james.doherty@gsa.gov
15 Sep 99 12:26:00 -0400
Re Jim Beaver's post:
"It's not that recent a film, but it's got a new DVD release,
so I'll mention it. It's also one of my ten favorite films of
all time: the Dick Richards - Robert Mitchum version of
Raymond Chandler's FAREWELL, MY LOVELY. I much prefer it to
the Dick Powell version, MURDER MY SWEET, though there's
nothing wrong with that version. I just think Mitchum's the
man, as far as Marlowe goes."
I have to disagree. Powell was first and best of the movie
Marlowes, and despite the 1940s atmosphere that made certain
parts of the novel impossible to film at that time,
*Murder, My Sweet* is by far the superior film. The '75
version is to slow-moving and a bit self-referential in a way
the '45 version is not. Mitchum was also ten or fifteen years
to old for the part (though I admit he'd've been an awsome
Marlowe in his prime).
When it comes to books into films, I tend to go for the
classics: 1941's *The Maltese Falcon*, 1946's *The
Killers*
(actually short story into film, but the principle is the
same), 1953's *The Big Heat*, etc.
By the way, a movie doesn't have to be true to the book to be
great. Check out
*Bullitt*, the 1968 film version of Robt. L. Fish's *Mute
Witness*. Very different from the book, except for the bare
bones of the plot, but great nonetheless. - Jim Doherty
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