I just finished watching Turner Classic Movies' tribute to
Raymond Chandler's works. I have seen all of these films
before, but just wanted to throw a few comments out about
each of them:
Murder My Sweet (1944) This film adaptation of "Farewell My
Lovely" was ably directed by Edward Dmytryk, and starred Dick
Powell in a marked career change (he had previously been a
song and dance man) as Philip Marlowe. Powell played Marlowe
with a light touch, making his trademark sardonic comments
more comic than sardonic. Mike Mazurky played Moose Malloy as
if the part were written for him. The film was fairly
faithful to the book, with exceptions like the fact that
Florian's bar in the book has been sold to a black
proprietor, and the patrons Malloy beats up early on are also
black (they were all white in the film). The pacing is good,
Claire Trevor is fabulous as Velma, but the cops and villains
(particularly Otto Kruger, a sleep-walking hack if ever there
was one, as Jules Amthor) were just plain dull.
The Lady In The Lake (1947) Robert Montgomery directed and
starred in this adaptation of the book by the same name. He
filmed it from Marlowe's point of view, and is seen only when
the script calls for Marlowe to see his reflection. His
direction is adequate, but as Marlowe we are left to rely on
his voice only for his characterization, and his wisecracks
just come across as snarky, without much of the Chandlerian
wit behind them. Audrey Totter is owlish and silly as
Adrienne Fromsett (sic). On the plus side, Lloyd Nolan (one
hell of an actor) effectively steals the show as corrupt,
bullying cop DeGarmot (double sic. I don't know why they
changed the spelling/pronunciation of the other characters'
names aside from Marlowe's, in such small ways, it was most
annoying). Had "Murder My Sweet" had Nolan as Amthor, it
would have been far better. As it is, the script of "The Lady
In The Lake" is weak, in part because of a silly change that
called for Marlowe to decide to become a writer, as the
set-up for becoming involved in what is essentially a missing
person case, and in part because it is so truncated by time
limitations, and large portions of Marlowe's search for the
missing wife of Derris Kingsby (who was Kingsley in the book,
if memory serves correctly) are cut out. Lloyd Nolan makes
this well worth watching, even if Robert Montgomery was only
so-so as an off-screen voice.
The Big Sleep (1946) Based on the 1939 Chandler novel, with
screenplay by William Faulkner (yes, THAT William Faulkner),
Leigh Brackett (yes, THAT Leigh Brackett), and Jules
Furthman. Directed by the immortal Howard Hawks, and with
Humphrey Bogart giving a stellar turn as Marlowe. With this
sort of creative star power at work, how could it have been a
flop? What's more, the supporting cast (the wooden young
Bacall, who never seemed to learn to act until after Bogie
died and she married Jason Robards, excepted) is fabulous.
Elisha Woods, Jr. ("Wilmer" in "The Maltese Falcon" and "Ice
Pick" in "Magnum, P.I."), Regis Toomey as cop Bernie Ohls,
Louis Jean Heydt as the oily Joe Brody, John Ridgely as the
oh-so slick Eddie Mars, Martha Vickers as the coquettish,
dangerous Carmen Sternwood, and a very young Dorothy Malone
as the girl who runs the bookshop where Marlowe stakes out
his quarry, they are all *terrific*. The best of the best of
film adaptations of Chandler's work, in my opinion. Here's a
bit of trivia for you all: the voice of the singer to whom
Bacall lip-synched her "singing" in Eddie Mars' casino was
that of then 16 year-old Andy Williams (yes, THAT Andy
Williams, Mr. Moon River himself) making his screen singing
debut.
Marlowe (1969) James Garner is terrific in this pre-"Rockford
Files" screen adaptation of "The Little Sister" set in 1969.
So is Rita Moreno (but she's good in everything) and likewise
for Carroll O'Connor (who is also good in everything).
Unfortunately, there's not much else that's anything other
than adequate in this film (including Bruce Lee in a brief
appearance). The two other exceptions to this rule of
mediocrity are Sharon as Orfamay Quest and Paul Stevens as
Dr. Vincent Lagardie. Gail Hunnicutt, for example, is
gorgeous, but uninspiring as Mavis Wald, and hers is the
pivotal role; without a believable Mavis Wald, the plot
doesn't hold together well, and Hunnicutt just isn't up to
the task.
Thoughts, fellow Avians?
Brian
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