Murder, My Sweet (1944)

Noir lite

A weak-chinned Dick Powell makes a decidedly lightweight Philip Marlowe in this moderately effective adaptation Raymond Chandler's "Farewell, My Lovely." Powell doesn't have the physical presence for this role, nor does he convey the darkness and weariness in Marlowe's soul. Instead, he seems to be gadding about town, flitting through a succession of noir conventions on his way to the film's conclusion. A different actor might have improved this film considerably, since Powell appears in virtually every scene. March 15, 2008

Its About the Jade, [...]

Not all of the classic detective novelist Raymond Chandler's Phillip Marlowes are born equal. The definitive screen role is that of Humphrey Bogart in the Big Sleep. Dick Powell, however, here keeps pretty good company with his interpretation of Marlowe as the world-weary private detective who sees things through to the end, especially when he screws up an assignment. Its professional ethics, you know. That characteristic helped define the noir detective. Here Powell adds a little off-hand humor and self-deprecation to the role as he fight for his concept of rough `justice'. But mainly he is intrepid and that carries him a long way in the role. And surprisingly, unlike in the book, he gets the 'nice' girl in the end. Who would have thought.

Apparently not all classic Raymond Chandler novels are born equal either. The film here takes bits and pieces from various shorter stories written by Chandler earlier in his career as he was defining the Marlowe model to make the plot line run here. If you want to see a truer take on the original novel Farewell, My Lovely that this film is based on then you should see the remake from the 1980's starring Robert Mitchum.

Here the story line runs more around the question of some jade lost by a wealthy woman who actions are central to a murder that occurs along the way. She, as is the order of things in noir films, is a mantrap and classic femme fatale who will do whatever it takes to get what she wants. And will succeed to a point. But do not forget that Marlowe has his own sense of honor so do not cross that line. See both films and judge for yourself.

November 27, 2007

Murder, My Sweet

Edward Dmytryk's trim, crackling noir has enough twists and turns to befuddle most any snoop, but that's the whole fun of it. Powell's bravura tough guy turn as the original Marlowe (Bogie would follow him two years later in "The Big Sleep") opened up gritty new avenues for the actor, and the sultry Claire Trevor scorches the screen as femme fatale Helen Grayle. Packed with the patter of gunsels and molls in dimly lit, smoke-filled rooms, noir doesn't get much "noirer" than this. Hard-boiled mystery fans should pounce. June 25, 2007

Tracing a Missing Person

This is the film version of Raymond Chandler's "Farewell, My Lovely". It opens with Philip Marlowe being questioned by police detectives. It started when Marlowe was hired by Mike Malloy to look for an old girlfriend. Malloy had been away for years. Marlowe finds a dead end. Then a stranger hires Marlowe to ransom stolen jewelry. Marlowe is sapped, his client Marriott cannot speak. The police question him but Marlowe knows little. Then a reporter visits him to ask questions but Marlowe figures out the answers. Next Marlowe is hired by Mrs. Helen Grayle, the woman whose necklace was stolen. Malloy takes Marlowe to meet a guy; Jules Amthor is very interested in that necklace. They try to get information from Marlowe. [There are some novel special effects here.]

Marlowe continues in his quest for the truth. Ann Grayle hates her stepmother. Mr. Grayle was the owner of Marriott's apartment, so the police questioned him. Helen Grayle explains how Amthor worked: he talked to people, gained their confidence and their secrets, and used this information for blackmail. But Helen reveals her own character to Marlowe. When Marlowe returns to Amthor's office he finds Amthor won't speak to anyone. So now Marlowe begins to put the pieces together and figure out what the solution is, and returns to the beach house. There is a confrontation between the main characters that brings and ending to this story.

You will note how the film varies from the novel, but not extensively. The actions of Mr. and Mrs. Grayle seem more correct than the story in the novel. Chandler was a former oil company executive and knew about the lives and scandals of the super rich. The story of a rich old man marrying a young "show girl" could have been ripped from the headlines, then or now. [This story of a search for a missing person seems to echo "The Big Sleep".]
June 8, 2007

L.A. Wiseguy -

Philip Marlowe is the original American wise guy, like Bugs Bunny with gun, predating recent mafioso films and distinctly lone-wolf in style. No fraternal order of crimeys here, just a "slumming angel", as Ross MacDonald put it. Fascinating look at pre-war Los Angeles culture and viewpoints - before the city had any freeways, remember... February 8, 2007

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