Review of The Big Sleep (1946) by Steve A — 19 Jan 2014

The movie version of "The Big Sleep" is pretty good and has its own unique charms; the chemistry and dialogue between Bogart and Bacall is especially, deliciously snappy. All of the heartbreak and "waste land" of the book has been replaced with a pat romance, however. By the last act, so much has changed that it feels like a very different story. A good story, but without the gut punch of the last paragraph of the book.

I should judge the movie on its own merits (and maybe four stars is too low) but the book still has me under its spell and won't let me go. Too bad about the Hays Code. :(.