Review of The Long Goodbye (1973) by Danny R — 31 Jan 2012
Robert Altman's brilliant update of the exploits of the classic 1940's hard-boiled private detective Phillip Marlowe, who is now a cat-loving, wisecracking cynic who lives next to a bunch of sexy female sun-worshipping nudist neighbors, he is played here by Elliott Gould in the best lead performance of his career.
Marlowe takes a certain wife-killing friend out of Los Angeles circa 1974 to Mexico, then all hell breaks loose the police pick him up for not cooperating with their investigation into his friend's wife murder, a mysterious blonde hires him once he his released from jail to fine her alcoholic novelist husband played beautifully by Sterling Hayden, a jewish gangster chillingly played by actor/director Mark Rydell threatens to kill Marlowe if he does not recover $355,000 of his money that his friend took off to Mexico with.
There is a marvelous supporting performance by Henry Gibson as suitably sinister doctor, and this film also features a early unbillled appearance by Arnold Schwarzenegger who displays his massive physique as a silent mustached henchman.
An excellent screenplay by Leigh Chandler based on Raymond Chandler's novel "The Long Goodbye," and a ingeniously minimal score by John Williams, Vilmos Zsigmond's cinematography is tremendous.
This is a intriguing film that is full of bizarre twists, a real gem of the 70s. Highly Recommended.
This review of The Long Goodbye (1973) was written by Danny R on 31 Jan 2012.
The Long Goodbye has generally received very positive reviews.
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