--- In
rara-avis-l@yahoogroups.com, "Richard Moore"
<moorich@...> wrote:
>
> Anyway, here is what Chandler wrote to Hamish
Hamilton about the
> movie and Bogart:
>
> "When and if you see "The Big Sleep" (the first half
of it anyhow)
> you will realize what can be done with this sort of
story by a
> director with the gift of atmosphere and the
requisite touch of
> hidden sadism. Bogart, of course, is also so much
better than any
> other tough-guy actor that he makes bums of the
Ladds and the
> Powells. As we say here, Bogart can be tough without
a gun. Also he
> has a sense of humor that contains that grating
undertone of
> contempt. Ladd is hard, bitter and occasionally
charming, but he is
> after all a small boy's idea of a tough guy. Bogart
is the genuine
> article."
Richard, thanks for this quote. That "tough without a gun"
description is very apt. Also, his observation on containing
the grating undertone of contempt is astute. The movie
Harper, for example, was spoiled by Paul Newman, who could
not contain the undertone. Anyway, Chandler was on to some
truth regarding actors who play PIs.
Best,
mrt
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