The Big Sleep (1946)
Grade: 69
"The Big Sleep" is the second of four films that Humphrey Bogart made with Lauren Bacall. It is also the second most famous detective film that Bogart made, after "The Maltese Falcon".
"The Big Sleep" is an entertaining film with a contrived, overly complex plot. The characters, however, aren't complex at all. It would be unfair to say that they are one-dimensional, but generous to give them more than two dimensions. Carmen, for example, is lovely and childish, but little else. Harry Jones is the only character to show vulnerability. Still, the dialogue (based on the novel by Raymond Chandler, but first screen credit is given to novelist William Faulkner) is good, especially between Bacall and Bogart, and the cast and production values are first rate.
Philip Marlowe (Humphrey Bogart) is a private investigator hired by General Sternwood (Charles Waldron) to stop blackmail attempts against his two daughters Vivian (Lauren Bacall) and Carmen (Martha Vickers). Bogart's investigation is hampered by all the suspects getting murdered. Bogart eventually falls for Bacall, despite her showing up in all the wrong places, and telling him a series of lies.
"To Have and Have Not" was Bogart and Bacall's first film together. The commercial and critical success of that film, especially the dialogue between the stars, was not lost on Warner Brothers. "The Big Sleep" was mostly filmed in 1944, but not immediately released. Studio execs decided to replace several of the scenes, reducing Vickers' role in favor of Bacall's. Bogart and Bacall were given suggestive dialogue unusual for the era. The two films have something else in common: both directors apparently believed that Bacall could sing.
"The Big Sleep" is a male fantasy, as seen through the eyes of Humphrey Bogart. Something is always happening, he knows the score, and women can't get enough of him. The role is tailor-made for Bogart.
Some spoilers follow:
Since the plot is so confusing that you can't tell the players without a program, I have done my best to make a list of all the murders, in chronological order, described by victim, killer, and motive.
Shawn Regan, detective for General Sternwood, murdered by Carmen, who was jealous of his preference for Eddie Mars' wife Mona (Peggy Knudsen).
Mr. Geiger, bookseller and apparent merchant in stolen goods, murdered by Owen Taylor, who was General Sternwood's chauffeur. Geiger was blackmailing Carmen since he knew she killed Regan. Taylor was in love with Carmen, and murdered Geiger.
Owen Taylor, murdered by Joe Brody (Louis Jean Heydt). Brody, also a blackmailer, did not want competition for Sternwood's payoffs.
Joe Brody, murdered by Carol Lundgren (Tom Rafferty). Carol worked for Geiger, and thought Brody had murdered Geiger. Carol hid Geiger's body to buy time to remove Geiger's merchandise.
Harry Jones (Elisha Cook Jr), murdered by Canino (Bob Steele). Canino worked for crooked casino owner Eddie Mars (John Ridgely). Mars is attempting to blackmail Vivian. Mars, for some reason, didn't like Jones tailing Bogart. Bogart is so impressed with Jones' martyrdom that he praises him to the skies to anyone who will listen, for the rest of the film.
Canino is later killed in self-defense by Bogart.
Eddie Mars, murdered by his own henchmen Sidney (Tom Fadden) and Pete (Ben Welden). They thought that they were shooting at Bogart and not their boss.
Remember all this the next time you see the film, and it will almost make sense!
kollers@mpsi.net http://members.tripod.com/~Brian_Koller/movies.html
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