Editing Cool Hand Luke (section)

===Florida prison===
Pearce, a merchant seaman who later became a counterfeiter and [[safe cracker]], wrote the novel ''Cool Hand Luke'' about his experiences working on a [[chain gang]] while serving in a [[Raiford State Penitentiary|Florida prison.]] A contemporary source states that he sold the story to [[Warner Bros.]] for $80,000 and received another $15,000 to write the screenplay.{{sfn|Eagan, Daniel|p=628|2010}} After working in television for over a decade, director Rosenberg chose it to make it his directorial debut in cinema. He took the idea to [[Jalem Productions]], actor [[Jack Lemmon]]'s independent film production company.{{sfn|Levy, Shawn|2009|p=203}} 

However, newspaper reports of the era announced that Lemmon and his producing partner, [[Gordon Carroll]], purchased the story directly from Pearce in August 1965, for $100,000.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=1965-08-20 |title=The Jersey Journal from Jersey City, New Jersey |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/912520327/ |access-date=2025-02-15 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=1965-10-30 |title=Birmingham Post-Herald from Birmingham, Alabama |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/793667206/ |access-date=2025-02-15 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en-US}}</ref> It was also announced that it would be made at [[Columbia Pictures]], where Jalem Productions had an existing six-picture deal,<ref>{{Cite web |date=1965-07-26 |title=The Register from Santa Ana, California |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/997111392/ |access-date=2025-02-15 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en-US}}</ref> as the first film to be produced by Lemmon without his starring power.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=1965-08-25 |title=The Morning Call from Paterson, New Jersey |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/553568673/ |access-date=2025-02-15 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=1965-08-20 |title=The Solano-Napa News Chronicle from Vallejo, California |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/1035662153/ |access-date=2025-02-15 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> Lemmon was clear in announcing to the press that he was not going to play any role in the film.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> Rosenberg was also under a non-exclusive three-picture contract with Jalem Productions, before the story was purchased.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1965-07-30 |title=The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/382273789/ |access-date=2025-02-15 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":2" />

Since Pearce had no experience writing screenplays, the producers eventually hired Academy Award nominated writer Frank Pierson in March 1966, to work on the script.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1966-03-08 |title=The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/382433091/ |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en-US}}</ref> In May 1966, the production moved from Columbia Pictures to Warner Brothers Pictures, when Newman was signed for the role.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1966-05-14 |title=The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/382289945/ |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en-US}}</ref> [[Conrad Hall]] was hired as the cinematographer,{{sfn|Levy, Shawn|2009|p=204}} while Paul Newman's brother, Arthur, was hired as the unit production manager.{{sfn|Nixon, Rob|2010}} Newman's biographer, Marie Edelman Borden, wrote that the "tough, honest" script drew together threads from earlier movies, especially ''[[Hombre (film)|Hombre]]'', Newman's earlier film of 1967.{{Sfn|Borden|2010|p=45}} Rosenberg altered the script's original ending, adding "an upbeat ending that would reprise Luke's (and Newman's) trademark smile."{{sfn|Grant|2008|p=178}}