I've only watched James Garner's "Marlowe" once and it was in
Vietnam in 1970, outdoors with a clicking projector shining
on a screen, or perhaps some improvised backdrop, near our
hooch. The guys in my outfit would spend time in the field
with various units and then come back to this rear area until
the next assignment. Not much was taken seriously around the
hooch but movies came close. It was a major subject of
discussion and the discussion began while the movie was
shown. Guys provided a commentary track on the film or called
out instructions or warnings to the actors. If the noise
level got too high, there was a chorus of "Shut the F up!"
that started the cycle over.
Needless to say, most of the audience were well into abhusing
their preferred form of liquid or herbal substances.
"Marlowe" began and flowed in typical fashion for about 30
minutes and then it ceased to make much sense. Everyone in
the audience was straining to follow the action. Some tried
to rationalize the inconsistences out loud but that just
prompted disputes. The stoners soon began their refrain of
"...the guys who made this movie were stoned out of their
minds. Look, that's the only possible explanation." This
theory was floated during every third movie or so but this
night it gained some new advocates.
The movie then ended in what seemed to everyone as the middle
of the action. There was absolutely no resolution of
anything. That's when I--relatively new to the unit--made a
mistake. As everyone seemed to be trying to figure out the
ending, I said "It's based on a novel by Raymond Chandler
that I read a while back and..."
Quickly I was the center of attention. "You read the F'ing
book. Tell us what happened!"
I immediately regretted opening my mouth because while I
remembered stray details from the book THE LITTLE SISTER
(such as the old guy whose wife wouldn't allow him any pipe
tobacco), I couldn't for the life of me recall the ending.
Still can't and I've reread the novel since then. Chandler
didn't often come up with memorable endings.
Well I'd never been so yelled at and cursed in my life. Of
course, I was so inebriated myself that I didn't get too
exercised about it. One of the most common expressions of
that time and that place was "It don't mean nothing."
A couple of days later I was having a beer with the old boy
who usually ran the projector and he apologized. "I think I
caused you some problems the other night."
I didn't know what he was talking about and said as
much.
"The other night I mixed the reels up on that movie we were
watching. I ran the last reel second. It really screwed it
up. The ending was in the middle." He wasn't that concerned
about it but he thought he'd mention it. And I never said
anything about it later even though whenever there was
something in a movie later on that was a little confusing
people would say "Ask Moore. Maybe he's read the damn
book."
I've resisted seeing the movie again. It would have to be a
disappointment.
Richard Moore
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