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How does Walt Cooganâs pursuit of James Ringerman unfold in Cooganâs Bluff?
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Don Siegel
Don Siegel (left) and Clint Eastwood during the filming of Dirty Harry (1971).
In the 1968 film Cooganâs Bluff, directed by Don Siegel, Arizona Deputy Sheriff Walt Coogan travels to New York City to extradite the fugitive James Ringerman. Upon discovering that Ringerman is hospitalized following an LSD overdose, Coogan grows frustrated with legal delays and tricks the hospital into releasing the prisoner into his custody.1
The pursuit becomes complicated when Ringermanâs girlfriend orchestrates an ambush, resulting in Coogan being beaten and Ringerman escaping with Cooganâs stolen gun. This leads to a series of intense confrontations, including motorcycle and foot chases, as well as a notable fight in a pool hall. Ultimately, Coogan succeeds in apprehending the fugitive.1