The Big Sleep (Hawks, 1946)

Private Detective Philip Marlowe is hired to investigate a blackmail case in which a General's nympho daughter is involved. Bogie finds, several murders later, that he... more >

Private Detective Philip Marlowe is hired to investigate a blackmail case in which a General's nympho daughter is involved. Bogie finds, several murders later, that he has fallen in love with her elder sister. Raymond Chandler endorsed Hawks' adaptation of his novel in this film noir masterpiece by commenting that the director brought "the gift of atmosphere and the requisite touch of hidden sadism" to the work. Famously, the labyrinthine plot of the film defeated even the author; when Hawks enquired who killed the chauffeur, Chandler replied that he had no idea! The point here is that it matters not one jot - this is a film to be enjoyed for its dark, brooding, totally fascinating world, and for its unforgettably witty and sexy interplay between Bogart's definitive Philip Marlowe and Bacall's Vivien Sternwood, as well as the former's encounters with bookstore assistants, taxi drivers and hat check girls. < less

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Who'd have thought that one of the sexiest scenes in motion picture history would take place in a rare books store. more >

Who'd have thought that one of the sexiest scenes in motion picture history would take place in a rare books store. < less

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DVD Extras

• Trailer

Film Details

Cast

Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Dorothy Malone, Charles Waldron

Technical Details