I think part of what I didn't like about the Mitchum adaptation was that it struck me as so self-consciously "noir-y". There is only so much forlornly flashing neon a guy can stand. Also, I just generally hate voice over narrators in movies.
I thought Dick Powell was surprisingly good, although I concede that I sort of expected him to do a little soft shoe at any moment..
Bogie was a very good Marlowe but, again, a little too old for the part. Plus it sort of felt like he was being Sam Spade in all but name.
James
----- Original Message -----
From: Patrick Kennedy
To: rara-avis-l@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Saturday, August 21, 2010 18:39
Subject: Re: RARA-AVIS: Harper about to come on - TCM
I agree that Michael Winner's London take on 'The Big Sleep' was execrable, but
'Farewell My Lovely' was probably the most faithful rendition of a Chandler
novel ever committed to celluloid, even though by the time he finally got to
play Marlowe Mitchum was way too old. But Dick Powell as Marlowe? In
preference to Bogart, say? Dick Powell to my mind was about as good at playing
Marlowe as Roger Moore was at playing James Bond, although it could've been
worse I suppose: they could've chosen Fred Astaire.
Patrick
________________________________
From: James Michael Rogers <jeddak5@cox.net>
To: rara-avis-l@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sat, 21 August, 2010 23:45:12
Subject: Re: RARA-AVIS: Harper about to come on - TCM
Personally, I rather liked both of the Newman flicks. Particularly "Drowning
Pool". Naybe I'm just not enough of an Archer fan for the changes to offend me.
Conversely, I really didn't like the Mitchum as Marlowe films. I'll take Dick
Powell, thanks.
James
----- Original Message -----
From: Patrick Kennedy
To: rara-avis-l@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Saturday, August 21, 2010 17:28
Subject: Re: RARA-AVIS: Harper about to come on - TCM
They're showing 'The Drowning Pool' on a UK television station next week. I saw
it on its first release but can't recall much about it now -- not a good sign,
usually.
'Harper' was released here as 'The Moving Target' which I believe was the title
of the Ross MacDonald Lew Archer novel upon which it was based. I never could
understand the reasoning behind the name change for movie purposes, but no doubt
those clever all-knowing marketing guys had their reasons.
I think originally the makers had intended adapting Chandler's 'The Long
Goodbye' with Robert Mitchum as Marlowe but failed to get the green light on the
project, so they made 'The Moving Target' instead with Paul Newman not
resembling Lew Archer any more than Elliott Gould did Marlowe in Robert Altman's
art movie subversion of Chandler's themes.
Patrick
________________________________
From: "funkmasterj@runbox.com" <funkmasterj@runbox.com>
To: rara-avis-l@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sat, 21 August, 2010 22:25:14
Subject: RARA-AVIS: Harper about to come on - TCM
It will be my first time seeing it. I did enjoy Twilight.
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