Movie Review: The Big Sleep (1946)

swede123 · #1 06-12-2006, 12:56 PM

"Old movies are so cheesy." That was the complaint I got from my wife when I suggested we'd watch The Big Sleep the other night. Of course I didn't let her off that easy and 116 minutes later she readily admitted how wrong she'd been in her assumptions, at least regarding this old movie.

The Big Sleep is an adaptation of Raymond Chandler's 1939 novel, starring the legendary Humphrey Bogart as the equally legendary shamus (private detective) Phillip Marlowe. The film was originally made in 1944 but wasn't actually released until 1946, after director Howard Hawks had a chance to re-work the story and re-shoot a number of scenes, particularly those between Bogart and his female lead (as well as wife at the time), Lauren Bacall.

While I haven't had a chance to see the original version myself by all accounts the final product is far superior, and indeed it is a great movie. The constant banter between Marlowe and others is simply brilliant, and even more so when considering the movie is 60 years old. One of my favorite lines features Marlowe responding to someone who doesn't like his manners. "I don't mind if you don't like my manners. I don't like them myself. They're pretty bad. I grieve over them on long winter evenings." If most people uttered things like this you'd just laugh at them, but with Bogart it comes across as completely natural.

The movie begins as Marlowe is hired by an old general in bad health who has two daughters, as beautiful as they are difficult to handle. Initially he's hired to get to the bottom of a blackmailing scheme involving the younger daughter, but the story soon gets more intricate and dark as Marlowe is faced with murderers, pornogrophers, gamblers and more. The Big Sleep is known as one of the more convoluted and twisty stories in movie history; but understanding all the inns and outs of who shot whom and why is not nearly as important as immersing oneself in Marlowe's world.

From a technical point of view The Big Sleep is rather simple Every scene appears to be filmed on a soundstage, and the little action there is can only be described, to quote my wife, as cheesy. But if it falls short compared to modern action scenes it feels remarkably fresh in its storytelling and racy dialogue, which I can imagine caused quite an upproar back in the 40s.

All in all, The Big Sleep manages to age exceptionally well. Upon seeing it I have a very hard time imagining anyone else as Phillip Marlowe than Bogart. I specifically recommend it to film noir fans, or movie lovers in general. I am curious if anyone has seen both versions of The Big Sleep, and what your feelings are regarding the differences.

Swede

Phat Mack · #2 06-12-2006, 01:29 PM

A few comments from my unreliable memory. The original theatrical release is a great flick, but very hard to follow as the plot doesn't make a lot of sense. They discovered the original director's cut in the 80's or 90's, and it is easier to follow. I believe the original was shortened because of time constraints, or perhaps because of racy dialogue. I like the director's cut a lot better.

I also believe the screen play was worked on by William Faulkner. He may have been responsible for some of the great lines in this flick. The book's dialogue is good, but the movie's is great. As an example from memory (and probably wrong) Marlowe is asked how he takes his brandy. In the book he says "Neat," in the movie, "In a glass."

Elements from Big Sleep and Maltese Falcon were used in the recent movie "Brick," which also is worth seeing.

Dominic · #3 06-12-2006, 02:01 PM

i love this film...even if it makes no sense and we never figure out who killed the chauffeur! Bogart in the bookshop is awesome...

JackCase · #4 06-12-2006, 02:04 PM

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The original theatrical release is a great flick, but very hard to follow as the plot doesn't make a lot of sense.

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From IMDB:

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Trivia: Director Howard Hawks and star Humphrey Bogart got into an argument as to whether one of the characters was murdered or committed suicide. They sent a wire to author Raymond Chandler asking him to settle the issue, but he replied that he didn't know either. The question is left unresolved in the original novel by Chandler.

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Dominic · #5 06-12-2006, 02:35 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
The original theatrical release is a great flick, but very hard to follow as the plot doesn't make a lot of sense.

[/ QUOTE ]

From IMDB:

[ QUOTE ]
Trivia: Director Howard Hawks and star Humphrey Bogart got into an argument as to whether one of the characters was murdered or committed suicide. They sent a wire to author Raymond Chandler asking him to settle the issue, but he replied that he didn't know either. The question is left unresolved in the original novel by Chandler.

[/ QUOTE ]

[/ QUOTE ]

i love that story...what's great about The big Sleep is not the plot...it's the characters and the dialogue...possibly some of the best banter ever written for the screen.

Phat Mack · #6 06-12-2006, 03:27 PM

I can see how this could quickly get out of hand, but here's some more:

Marlowe: Who was that?

Butler: Miss Carmen Sternwood, sir.

Marlowe: You ought to ween her. She looks old enough.

Butler: Yes, sir.

And then later, after being summoned to meet Bacall:

Marlowe: You were mistaken. Mrs. Rutledge didn't want to see me.

Butler: I make many mistakes, sir.

WDC · #7 06-12-2006, 05:12 PM

Swede,

I agree great movie. For another great adaptation of a Chandler/Marlow story watch Robert Altman's "A Long Goodbye" with Eliot Gould as Marlowe. It just amazes me that Gould and Bogart are playing the same character.

fnord_too · #8 06-12-2006, 11:36 PM

This used to be my favorite Phillip Marlowe interpretation, then I saw "Murder My Sweet." Don't get me wrong, I like the movie a lot, but I think Dick Powell nailed the character. That reminds me, I got that movie for Christmas on DVD and haven't watched it yet...

Edit also Chandler is one of my favorite authors. Great great stuff.

12ozLongneck · #9 06-13-2006, 12:03 AM

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I also believe the screen play was worked on by William Faulkner.

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Faulker did work on the screenplay along with Leign Bracket, who also worked on "The Empire Strikes Back." That's a pretty distinguished body of work.

One of my favorite moments:

Librarian: Did you find what you wanted?

Marlowe: Yes, thanks.

Librarian: You know... You don't look like a man who would be interested in first editions.

Marlowe: I also collect blondes in bottles.

Also, I would recommend that anyone interested in Chandler pick up the collection of his later writings that was released by The Library of America. It contains his last 4 novels, some of his essays on writing, the screenplay for Double Indemnity, and a sampling of his correspondence with fans and colleagues. Lots of good stuff.

benfranklin · #10 06-13-2006, 02:33 AM

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I also believe the screen play was worked on by William Faulkner.

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A Faulkner story from memory, without verification.

Faulkner worked as a writer for one of the Hollywood major studios. Screenplay writer in those days was a 9-5 office job, and he reported to work every day on the studio lot, sat at a desk, and wrote for 8 hours.

He went to his boss at the studio one day and said that he was having some trouble with a script, and that he wanted to work on it at home for a while. This was a radical idea at the time, but Faulkner was a big enough name that the boss OK'ed it.

So Faulkner went home to work on the script. Home to Mississippi.