Agree with Mark's observations (RE Rene) about the
simplification of credits down to the director. But if there
is a characteristic vision and style to much of the work
credited to a director, I see nothing wrong with using an
auteur approach, perhaps with acknowledgement of who else is
a part of the team that creates this vision and style.
Recently purchased a dvd of The Big Sleep, so I could see
through the noir mist better, and it's a treat. Nice to have
the unreleased version as well.
Much has been made of the softer treatment of
Vivian and the Hollywood justice for Eddie Mars that the film
imposed on the novel. I've always credited BOTH the
Bogart-Bacall buzz AND Hawks' own tendency to make a female
buddy, someone to fight the good fight along with the male.
But doesn't this tendency, and the desire to picture Bogart
and Bacall together for the last shot, in effect create a
very unprofessional episode for Marlowe? Since when does the
PI take a client, who happens to be the woman he loves, to a
place where he plans to kill a gangster (who will have his
gunmen outside)??? The more I think about it, the more it
ruins the end of The Big Sleep for me...even though I had
bought into the romance change.
Bill Hagen
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