Title: The Big Sleep
Date: 1946
Type: Thriller
Rating: 5/5
Colour: No
Director: Howard Hawks
Executive Producer: Jack L Warner
Comment
Philip Marlow (Humphrey Bogart) is employed to investigate the blackmail of the younger daughter (Martha Vickers) of a rich family, but gets drawn into a complex web of shady dealings, blackmail and murder. His investigation is complicated by the allure of Lauren Bacall as the older sister who is involved with the plot. Humphrey Bogart is excellent as private eye Philip Marlow in this complex thriller. The plot from the Raymond Chandler novel is helped by a good script. The on screen chemistry between Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, together with their banter and with the sexual undercurrent is a good counterpoint to the murders and blackmail of the plot. There is also a good supporting cast. This is a classic Film Noir particularly as shown by Humphrey Bogart's character as the hard bitten cynical private detective. Bogardt and Bacall were having an affair whilst filming this and married shortly after.
Actors
Humphrey Bogart
Lauren Bacall
Martha Vickers
John Ridgley
Dorothy Malone
Peggy Knudsen
Regis Toomey
Elisha Cook Jr
Charles Waldron
Oscars
None
Novel
Raymond Chandler
Muusic
Max Steiner