Farewell, My Lovely (1975)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Dick Richards

Writers:

David Zelag Goodman (screenplay)
Raymond Chandler (novel)

Release Date:

8 August 1975 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

This, the second adaptation of Raymond Chandler's novel, is much closer to the source text than the original - Murder, My Sweet (1944)...

Plot Keywords:

Nightclub | Private Eye | Murder | Motel | Topless

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Robert Mitchum	...	Philip Marlowe
Charlotte Rampling	...	Helen Grayle
John Ireland	...	Det. Lt. Nulty
Sylvia Miles	...	Jessie Halstead Florian
Anthony Zerbe	...	Laird Brunette
Harry Dean Stanton	...	Det. Billy Rolfe
Jack O'Halloran	...	Moose Malloy
Joe Spinell	...	Nick
Sylvester Stallone	...	Jonnie
Kate Murtagh	...	Frances Amthor
John O'Leary	...	Lindsay Marriott
Walter McGinn	...	Tommy Ray
Burton Gilliam	...	Cowboy
Jim Thompson	...	Judge Baxter Wilson Grayle
Jimmy Archer	...	Georgie (as Jimmie Archer)

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Norway:16 | Iceland:12 | France:U | Germany:16 (DVD rating) | Netherlands:12 | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

1024 S. Grand Avenue, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

EK

Trivia:

The dark pin-striped suit worn by Robert Mitchum in the film was the only one available from the wardrobe department, with no backup suit available if needed. Originally made for Victor Mature during the 1940s, Mitchum hated the outfit, and complained constantly during production about having to wear "Victor Mature's old farted-up suit."

Goofs:

Continuity: When the boat captain, Marlowe, and Malloy are negotiating about the boat rental fee, the captain's cigarette suddenly disappears between shots.

Quotes:

Philip Marlowe: [of several unidentified thugs' bodies] I'll bet you five dollars you can't find a state they're not wanted in.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988)

Soundtrack:

I've Heard That Song Before

different to the first

The choice of Mitchum for the lead role really did work. The novel suggest a tired Marlowe, who has had enough of being "detective to the stars". He wants to get out of his seedy little life, and change things, but instead, he gets wrapped up in another case. Mitchum's hang dog expression and tired wise guy act sums up the depression of the fallen hero. This is not the smooth talking Bogart, not the finely clipped and smooth Powell, but a harder, more experienced Marlowe, a man more aware of his own downfall. As he says to knulty, what he need is a nights sleep, what he needs is another drink. After watching this truly excellent recreation of late forties LA, I'm not sure that I couldn't agree with him.

Ah yes, and Charlotte Rampling and the sometime Thelma really was "cuter than lace pants"