The Big Sleep starring Humphrey
Bogart, Lauren Bacall, John Ridgely,
Martha Vickers, Dorothy Malone
Murder! Blackmail! Bogie & Bacall!
Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall made screen history together more
than once, but they were never more popular than in this 1946 adaptation
of Raymond Chandlers novel, directed by Howard Hawks (To Have and
Have Not). Bogart plays private eye Philip Marlowe, who is hired by a
wealthy socialite (Bacall) to look into troubles stirred up by her wild, young
sister (Martha Vickers). Legendarily complicated (so much so that even
Chandler had trouble following the plot), the film is nonetheless hugely
entertaining and atmospheric, an electrifying plunge into the exotica of
detective fiction. William Faulkner wrote the screenplay. --Tom Keogh
Personal Review: The Big Sleep starring Humphrey Bogart,
Lauren Bacall, John Ridgely, Martha Vickers, Dorothy Malone

The Big Sleep is an excellent crime drama written originally by Raymond
Chandler, who admitted the plot was so complex that he needed to help
the scripwriters figure who killed who and couldn't remember (or so the
story goes).
Bogart is a sassy, tough guy who is a private dick hired by "the general" to
solve a missing person and a murder. He also runs into his two daughters;
one is a total nut, and the other is a secretive, sassy tough gal played by
Lauren Bacall. Bacall plays it nice and well; she tries again and again to
pay off Bogie and Bogie takes this as a clue that he should pursue and
pursue.
As the body count increases, the two, keeping their guard up, can't help
but fall for each other. Lauren's sarcastic quick wit plays dramatically,
awesomely well to Bogart's tough, no nonsense stance.
I have never seen a pair play so well together. No wonder they later got
married. And no wonder they made lots of movies together.
Another treasure on this DVD is the story by a film historian that shows
missing scenes from the original Big Sleep cut, and how Warner Bros. had
them redone, nearly a year later. Same actors, same director. So
interestingly, you see the same actors a year older in the next scene.
Cleverly done.
Highly recommended, not only for lovers of crime noir of 60 years ago, but
to really see how actors are REALLY supposed to act! No silver screen
couple compares. The plot is convoluted, but who cares? Great drama!
Bogie: A Celebration of the Life and Films of Humphrey Bogart
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