Philip Marlowe Movie Week: Farewell, My Lovely

Back again amateur flatfoots for Day 4 of Philip Marlowe Movie Week. As you know, it is best if Marlowe is handled by a tough guy. Someone scrappy, smart and handsome doesn't hurt. To be honest I would have never picked Eliott Gould to play Marlowe but truth be told he did a fair job. This time around we have a vintage rough and tumble fella in the form of Robert Mitchum tackling the role and with all it entitles. This is Farewell, My Lovely.

Sheesh, almost nodded off there.

This is the second adaptation of Raymond Chandler's novel closer the the source material unlike the original Murder, My Sweet in 1944 with Dick Powell. In a town with police corruption, hotels rented by the hour or the month, gambling dens, and murder over jewel heists, Marlowe is always there for the little guy.

We join Marlowe (Robert Mitchum of Out of the Past, The Night of the Hunter, El Dorado, Cape Fear, The Yakuza and The Big Sleep) in a shabby room at a rundown flophouse. Sitting with him Lt. Nulty (John Ireland of Gunslinger, No Time to Kill, The Cheaters, Rawhide and Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat) listening to Marlowe telling the assorted details of the past few days of his case. A gorilla of a man in a suit named Moose Malloy (Jack O' Halloran of King Kong, Superman, Superman II, Dragnet and The Hero and the Terror) stringently insisted that Marlowe was for hire to track down his former girl Velma. The only lead they have is now a black owned bar. Malloy keeps talking about not seeing his girl for 8 years. Easily an ex-con Malloy loses his patience and starts tossing bouncers and at 6'6" that is not that difficult. Marlowe watches his back but again they didn't find Velma and no one seemed to know one way or the other.

The lady or the liqueur?

Working an additional case is over murder name of Lindsay Marriott (John O' Leary of The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter, All the President's Men, Airplane! And The Last Starfighter). With a little know-how, Marlowe figures out that Marriot was in the blackmail racket. Still looking for Velma, Marlowe sees both cases just getting muddled with a sojourn attempting to make sense of any of the half truths, double crosses and homicides piling up.

Shockingly enough, Marlowe has several attempts with his life with a visit with an infamous madame in a brothel to a gunfight on a gambling boat, Philip is convinced he has really stepped in it now.

Can Marlowe solve this ongoing conspiracy and collection of murders? Is the whole city against him with every crooked cop looking to punch his ticket?

A few points about the flick. While Marlowe is in his thirties in the novels, Mitchum was 58 playing the character. Mitchum is also the only actor to play Philip twice on screen, this film and The Big Sleep in 1978. This was Jerry Bruckheimer's first full production after only have two previous credits as an associate producer.

The 70s moved to revival of the film noir and hard-boiled detective movies with the same feel as Chandler's novels like Gumshoe, Chinatown and The Black Bird. Marlowe's wheels was a black 1940 Buick Special. Kinda wish they hit up Mitchum for Marlowe years prior.

Wouldn't mind retiring out here.

Philip Marlowe Movie Week: Marlowe

Hey cats and kittens welcome back for Day 2 of Philip Marlowe Movie Week. Now while I felt that Robert Montgomery would not have been my choice for Marlowe he did meet the task of the character despite his slightly flat performance. But let us journey to the year 1969 instead. Away from the black and whites that captured the mystique of the film noir but we will give Metro-color a chance. What happens when our favorite peeper gets a missing person's case which ties into a martial arts master giving his office the Johnny Depp makeover followed by a double homicide? A whole lot of trouble. This is Marlowe.

Your autograph, Bruce Lee or it's two to the liver!!!

Based on Chandler's exceptional 1949 novel The Little Sister our star studded cast unwind the tale of a missing brother leading to blackmail a double homicide with an ice pick and more than a few pummels for our favorite flatfoot.

Our story opens with Marlowe casing the shabby hippie commune looking for Orrin Quest (Roger Newman of The Edge of the Night, Guiding Light, Annie Hall and Passions) Marlowe (James Garner of The Great Escape, Maverick, The Rockford Files, Murphy's Romance, Fire in the Sky, My Fellow Americans and The Notebook) hired a dishy young thing Orfamay Quest (Sharon Farrell of Man from U.N.C.L.E., A Lovely Way to Die, The Love Machine, It's Alive, Hawaii Five-O and The Stunt Man) whose coy demeanor seems off to Marlowe needs him to find her missing brother as the family has not heard from him in over a month.

With a milk run of a case Marlowe is not expecting anything spectacular for his time but oh brother is he ever wrong. The trail is not very warm but does provide with a few lead of two fellas that may or may not know anything to this mysterious Orrin. Running into a resident of the commune Grant Hicks (Jackie Coogan of The Kid, Mesa of Lost Women, Cowboy G-Men and The Addams Family) who knows more than he is saying but doesn't really admit to knowing Orrin. After conversing and smacking the manager for a pass key, our sleuth goes back to see the manager only find the hotel ledger missing sheets and the manager taking the ten count nap from here to eternity with an ice pick driven into his neck. Presumably he was mistaken for an ice block.

Marlowe talks to the last man the manager did turning out to be a Doctor Largardie (Paul Stevens of The Mask, Another World, Patton and Battle for the Planet of the Apes) who does not deny but doesn't confirm his chat with the manager and he drops the name Grant Hicks when he is off the case. Ms. Quest is making her way out as Hicks calls Marlowe for some info from another hotel just five minutes from his office. With a new lead in the works Marlowe is back on the case when checking with the hotel dick (bodyguard/detective you pervs) to clarify if the call was kosher. The door is unlocked and Hicks seems disposed of when Marlowe is bonked on the head with a .32 with the owner of a pair of dishy legs driving a high end Jaguar convertible in the heart of a recession??

Lt. Archie Bunker wants another beer.

His run-in with the local law via Lieutenant French (Carrol O Connor of Point Blank, Kelly's Heroes, All in the Family, Archie Bunker's Place, In the Heat of the Night and Mad About You) lead to Grant Hicks not being who he claimed an a low ranking skell with delusions of grandeur and a claim ticket for a photo lab. Marlowe's honey gives him a license plate for the jag turning out to be starlet Mavis Wald (Gayle Hunnicutt of Scorpio, Target, The Legend of Hell House, Philip Marlowe, Private Eye and Savage in the Orient). The claim check leads to some racy snaps of Mavis making a bit of face time with a notorious man. Chatting with Mavis' friend Dolores (Rita Moreno of Singin' in the Rain, Westside Story, The Electric Company, Oz and Happily Divorced) and offers his assistance to the sticky situation Ms. Wald is in.

Is Orrin's disappearance and two stiffs connected with Ms Wald? Will there be more bodies to be found and will one of them be Marlowe's?

A few tidbits about the film now. The late Roger Ebert found this film to flip flop from comedy to hard boiled detective while I myself felt it kept the tone of the character. Marlowe has a sharp mind and a smart lip that gets him into more scrapes than most. Apparently Ebert would have preferred it star Humphrey Bogart and it be written by Faulkner rather than Garner's approach.

This is also the first appearance to the American viewing audience of this martial artist fellow Bruce Lee or something other. I hear he may have been in films and TV. Yes I am kidding! Unclench already! He gets to play a villain strong arm which is tough for a guy at 5'7" but I would probably crap my pants this man sent to whip my ass. Bruce also supplied his own clothes he got from Rodeo Drive because the costumes looked not his style. I can respect that. 

Director Paul Bogart (no relation to Humphrey) who worked primarily in TV series and TV movies was really on the ball as this was only his second movie and kept the film fast paced and loose. Now while that may not have been the route Howard Hawks would have chosen, it does not make it any less valid nor this any less Marlowe through and through.

Sorry, we don't have any openings for Rockford right now.

A Dash of Film Noir: Lady in the Lake

Welcome back all to Day 5 of A Dash of Film Noir Week and we will end this week on a bit of an unusual camera POV.  Yes this entire film is shot through the eyes of the lead actor which sounds a bit like a horror movie but is in fact a Point of View shot.  The supporting cast will intentionally seem to break the fourth wall and stare at the camera and speak as though you are the hardboiled detective struggling to get to the truth.  With the exception of a few exterior shots this film is entirely shot in POV and there is little to no soundtrack attached to it.  So grab your snacks and soft drink, droop in your seat and take this all in.  This is Lady in the Lake.

 

This suit cut me right?

Adrienne: Do you fall in love with all of your spoilers?

Marlowe: Only the ones in skirts.

Director and lead actor Robert Montgomery (Made on Broadway, The Mystery of Mr. X, Riptide, No More Ladies and Trouble for Two) chose a different approach to this Raymond Chandler novel turned film.  The subjective view allows you to see the film and story coil out through Marlowe’s eyes.  All the actors stare directly at the camera and give you the feel that you are asking the questions and taking no grief.    Our story begins Marlowe submitting a murder story for the Kingsby Publications Inc.  He gets an invite to the publication to chin wag about his story but it comes quite clear that it is only a ruse for a job.  So much for the Great American Novel I guess.   Adrienne Fromsett (Audrey Totter of The Postman Always Rings Twice, The Set-Up, Man in the Dark, Champ for a Day, Massacre Canyon and Man or Gun) is the executive publicist that wants to hire Marlow to find the wife of her boss Derace Kingsby (Leon Ames of Meet Me in St. Louis, The Thin Man Goes Home, The Postman Always Rings Twice, The Absent-Minded Professor and The Monkey’s Uncle) who has been missing for the better part of a month after sending a telegram stating she is off to Mexico to divorce him and marry a schmoe name of Chris Lavery.

Santa??!

Adrienne states she had seen Lavery in Bay City not long ago.   Marlowe drops in to see Lavery and he attests to no knowledge of this trip to Mexico then socks Marlowe.  A black gunky fog comes over Marlowe and he wakes up in jail where he is grilled by Captain Kane (Tom Tully of The Caine Mutiny, The Lineup, Love Me or Leave Me and Coogan’s Bluff) and his snarky lieutenant DeGarmot (Lloyd Nolan of The House on 92^nd Street, Two Smart People, Martin Kane, Special Agent 7 and 77 Sunset Strip) with Marlowe claiming confidential client clause.  With a brisk warning from Kane not to muddy his waters Marlowe is back on the streets.

 Back on the trail of Lavery, Marlowe learns of the body of a woman in the lake owned by Kingsby, and his caretaker was charged with the murder of his wife.  Fromsett believes that  Kingsby’s wife is the real killer given the hatred Muriel and she had.  Finding Lavery’s apartment, his landlady steps out of his house holding a revolver she claims to have found.   Hoofing up the stairs Marlowe discovers Lavery shot numerous times in the shower of all places and a handkerchief with the monogram “A F”. 

The plot thickens as Marlowe is fired by Fromsett only to be hired by Kingsby to find his wife.

The first-person camera technique is a little throwing.   At any moment I am expecting a zombie or mutant to come at me and I have to frag ‘em with a BFG.  A clever effect that we do not see Montgomery unless he looks in a mirror but the concept wears on the nerves and it got a bit annoying for me.  Also there didn’t feel like there was any chemistry between Montgomery and Audrey Totter.  The love angle felt forced and unrealistic.  Not one of the best Marlowes in my opinion.

Chief O' Hara beats the town drunk....AGAIN.

Philip Marlowe Week: Finger Man

Back again kids with that flatfoot for hire and it seems he is having a difficulty with clients…keeping them alive that is.  Seems the town has got it in for Marlowe and he has to figure how to get back in the City of Angels’ good graces.  So grab those binoculars, keep your rod handy and prep for the worst.  This is Finger Man.

Sorry McGee I am always this pretty.

Philip Marlowe: It was Friday the 13^th; I’ve been hit with a subpoena to testify in the Grand jury in the spoiler killing.  A traffic accident on the highway already made me 20 minutes late.  Last thing I needed was to be signed in as contempt of court.

Marlowe finds himself in as a star witness to the biggest homicide in the town in 20 years.  The special investigator for the Governor’s life is being threatened by letters and phone calls. The investigator’s wife demands protection for her husband but Lt. McGee says they cannot give protection to a man who does not want it so he suggests she hire Marlowe.  Marlowe keeps tabs on the investigator until he takes a meeting out to a house watched over at least two gunsels one of which Marlowe can identify in court.

Porkins??!!!

With a weekend to kill, Marlowe is considering a holiday when an old friend and former numbers make an appearance.  “Lucky” Lou Harmer (Christopher Muncke of The Spy Who Loved Me, How Sleep the Brave, D.A.R.Y.L. and Haunted Honeymoon) plans to hit a casino and wants some muscle in case he scores big. With his date Sally Glen (Gayle Hunnicutt of Marlowe, Scorpio, The Legend of Hell House and Target) they plan to make the scene.  Marlowe gets sapped and his .38 long barrel gets lifted, his head ringing like a four alarm bell only find out Harmer got a .38 driven in his heart.

Sally shows up to Marlowe’s office with 25,000 gees, Harmer’s winnings and a sob story.   Marlowe gets a well armed invitation by enough muscle to rival Gold’s Gym.  He meets with the brilliant mob boss running the show, Frank Dorr (William Hootkins of Star Wars, Flash Gordon, Raiders of the Lost Ark and Batman).  He offers Marlowe a scotch neat and the deal of countermanding his official statement and have it stricken from the record and in return he gets his gun back and gets to keep the 25,000 gees as a bonus.  Eloquent as always Marlowe tells him to stick it which leads to him shooting his way out of Dorr’s compound.  Now Marlowe has to dodge the cops, deal with the mob and clear his name before the long arm of the law tosses him in the jug.

Damn hat keeps slipping.

I have just a quick couple of notes on this episode if you will.   Marlowe’s ride is a 1934 Ford Two Door Sedan powder blue.   The chairs and desk in Dorr’s office are Wolfgang Hoffmann creations, I believe they were recreations for the episode given the extreme value that furniture fetches but I do not have those details.  I can’t do everything for you people!  Sheesh.

Film Noir Week: Out of the Past

Back again boys and girls and welcome to Day 2 of Film Noir Week.  As it is known to be a grim, bleak and disturbing setting with these films, the stories have a tendency to go that extra mile and impress us all with dastardly villains, femme fatales and stout heroes…but let’s be honest; a lot of you are there for the fights, gunfights and twist endings.  I can relate.   So how about we take a peek at this fine Jacques Torneur film.   This is Out of the Past.

Stop falling in love with me, baby.

How big a spoiler can you get to be? I was finding out.

What is a man made up of? Is it his humble beginnings or is it possibly the chance to start all over again?   This is the story of Jeff Bailey a.k.a. Jeff Markham (Robert Mitchum of Crossfire, Blood on the Moon, El Dorado, Man with the Gun, The Yakuza and The Big Sleep) operating out of a shabby little garage in Bridgeport California and dating a swell gal named Ann (Virginia Huston of Nocturne, Sudden Fear, Tarzan’s Peril and Knock on Wood) when a big muscled goon name of Joe Stephanos tells Jeff him a fella name of Whit Sterling demands to see him.  Jeff agrees reluctantly.  That night Jeff picks up Ann and the two just drive off to Jeff’s meeting and the story gets narrated by Mitchum as we are treated to the rest of the movie in the form of a flashback.   Relax Highlander fans, flashbacks can be your friend too.  

Mustn't fart in front of Douglas..Hold it.

Jeff pins our ears back a spell and gives us the low down about him being a gumshoe with a partner named Fisher (Steve Brodie of The Wild World of Batwoman, Bonanaza, Lassie, Gunsmoke and The Giant Spider Invasion) working for a man named Whit Sterling (Kirk Douglas of A Letter to Three Wives, Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, Spartacus, 2000 Leagues Under the Sea and the Vikings).  What’s the problem you might ask?  A dame with enough beauty to make a preacher kick in a stained glass window, a woman with more slink than a cat; in short his mistress Kathie Moffat (Jane Greer of Dick Tracy, Sunset Pass, Station West, You for Me and The Prisoner of Zenda).  Sterling spins us a yarn about the tomato pulled a roscoe, pumped two bits of lead in him and off with more than 40 large.   This fella says bygones is bygones and just wants her back in his life.  Not Jacks’ cross to bear but a gig is a gig they say.

I have just a few comments and observations about the film at this time.  This story is very tongue in cheek, snappy patter and Mitchum just revels in being a tough guy and yet you can believe what happens to him was inevitable.  Jane Greer’s performance just gets under your skin to one point you could see her talking you into a mass murder spree, convincing you it was your idea in the first place.

Mmm, the Surgeon General never warned me about her.

Back with 35mm Spherical giving a wide scope on the film’s view at a nice, steady pace of 97 minutes this film will keep surprising you.   Based on the novel Build My Gallows High by San Fransico newspaper man Daniel Mainwaring a.k.a. Geoffrey Holmes, this book was adapted by a few name alterations and punching up the third act to follow the spice and danger the book laid out.   Thrills, chills and spills with this one and Mitchum has some damn good lines that will sizzle the ladies’ socks.