Although the plot can be confusing at times, The Big Sleep (1946) remains one of the great classics of Film Noir. Directed by Howard Hawks, and grounded by excellent writers (William Faulker scripted based on Raymond Chandler's novel), the film is crisp and full of great atmosphere and dialogue. And, of course, Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall are simply wonderful together.
Private Detective Philip Marlowe (Humphrey Bogart) is hired by a dying General to investigate and put to rest an attempt to blackmail him. The case leads Marlowe to a rare book dealer who is subsequently murdered, with the General's loose daughter sitting woozily beside the dead body...
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| The Big Sleep. 1946 |
The General's eldest daughter, Vivian Rutledge (Lauren Bacall) gets involved, and Marlowe falls in love with her despite his inherent mistrust. Each turn in the case opens up a new mystery, with one detail remaining constant: the disappearance of the General's former friend/bodyguard...
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| The Big Sleep. 1946: Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart |
More complexity comes with the involvement of a crooked gambler and his henchmen. More blackmailers...
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| The Big Sleep. 1946: Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall |
And guys trailing Marlowe...
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| The Big Sleep. 1946 |
Each new detail brings more danger and increases Marlowe's desire to see the case through, and to see more of Ms. Rutledge...
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| The Big Sleep. 1946: Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall |
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| The Big Sleep. 1946: Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall |
