The best of the more modern renditions of Forties' detective noir films ; this is the second adaptation of Raymond Chandler's novel, is much closer to the source text than the original . Featuring world-weary private eye Philip Marlowe (magnificent Robert Mitchum as a serviceable and seen-it-all detective) chasing for an ex-inmate's (Jack O'Halloran) lost girlfriend in 1941 Los Angeles . Meantime , there happens various murders and Marlowe being interrogated by Police Inspectors (John Ireland , Harry Dean Stanton) . The eye private becomes involved into a dark world of killing , treason and leading in twisted results .
This interesting , hard-boiled film packs thrills , suspense , mayhem , and employs flashback fashion in ever-twisting directions , using that crisp Raymond Chandler narrative . The picture offers a nicely detailed production design by Dean Tavoularis who designed The Godfather . This is a remake and only a pace behind the Dick Powell original , using the novel's title from the first recreation titled ¨Murder my sweet¨(1944) by Edward Dmytryck starred by Dick Powell , Claire Trevor , Mike Mazurki and Otto Kruger . Very good acting by Robert Mitchum , even at 57 , as a down-on-his-luck detective who searches an ex-convict's sweetheart . This is a breakthrough dramatically for the great Robert Mitchum , at his best . Charlotte Rampling is stunning as a Femme Fatale and does quite a nice imitation of Lauren Bacall . Excellent support cast plenty of veteran actors as John Irekand , Sylvia Miles , Harry Dean Stanton , Anthony Zerbe and introducing the massive Jack O'Halloran . Furthermore , there's an early screen character for Silvester Stallone who along with Joe Spinell play the bad guys .
Classic cinematographer John A. Alonzo prowls his camera menacingly through some wonderfully seedy neo-Forties settings . Evocative and atmospheric musical score by David Shire , including enjoyable leitmotif . This agreeable thick-ear thriller was well directed by Dick Richards , recreating compellingly this thrilling story , perhaps the most accurate of Chandler adaptations , and whose best movie this is . Furthermore , Dick gets to remain the mystery and suspense until the final . Before entering the film industry , Dick Richards was a contributing photographer for Life magazine , subsequently turning into filmmaking , he is a good craftsman who has directed a few films but of great quality , such as ¨The Culpepper Cattle¨, ¨March or die¨ , Death valley¨ and ¨Rafferty and the Gold Dust Twins ¨, in addition , he found the script for 'Tootsie' and co-produced it with Sydney Pollack . Rating : above average , essential and indispensable watching this Chandler's favorite version .
This interesting , hard-boiled film packs thrills , suspense , mayhem , and employs flashback fashion in ever-twisting directions , using that crisp Raymond Chandler narrative . The picture offers a nicely detailed production design by Dean Tavoularis who designed The Godfather . This is a remake and only a pace behind the Dick Powell original , using the novel's title from the first recreation titled ¨Murder my sweet¨(1944) by Edward Dmytryck starred by Dick Powell , Claire Trevor , Mike Mazurki and Otto Kruger . Very good acting by Robert Mitchum , even at 57 , as a down-on-his-luck detective who searches an ex-convict's sweetheart . This is a breakthrough dramatically for the great Robert Mitchum , at his best . Charlotte Rampling is stunning as a Femme Fatale and does quite a nice imitation of Lauren Bacall . Excellent support cast plenty of veteran actors as John Irekand , Sylvia Miles , Harry Dean Stanton , Anthony Zerbe and introducing the massive Jack O'Halloran . Furthermore , there's an early screen character for Silvester Stallone who along with Joe Spinell play the bad guys .
Classic cinematographer John A. Alonzo prowls his camera menacingly through some wonderfully seedy neo-Forties settings . Evocative and atmospheric musical score by David Shire , including enjoyable leitmotif . This agreeable thick-ear thriller was well directed by Dick Richards , recreating compellingly this thrilling story , perhaps the most accurate of Chandler adaptations , and whose best movie this is . Furthermore , Dick gets to remain the mystery and suspense until the final . Before entering the film industry , Dick Richards was a contributing photographer for Life magazine , subsequently turning into filmmaking , he is a good craftsman who has directed a few films but of great quality , such as ¨The Culpepper Cattle¨, ¨March or die¨ , Death valley¨ and ¨Rafferty and the Gold Dust Twins ¨, in addition , he found the script for 'Tootsie' and co-produced it with Sydney Pollack . Rating : above average , essential and indispensable watching this Chandler's favorite version .