Review of The Big Sleep (1946) by Byron B — 16 Jun 2014
I read The Maltese Falcon, Laura, and The Big Sleep, three books that led to film-noir classics, before watching the films. Of course this 40s film has to tiptoe around the pornography in Raymond Chandler's book.
In each of these mystery books that led to film-noir movies, I was surprised by how little detective work is actually done. Things fall into the detectives' laps and events kind of work themselves out: fate is a powerful force.
In this one Chandler novel that I've read and the movie based upon it, Philip Marlowe works just a bit harder than Dashiell Hammett's Samuel Spade. Things are left up to chance a little less. It is a convoluted plot of seductive dames, dangerous hoods, and deals gone wrong.
The high contrast photography and slightly more action packed story feels like it properly belongs in the film-noir genre.
This review of The Big Sleep (1946) was written by Byron B on 16 Jun 2014.
The Big Sleep has generally received very positive reviews.
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