Marlowe

Marlowe

19/9/1969 1h 35m 6.0/10

Overview

Mysterious Orfamay Quest hires Los Angeles private investigator Philip Marlowe to find her missing brother. Though the job seems simple enough, it leads Marlowe into the underbelly of the city, turning up leads who are murdered with ice picks, exotic dancers, blackmailed television stars and self-preserving gangsters. Soon, Marlowe's life is on the line right along with his case.

Director

Paul Bogart

Top Billed Cast

William Daniels

William Daniels

Mr. Cromwell

Carroll O'Connor

Carroll O'Connor

Lt. Christy French

Rita Moreno

Rita Moreno

Dolores Gonzáles

James Garner

James Garner

Philip Marlowe

Sharon Farrell

Sharon Farrell

Orfamay Quest

Gayle Hunnicutt

Gayle Hunnicutt

Mavis Wald

Reviews

John Chard

8/20/2015

7/10

I'm a trained detective! Marlowe is directed by Paul Bogart and adapted to screenplay by Stirling Silliphant from the novel The Little Sister written by Raymond Chandler. It stars James Garner, Gayle Hunnicut, Carroll O'Connor and Rita Moreno. Music is by Peter Matz and cinematography by William H. Daniels. Los Angeles private detective Philip Marlow (Garner) is working on what he thinks is a simple missing persons case, how wrong he is! Q as in Quintessential - U as in Uninhibited - E as in Extrasensory - S as in Subliminal - T as in Toots! Another of the interpretations for the great Chandler creation of Philip Marlowe, unsurprisingly met with mixed notices - just as all the others have done. You do wonder what Chandler would have made of the role portrayals that came out post his death? I like to think he very much would have enjoyed Garner's take, because this Marlowe is a quip happy wise guy, unflappable and cool, he portrays so much with just a glance, and the girls love him. The story is juicy in its little complexities, spinning Marlowe into muddy waters the further he investigates things. His life is always under threat, be it by serial ice-pick users or Asian martial artists (Bruce Lee no less in a nutty couple of scenes) wishing to inflict death, or of arrest by an increasingly frustrated police force. Bogart and Daniels keep the whole thing stylish looking, with film noir camera tricks and colour photography infusing the period details. While the supporting cast, notably the ladies, give Garner some splendid support. It's a different Marlowe for sure, but a thoroughly engaging and entertaining one. 7/10

Similar Movies

Poodle Springs

5.4

Poodle Springs

1998

Beverly Hills Cop II

6.5

Beverly Hills Cop II

1987

Lady in the Lake

6.0

Lady in the Lake

1946

The Devil's Rejects

6.7

The Devil's Rejects

2005

All the King's Men

5.8

All the King's Men

2006

Farewell, My Lovely

6.6

Farewell, My Lovely

1975

The Long Goodbye

7.4

The Long Goodbye

1973

Fantomas vs. Scotland Yard

6.7

Fantomas vs. Scotland Yard

1967

Murder, My Sweet

7.3

Murder, My Sweet

1944

No Code of Conduct

5.3

No Code of Conduct

1999

Reclaim Your Brain

6.7

Reclaim Your Brain

2007

The Brasher Doubloon

5.9

The Brasher Doubloon

1947