Review of Murder, My Sweet (1944) by William S — 17 Jan 2010

Not as great as I remembered it - they change far too much from the novel for my liking - including a morally tidier ending. But it's still pretty marvelous. Dick Powell is the best cine-incarnation of Marlow - even more so than Bogart. Whereas Bogart can seem sneering and a little aloof, Powell's jaded and world weary approach is more grounded - human. And perfectly capturing Chandler's sardonic humour how it should be - with his tongue jammed firmly in his cheek.

The support is nothing to be sneered at either - Claire Trevor's femme-fatale is every inch the archetype. But she's still a little eclipsed by Anne Shirley's feisty ingenue. The part of the ingenue is a difficult one at the best of times (a part that Joan Fontaine, Theresa Wright and Sylvia Sydney excelled at). Played without care, it can render the character utterly forgettable - becoming more bland wilting wallflower (usually there as either a moral counterpoint or mere padding for the other 'more interesting' characters). But played right, it's a character of subtlety and quiet tragedy and can be quite moving. It's a very thin line for sure and Shirley tip-toes that line exquisitely - around Powell and Trevor as it happens.

And Mike Mazurki IS Moose Malloy!