Film Review: The Big Sleep (1946)

Philip Marlowe, protagonist of Raymond Chandler’s novels and the most iconic character of hard boiled detective fiction, was embodied by many big stars throughout decades of screen adaptations. Among those stars the greatest is Humphrey Bogart, which shouldn’t be too surprising because iconic actor has built a lot of its stardom on characters, that like Marlowe, belonged to the world of film noir. It is Bogart’s performance in the role of Marlowe that, among other things, made The Big Sleep, 1946 film directed by Howard Hawks, into one of the classics of the genre.

The film is based on Chandler eponymous 1939 novel. The plot begins when Los Angeles private detective Philip Marlowe is summoned to the estate of General Sternwood (played by Charles Waldron), paralysed old man who hires him to handle delicate matter of his emotionally unstable daughter Carmen (played by Martha Vickers) having to settle debts to bookseller A. G. Geiger (played by Theodore von Eltz). Marlowe also meets Carmen’s old and beautiful sister Vivian (played by Lauren Bacall) who inquires whether the her father wants to solve mysterious disappearance of his protege Sean Reagan. His investigation gets complicated when Geiger get killed and Marlowe learns that Carmen was subject of blackmail. Geiger’s death is only the first in series that involves various shady characters connected to Eddie Mars (played by John Ridgely), owner of casino which Vivian apparently likes to frequent.

The Big Sleep runs for almost two hours and such length is quite justified considering extremely convoluted plot and large number of characters. The film is actually somewhat notorious for not having all of its subplots explained or properly resolved despite screenwriting team that included such names like William Faulkner, Leigh Brackett and Jules Furthman. Viewers who aren’t hair-splitting perfectionists are, on the other hand, likely to enjoy very good genre piece directed by Howard Hawks, experienced and talented film maker at the top of his game. Hawks puts resources of Warner Bros. to good use, and that also includes atmospheric black-and-white cinematography by Sidney Hickox and music soundtrack by Max Steiner.

But it is the cast that elevates this film to higher level of quality. Humphrey Bogart, who was at the zenith of his popularity, obviously enjoyed playing Marlowe, finding a lot of similarity between him and other characters of tough, cynical, world-weary but ultimately resourceful men that had earned him such fame in 1940s. He was also fortunate to be paired with Lauren Bacall, young actress with whom he has started famed relationship in front and outside cameras during his previous film To Have and Have Not. Chemistry between two, which would make them into the most iconic supercouple of Classic Hollywood, is quite palpable. The film was originally to be released in 1945, but Bacall’s popularity and publicity of her marriage to Bogart, led to film being reshoot and re-edited one year later in order to have more scenes with Bacall and her character, which might explain some problems with plot. The rest of the cast is very well, with Martha Vickers as crazy yet attractive young woman almost stealing the show from Bacall. Veteran character actor Charles Waldron is good in his last role, while Elisha Cook Jr., who had played young killer Wilmer Cooke in The Maltese Falcon provides small but memorable role of petty criminal who gets more than he bargained for while getting involved in the shady dealings.

The Big Sleep is very good film, but it is far from perfect. Most of its flaws can be related to omissions. Most noticeable is lack of voice over that makes this film less “noirish” than its reputation and Chandleresque credentials would indicate. Another omission, although the one film authors had least to do with it, is due to adherence to strict censorship standards of MPAA Production Code. In order to win approval of Hays Office, scriptwriters had to remove any references to pornography, drugs and homosexuality that had made key plot points in original novel. The Big Sleep instead had to rely to audience being intelligent and “sophisticated” enough to understand what certain plot elements and character motivations were without each of them being explicit. On the other hand, script very indirectly suggested somewhat looser morals of Chandler’s Los Angeles through few scenes in which the protagonist is either flirting or being pursued by small legion of women and in a manner that makes the film resemble a sex comedy. Hawks, fortunately, wraps everything up in exciting and action-packed finale that compensates for a lot of flaws. The Big Sleep was extremely popular at the box office and was greeted very well by critics. Its reputation of classic grew through time and was confirmed by 1978 British remake that, despite more graphic content including explicit violence and nudity, looked much inferior than 1946 version.

RATING: 7/10 (+++)

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