; photo gallery.