‘The best bugger on the West Coast,” reckon his peers in the electronic surveillance biz.

But judging from his lack of friends, workaholic lifestyle and absence of morals, Harry’s just a sad little man in over his head.

Coppola’s post-Watergate paranoia fest offers up Caul as a sacrificial lamb for a government’s misuse of power; Hackman plays him tightly wound and his brute strength is neutered by a dodgy ’tache, specs and a raincoat – just the right wardrobe for a shadow dweller with blood on his hands.

Greatest moment: Stripping his apartment to find the bug that’s bugging him.

Also see: ‘Popeye’ Doyle (The French Connection), Lex Luthor (Superman),Bill Daggett (Unforgiven).