Private detective Marlowe (Humphrey Bogart) and Vivian (Lauren Bacall) are curious about many things. Who killed, framed, betrayed and seduced whom? How many ‘Femme Fatales’ are in Howard Hawks´ Film Noir ‘The Big Sleep (1946)?’ Put on a grim look and touch your earlobe or keep on reading to get all the answers.
Interlude
Humphrey Bogart once said, regarding love in movies: “I have absolutely no interest in who gets the girl. I don’t care. I don’t see any reason to spend two hours to see who gets the girl especially since you know who’s going to get her from the beginning – usually the actor who gets the most money.”
His character in ‘The Big Sleep (1946)’ is called Philip Marlowe. A hard-boiled detective who works at his cases in the urban jungle of Los Angeles. Marlowe gets paid well in the end. It´s also certain that Bogart got a ‘bunch load of cash’ for his performance. Three months after filming, he got married with leading actress Lauren Bacall. So he definitely gets the girl. What about our private investigator? Well, he really could have them all. A hauling hound wandering through dark city streets ‘nearly’ picking up every woman on his way, while searching for the truth.
This film is based on a novel by Raymond Chandler, published in 1939. It has the same title and is the first book from a series of crime novels with the famous detective.
One of many remarkable features is the fact that this film has an extensive number of ‘Femme Fatales.’ Not all of the ladies can be completely classified as such, but it´s certain that not one can be described as shy or reserved. You´ll get to know them one by one while reading this post.
I also provide various pictures and original dialogues.
Poor in two drinks, like Marlowe would do in an LA book shop, relax and enjoy this Noir Journey. You could drink both shots on your own or try to contact Dorothy Malone´s earlier self aka Book Shop Girl to assist you. It´s your choice!
Making a case
Private eye Philip Marlowe (Humphrey Bogart) arrives at a large mansion to where he is summoned by Chief Inspector Bernie Ohls (Regis Toomey) to take a case from General Sternwood (Charles Waldron). Before he gets to talk with the old man, in a tropical heated botanical garden, there´s another hot encounter he has to face before. Sternwood´s youngest daughter Carmen (Martha Vickers) presents herself in front of him, right after butler Norris (Charles D. Brown) showed him the way to his client. This scene became notorious over the years for two reasons. Vickers´ first class acting and the unforgettable dialogue.
Pulling a private detective trick right at the start. Marlowe (Humphrey Bogart) states a false name, while meeting seductive Carmen Sternwood (Martha Vickers) for the first time:
Carmen: “What´s your name?”
Marlowe: “Reilly. Doghouse Reilly.”
Carmen: “Hah. That´s a funny kind of name.”
Marlowe: “You think, so?”
Carmen: “Uh-huh.”
Faulkner´s, Brackett´s and Furthman´s screen play is very strong, however they did a real feat in writing the lines for the conversation between Marlowe and Sternwood senior. Charles Waldron, who played the general, sadly died before the films release. The way the old man talks, and judging by his condition, thus seems more than ever like one of his last roles. Waldron was really busy in his final creative stage. This wasn´t the only film, in which he appeared in 1946. There were three more but they all premiered earlier, although ‘The Big Sleep (1946)’ had already been shot between October 10, 1944 and January 12, 1945. Warner Bros. decided to postpone the release in favor of war themed movies. There were also some re-shots on the beginning of 1946, which I will describe later.
Noir lines as good as they can get. General Sternwood (Charles Waldron) explains the case to Marlowe (Humphrey Bogart).
To make it clearer, how well the screen writers did their job, some original dialogue extracts as follows:
Sternwood: “Brandy Norris … How do you like your brandy, sir?”
Marlowe: “In a glass.”
Sternwood: “I used to like mine with champagne. Champagne cold as Valley Forge and with about three ponies of brandy under it. … Oh come, come, man. Pour a decent one … I like to see people drink.”
Sternwood: “Too hot in here for any man who has any blood in his veins … You may smoke too. I can still enjoy the smell of it. Hmm, nice state of affairs when a man has to indulge his vices by proxy. You´re looking, sir, at a very dull survival of a very gaudy life. A cripple paralyzed in both legs … very little I can eat and my sleep is so near waking that it´s hardly worth the name. I seem to exist largely on heat, like a newborn spider. The orchids are an excuse for the heat … You like orchids?”
Marlowe: “Not particularly.”
Sternwood: “Nasty things … Their flesh is too much like the flesh of men. Their perfume has the rotten sweetness of corruption.”
Probably one of Marlowe´s best lines. Referring to his meeting with Carmen just before: “Then she tried to sit on my lap, while I was standing up.”
The case is basically about Shawn Regan. Although the word ‘basically’ may not be the right one. This man was and did many things. Brigade commander in the Irish Republican Army, running rum out of Mexico and kind of a foster son to the general. He´s gone missing or ‘gone and missing.’ A guy named Geiger (Theodore von Eltz) wants to bribe Sternwood senior with some gambling debts.
Marlowe also has a conversation with Vivian Rutledge, Carmen´s older sister, played by Lauren Bacall. The first signs that he might fall for her later are already visible. We´re ten minutes in and ‘Femme Fatale.’ number two entered the screen. What is her part in this play?
In my opinion, the core of true Film Noir language can be defined in one sentence: Rough, right to the point, stylish talk about a tough world which chokes on dirty money and permissiveness soaked with alcohol. Of course, it´s not the official definition. Sometimes simplicity is better.
“The plot thickens … confusingly.”
Chandler’s book and the script have quite a bit in common. A complex, and to some extent confusing, story line is evident in both. Many characters are involved and everybody wants a piece of the cake.
I mentioned ‘book’, right? Good key word to continue! Marlowe starts his investigation by visiting three places where books are more or less relevant. The Hollywood Public Library, A. J. Geiger Rare Books and The ACME Book Shop. Marlowe is interested in Geiger, the blackmailer mentioned by Sternwood. ‘Femmes’ three, four and five appear during those visits. Are all of them ‘Fatale?’
Marlowe (Humphrey Bogart) returns a book, about famous first editions, to a librarian (Carole Douglas).
Librarian: “You know, you don´t look like the man who´d be interested in first editions.”
Marlowe: “Well, I collect blondes in bottles, too.”
Marlowe (Humphrey Bogart) starts investigating in Geiger´s book store and talks to Agnes Lowzier (Sonia Darrin).
Agnes: “Can I be of any assistance?”
Marlowe: “Oh. Yes, uh, would you happen to have a ‘Ben-Hur,’ 1860?”
Agnes: “A what?”
Marlowe again: “Do you have a ‘Ben-Hur,’ 1860?”
Agnes: “Oh, a, a first edition.”
Marlowe: “No, no, no, no, no, no. The third. The third. The one with the, uh, with the erratum on 116.”
Agnes: “I´m afraid not.”
Marlowe: “Uh, how about a ‘Chevalier Audubon,’ 1840, full set, of course.”
Agnes: “Not at the moment.”
Marlowe: “You do sell books, hmm?”
Agnes: “What do those look like, grapefruit?”
The third stop is the naughtiest one. Marlowe (Humphrey Bogart) talks to a seductive girl in a book shop. This scene is very famous and film buffs all over the globe state that a 19 year old Dorothy Malone stole the show from all others with only 3 minutes and 15 seconds screen time. This paved the way for a great career.
Marlowe: “You know, it just happens, I got a bottle of really good rye in my pocket. I´d a lot rather get wet in here.”
Book shop girl: “Well … looks like we´re closed for the rest of the afternoon.”
Geiger´s fate is revealed soon. He is lying dead in his house and a drugged Carmen Sternwood is on the crime scene. Shortly after, another corpse is found. Stashed in a car in the surf of ‘Lido Pier.’ Owen Taylor, the victim, was General Sternwood´s driver and in love with his youngest daughter.
It becomes clear to Marlowe, that this whole business isn´t just about some lousy gambling offenses. Two dead bodies, a hidden camera pointed right at Carmen, blackmailing and rough methods. Some old fashioned detective work is required to bring light into this mess. Another ‘Femme Fatale’ is added to Marlowe´s collection on the way. A Taxi driver with black hair and curls (Joy Barlow).
When Marlowe (Humphrey Bogart) visits Geiger’s house again, a ‘big shot’ enters the story. Eddie Mars (John Ridgely) delivers a battle of words with Marlowe.
Mars: “Blood. Quite a lot of blood.”
Marlowe is lighting a cigarette: “Is that so?”
Mars holding a gun: “Do you mind?”
Marlowe: “No. I´m used to it.”
Mars: “I think we´ll let the police in on this. We´ll have some law.”
Marlowe: “Yeah, why not?”
Mars: “Who are you, soldier?”
Marlowe: “Marlowe´s my name. I´m a private detective.”
Mars: “Who´s the girl?”
Marlowe: “Client of mine. Geiger tried to throw a loop on her, so we came up here to talk things over.”
Mars: “Convenient, the door being open, when you didn´t have a key.”
Marlowe: “Yeah, wasn´t it, by the way how did you happen to have one?”
Mars: “That any of your business?”
Marlowe: “I could make it my business.”
Mars: “I could make your business mine.”
Marlowe: “You wouldn´t like it. The pays´s too small.”
Marlowe follows his next lead to a hotel. It turns out that a whole bunch of characters has set camp there. For example, Joe Brody (Lois Jan Heydt) who is in possession of nude photos which show Carmen (Martha Vickers) and were taken (and taken!) on the first crime scene. She is in the same room as Brody, along with her sister Vivian (Lauren Bacall) and fake Agnes (Sonia Darrin) from Geiger´s even more fake book shop.
Only Bogey can smile like this when someone points a gun directly at him. “My, my, my. Such a lot of guns around town and so few brains. You know, you´re the second guy I´ve met today that seems to think a gat in the hand means the world by the tail.” Brody (Louis Jan Heydt) still feels he has the advantage.
In the end, another one does the job. Brody got killed off by a hitman, right after the Sternwood sisters went home. It´s followed by a stylish chase scene.
The assassin (Tommy Rafferty) takes aim …
… to get Marlowe too …
… which literally kicks back later …
‘The Big Sleep (1946)’ had many things in store for it´s director Howard Hawks. It was a major success at the box office. In terms of how Hawks want to make movies, it changed almost everything. He stated: “As long as you make good scenes you have a good picture. It doesn’t matter if it isn’t much of a story.” Particularly referring to his 1946 bombshell: “I never figured out what was going on, but I thought that the basic thing had great scenes in it, and it was good entertainment. After that got by, I said, I´m never going to worry about being logical again.”
Up to a certain point, I have to agree with him. Don´t get me wrong here. I also like the story. Bribing, murdering and teasing in LA is always ‘nice to have.’ But that´s not what makes this picture very good. The lines, the dialogues, the cinematography raise this film to a higher level.
Similarities in storytelling to the widely regarded first Film Noir ‘The Maltese Falcon (1941),’ directed by John Huston and also starring Humphrey Bogart, are undeniable. The story is equally obscure and complex in many places. There are quite a few characters involved, some of which are only briefly mentioned or have relevance for a few moments. Most of the focus is on individual scenes and dialogues.
The Bogart & Bacall Show
Even if my opinion tends to favor Martha Vickers´s performance, of the nymphomaniac Carmen Sternwood, over Lauren Bacall´s display of a mysterious Vivian Rutledge, it is certain that Bacall is one of the names which lured viewers into cinemas. The star at the movies release was, of course, Humphrey Bogart. They already proved their chemistry on and off screen in ‘To Have and Have Not (1944).’ Also a Noir directed by Howard Hawks and Bacall´s film debut.
This hot-headed romance was lit again, during the filming of ‘The Big Sleep (1946).’ Naturally, the production and marketing team wanted to squeeze out the biggest possible profit from their sometimes scandalous relationship. At least scandalous in the view of a large part of the U.S. population during World War Two and the years after. A 44-year-old Bogart, with marital and alcohol problems, rushes into an affair with a pretty 20-year-old newcomer. That’s how old they were on Oct. 10, 1944, the first day of filming. Studio head and executive producer Jack L. Warner even ordered re-shots and the insertion of additional scenes, which only focused on Bacall & Bogie, to give it even more of a boost. Further, important plot details from Raymond Chandler’s book thereby fell victim to the cutters.
It´s no easy task for Bogart´s alter ego Marlowe to understand Vivian´s intentions either. He maneuvers from one reckless situation to another to find out. Is it really just caring what she feels for her sister? Or is she following her own agenda and trying to profit from Carmen’s lack of restrain along with the rest of LA’s scum?
I don´t know the entire scene list of re-shots that began on January 2, 1946. There are some cases where the material itself existed, but the whole thing was done again because the lines should be more insinuating. There´s a famous one in which they meet at a bar and make suggestive talk about ‘horses.’ This is confirmed to be an additional scene.
Marlowe is lighting a cigarette for Vivian. Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall married only three months, after the film finished. However, this scene was shot after they said ‘Yes!’ to each other.
Vivian: “Tell me, uh what do you usually do when you´re not working?”
Marlowe: “Mmm. Play the horses, fool around.”
Vivian: “No women?”
Marlowe: “Oh, I´m generally working on something most of the time.”
Vivian: “Could that be stretched to include me?”
Marlowe: “Oh, I like you, I told you that before.”
Vivian: “I like hearing you say it.”
Marlowe: “Hmm.”
Vivian: “But you didn´t do much about it.
Marlowe: “Well, neither did you.”
Vivian: “Well, speaking of horses. I like to play them myself. But I like to see them workout a little first see if they´re front-runners or come from behind. Find out what their whole card is … what makes them run.”
Marlowe: “Find out mine?”
Vivian: “I think so.”
Marlowe: “Go ahead.”
Vivian: “I´d say you don´t like to be rated. You like to get out in front, open up a lead. Take a little breather on the back stretch and then come home free.”
Marlowe: “You don´t like to be rated yourself.”
Vivian: “I haven´t met anyone yet that could do it. Any suggestions?”
Marlowe: “Well, I can´t tell I´ve seen you over a distance of ground. Got a touch of glass, but, uh I don´t know how – how far you can go.”
Vivian: “A lot depends on who´s in the saddle. Go ahead, Marlowe. I like the way you work. In case you don´t know it, you´re doing alright.”
Marlowe: “There´s one thing I can´t figure out.”
Vivian: “What makes me run?”
Marlowe: “Uh-huh.”
Vivian: “I´ll give you a little hint. Sugar won´t work. It´s been tried.”
Marlowe follows Vivian´s trails to a gambling party held by Eddie Mars. The women counter goes up again. By the way, the waitress at the breakfast joint the next morning isn´t a ‘Femme Fatale.’ Well, maybe just because she hasn´t the chance to talk or react to Marlowe.
More ‘Femme Fatales’ for Mr. Marlowe. A waitress (Tanis Chandler) and a cigarette girl (Shelby Payne).
An intimate talk in Marlowe´s car, a 1938 Plymouth DeLuxe. Vivian (Lauren Bacall) crouches in her seat for a reason. It was an instruction from director Howard Hawks, so that Humphrey Bogart, who is only 1.73m tall, does not look too small compared to his female leads. In other scenes with Bacall and Vickers, he even had to wear platform shoes to conceal this while the women wore flats.
Noir Comedy or Real Darkness?
The darkest Noir films, I´ve seen so far, are ‘Detour (1945)’, ‘The Lost Weekend (1945)’, ‘Nightmare Alley (1947)’, ‘House of Strangers (1949)’ and ‘Vertigo (1958).’ However, I´m not referring to the lack of brightness in the night or the frightening black mess just before someone faints. It´s the darkness of the human soul, which is far more dangerous. Ruthless portrayals of the worst. What people and unfortunate circumstances can inflict on other people. Dramatic injustices and coincidences that turn life upside down, although the women and men concerned often have little or no influence on their misfortune. Some people describe ‘The Big Sleep (1946)’ as a ‘Noir Comedy.’ One thing is for sure. It´s far from being as ruthless as the above mentioned flicks. But is it really just a Comedy with a Noir Cinematography? Well, let´s see.
His name was Harry Jones (Elisha Cook Jr.) and he used to run a little liquor, riding the scout car with a ‘Tommy Gun’ in his lap. He was in love with a girl too. They talked about getting married. But to start a new life with his beloved Agnes (Sonia Darrin), he needs one thing above all. Cash. ‘The Dough’ needs to be as anonymous as an unregistered gin joint and the dream to win her gets real for less than an hour. His idea to sell information to a ‘kind of trustful party (Marlowe)’ didn´t work out. Canino (Bob Steele), one of Mars´ killers, sent him to the grave real quick. Agnes’ first reaction, after she heard of Harry´s death, who had just put his life on the line for her, was to get the proposed two hundred dollars. Marlowe answered, after Agnes asked how he died. “There´s no use going into that. You don´t really care anyway.”
When someone threatens you with a gun …
… and poison kills you off seconds later. Elisha Cook Jr. also appeared with Bogart in ‘The Maltese Falcon (1941),’ playing a violent psycho named Wilmer Cook.
There´s a fake two-bit garage and paint shop about ten miles east of Realito. Some cold blooded fellows hang out there. After knocking out Marlowe with a fist full of bullets (yes, it´s meant literally,) to inflict more damage and roping him up like a slave, he finds himself in the most drastic shootout this nest has ever seen.
Marlowe stumbles over Mars´ wife Mona (Peggy Knudsen), ‘Femme Fatale Counter’ plus one, and talks on a ‘tied’ schedule. Vivian´s feelings set him free, just some moments later.
LA´s toughest ‘Shamus’ hides behind a car and returns a violent favor to Canino (Bob Steele) by placing some lethal ammunition in his guts.
Taking the gangsters car, driving on a dark, rainy, misty and windy street, luring ‘the head of the snake’ into a trap, and getting him accidentally killed by his own men is pure Film Noir.
Shoutouts to Shootouts. I leave it to your imagination, how the perforated Eddie Mars (John Ridgely) looks like.
Nevertheless, what happened to Shawn Reagan? He was killed by Carmen (Martha Vickers) all along. The most seducing and wicked ‘Femme Fatale’ of them all.
Now, back to my question. Could ‘The Big Sleep (1946)’ be described more as a Comedy than a Noir? No, definitely not. I wrote those two examples as they happened on screen. Drastic events for sure. But it is still very clear that we are not dealing with a work that tickles out the abysses of the human psyche down to the smallest detail. Philip Marlowe´s wild ride to solve numerous crimes is hard and rough. It´s seducing and relentless. But it only touches the psychic surface with Carmen´s madness or General Sternwood´s despair. Howard Hawk´s intention was to create pure pleasure. Not a lot more and nothing less.
Rating
This movie is a phenomenon. Plain and not simple. If you watch ‘The Big Sleep (1946)’ for the first time, it´s likely that you will be hyped and … confused. Hyped because of the first-class dialogues, well-dosed action and great characters. I consider the hard-boiled and seductive lines as pure joy. The occasional gunfire and fist fights round them up just right. On top of that, ten ‘Femme’ and eight of them ‘Fatales’ in total. Probably the highest number in any Film Noir. It´s a flick that sticks in your memory, like a chewing gum beneath a table. While watching, you also get confused because of so many different roles, agendas, places, corpses and a story with more twists and turns than any race track. The movie engages to become a detective yourself. Although, it needs more expertise than just watch Sunday night crime shows or read an Agatha Christie novel once a year to get this whole mess right the first time without using the stop button or taking notes. From a logical point of view, everything makes sense in the end. Another interesting aspect is that Chandler´s Marlowe from the novel is very different to the one displayed in this picture. Smoking pipes, solving chess and being reserved regarding hot girls are characteristics that certainly cannot be assigned to the Marlowe in Hawks´ film. The screenwriter´s intention was to make Marlowe more accessible to a younger and more open-minded audience. They succeeded, even if the censors did their best to make their life harder in other aspects. Some topics from the book are just vaguely or briefly mentioned like the pornographic business Carmen got into.
The acting of the extensive cast can be described as very good and on-point. What would ‘The Big Sleep (1946)’ be without Bogie’s perfectly timed grin or his constantly interjected ‘Uh-huhs?’ Bacall’s icy, but at the same time shy, looks? Or Vickers’ stunning performance of a nymphomaniac woman?
‘The Big Sleep (1946)’ is a Must-See for everyone who loves Film Noir. A puzzled sensation. Finally, I have some words for today’s filmmakers. Consider it as encouragement rather than criticism. When Vivian (Lauren Bacall) saved Marlowe´s life (Humphrey Bogart), he says to her at around 1 hour 45 minutes. “I didn´t know they made ´em like that anymore.” If Marlowe would exist in the 21st century and his new case is to find a 2022 movie similar to ‘The Big Sleep (1946)’ his words would be “I know that they just don´t make ´em like that anymore. But they could at least try it? And now bring me a good bottle of Rye.”
Complete rating for ‘The Big Sleep (1946):’
‘The Big Sleep (1946)’ climbed ‘Close To The Top’ on the ‘Rating Mountain:’
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