Marlowe (1969)

Director:

Paul Bogart

Writers:

Raymond Chandler (novel)
Stirling Silliphant (writer)

Release Date:

31 October 1969 (USA)

Genre:

Mystery | Crime | Drama

Tagline:

Welcome to Marlowe Country!

Plot:

Quiet young Orfamay Quest from Kansas has hired private detective Philip Marlowe to find her brother...

Plot Keywords:

Private Detective | Murder | Striptease | Neo Noir | Stockings

Cast

James Garner	...	Philip Marlowe
Gayle Hunnicutt	...	Mavis Wald
Carroll O'Connor	...	Lt. Christy French
Rita Moreno	...	Dolores Gonzáles
Sharon Farrell	...	Orfamay Quest
William Daniels	...	Mr. Crowell
H.M. Wynant	...	Sonny Steelgrave
Jackie Coogan	...	Grant W. Hicks
Kenneth Tobey	...	Sgt. Fred Beifus
Bruce Lee	...	Winslow Wong
Christopher Cary	...	Chuck
George Tyne	...	Oliver Hady
Corinne Camacho	...	Julie
Paul Stevens	...	Dr. Vincent Lagardie
Roger Newman	...	Orrin Quest

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

West Germany:18 (nf) | Germany:12 (DVD rating) | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:M (original rating) | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Bradbury Building - 304 S. Broadway, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Cherokee Productions

Trivia:

The movie's title song, "Little Sister" was originally recorded by New York studio musicians but the producers were not happy with the vocal performance (rumored to be songwriter Norman Gimbel himself). They turned to executives at MGM Records who suggested that members from their newly signed star group, Orpheus, re-record the song. The producers agreed and the Orpheus version was recorded at Bell Sound Studios in New York. Only Orpheus lead singer, Bruce Arnold and backup singer, Jack McKenes were on the track since the music had been pre-recorded. However, future Orpheus member and legendary studio musician, Bernard Pretty Purdie, plays drums on the song's backing track.

Quotes:

Thug: Car.
Philip Marlowe: Beep, beep.
[Marlowe tries to walk away, but is blocked by the Thug]
Thug: Car.
Philip Marlowe: For a guy with a limited vocabulary, you sure do manage to get your point across.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Los Angeles Plays Itself (2003)

Soundtrack:

LITTLE SISTER

Fun movie

Vintage Garner, solid sleuth story with sophisticated plot twists! Somewhat in the same cut as Paul Newman's "Harper", but bearing Garner's unique brand of sardonic humor: Sort of a modern Bret Maverick!

Good late 60's detective romp through West Coast life, interweaving the societal trends of that time period (Hippie, straight, boozer, sleazer, etc.) Bruce Lee is a welcome interlude, especially in his scene at Marlowe's office.

However, Rita Moreno is the real treat in this one: probably her best dramatic performance! One wishes she had been cast in more roles like this one to let the public see her for the multi-dimensional actress that she was.