Review of The Long Goodbye (1973) by Masorad ( — 07 Jun 2009

Philip Marlowe: Nobody cares but me.

Terry Lennox: Well that's you, Marlowe. You'll never learn, you're a born loser.

Philip Marlowe: Yeah, I even lost my cat.

An ingenious deconstruction of the noir detective. Made and set in the contemporary 1970s within a washed out Los Angeles, director Robert Altman places switches Bogart with Elliot Gould to fill the shoes of author Raymond Chandler's noir anti-hero Philip Marlowe.

The story, if it matters, involves the seemingly drifter like version of the more effective 50s version of P.I. Philip Marlowe getting caught up in a web of plots involving the murder of his friend, the disappearance of an author, and some missing money. These are all elements that one does not to be too concerned with.

The real joy is watching Gould. The tone of this film has him perfectly set up as a foil for the genre itself. This is very much a 70s noir, but everything about the Marlowe character is much more subdued than he would be, were he still in the 40s/50s. He may still be clever and underplaying his strengths, but many things do not go his way. As he strolls in and out of each scene, lighting up a cigarette every time, women don't immediately fall for him, business is terrible, and he even has troubles pleasing his own cat.

There is solid work from the supporting cast as well, including Sterling Hayden as an alcoholic author and a wordless small role from the governator Schwarzenegger.

Roger Wade aka Billy Joe Smith: Do you ever think about suicide, Marlboro?

Philip Marlowe: Me, I don't believe in it.

The look and feel of this film is absolutely wonderful as well. LA looks drab, as much of the tone sets out to give you a satire of the noir genre, it also provides a satirical look at LA culture. Add to that the score/main theme from John Williams and Johnny Mercer, who's title song runs throughout in various form.

Det. Green: My, my, you are a pretty asshole.

Philip Marlowe: Yeah, my mother always tells me that.

Finally, if this hasn't been clear, the film is frequently funny. Mainly due to Gould's performance and dialog. The way this film moves along, establishing a number of nefarious characters and actually providing some good tension, is easily balanced by how hilarious Marlowe's character reacts to these various situations. This film certainly isn't an all out parody, its just smartly handled at going against the grain.

Roger Wade aka Billy Joe Smith: I tell you what we're gonna do, Marlboro. You're gonna take that goddamn J.C. Penney tie off and we're gonna have an old fashioned man to man drinking party.

Philip Marlowe: Well, that's okay but I'm not taking off the tie.