<P> Paul Newman's character, Luke, is a decorated war veteran who is sentenced to serve two years in a Florida rural prison . He constantly defies the authorities of the facility, becoming a leader among the prisoners, as well as escaping multiple times . While the script was being developed, the leading role was initially considered for Jack Lemmon or Telly Savalas . Newman asked to play the leading role after hearing about the project . In order to develop his character, he traveled to West Virginia, where he recorded local accents and surveyed people's behavior . George Kennedy turned in an Academy Award - winning performance as the leader of the prisoners, Dragline, who fights Luke, and comes to respect him . During the nomination process, worried about the box office success of Camelot and Bonnie and Clyde, Kennedy invested US $5,000 in trade advertising to promote himself . Kennedy later stated that thanks to the award his salary was "multiplied by ten the minute (he) won," also adding "the happiest part was that I didn't have to play only villains anymore ." </P> <P> Strother Martin, known for his appearances in westerns, was cast as the Captain, a prison warden who is depicted as a cruel and insensitive leader, severely punishing Luke for his escapes . The role of Luke's dying mother, Arletta, who visits him in prison, was passed to Jo Van Fleet after it was rejected by Bette Davis . Morgan Woodward was cast as Boss Godfrey, a laconic, cruel and remorseless prison officer who Woodward described as a "walking Mephistopheles ." He was dubbed "the man with no eyes" by the inmates for his mirrored sunglasses . The blonde Joy Harmon was cast for the scene where she teases the prisoners in washing her car after her manager, Leon Lance, contacted the producers . She auditioned in front of Rosenberg and Newman wearing a bikini, without speaking . </P> <P> Filming took place on the San Joaquin River Delta . The set, imitating a southern prison farm, was built in Stockton, California . The filmmakers sent a crew to Tavares Road Prison in Tavares, Florida to take photographs and measurements, where Pearce had served his time . The structures that were built in Stockton included barracks, a mess hall, the warden's quarters, a guard shack and dog kennels . The trees on the set were decorated with spanish moss that the producers took to the area . The construction soon attracted the attention of a county building inspector who confused it with migrant worker housing and ordered it "condemned for code violations ." The opening scene where Newman cuts the parking meters was filmed in Lodi, California . Meanwhile, the scene in which Luke is chased by bloodhounds and other exteriors were shot in Jacksonville, Florida, at Callahan Road Prison . Luke was played by a stunt actor, using dogs from the Florida Department of Corrections . </P> <P> Rosenberg wanted the cast to internalize life on a chain gang and banned the presence of wives on set . After Joy Harmon arrived on location, she remained for two days in her hotel room, and wasn't seen by the rest of the cast until shooting commenced . Despite the directors' intentions, the scene was ultimately filmed separately . Rosenberg instructed an unaware Harmon of the different movements and expressions he wanted . Originally planned to be shot in half a day, Harmon's scene took three . For the part of the scene featuring the chain gang, Rosenberg substituted a teenage cheerleader, who wore an overcoat . </P>

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