Description
L.A. private eye Philip Marlowe (Humphrey Bogart) takes on a blackmail case…and follows a trail peopled with murderers, pornographers, nightclub rogues, the spoiled rich and more. Raymond Chandler’s legendary gumshoe solves it in hard-boiled style – and style is what The Big Sleep is all about. Director Howard Hawks serves up snappy character encounters (particularly those of Bogart and Lauren Bacall), brisk pace and atmosphere galore. This Blu-rayTM doubles your pleasure, offering two versions of this whodunit supreme: the familiar 1946 theatrical version, full of reshot scenes of incendiary Bogart/Bacall chemistry, and the less-familiar 1945 prerelease version, as a special feature, whose plot and resolution are more linear in fashion.
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Jason Heidman –
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Ian Simmons –
Bogart & Bacall at their greatest. You might not be able to follow the plot but Raymond Chandler couldn’t & he wrote the book. Great cast, great script; a sexy, dark, engrossing classic. If you’ve never seen it, you must.
Kro –
Le duo Humphrey Bogart-Lauren Bacall est de retour après “To have and have not”. Pour notre plus grand plaisir. A noter un second rôle (en bibliothécaire) pour Dorothy Malone qui tournera mélodrames (films de Douglas Sirk notamment) et westerns dans les années 50. Un classique du film noir
Abraxas –
Bogart / Bacall comme si vous y étiez. Howard Hawks aux manettes. Raymond Chandler au scénario, aidé par Faulkner. Le remake des années 70 est bien, mais là, on est dans le mythe à l’état pur. Le noir et blanc est admirable.
MICHAEL STONEHILL –
When Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall first appeared on screen in Howard Hawks “To Have and Have Not”(1944) their on-screen chemistry was very apparent. They married the next year(1945) and to capitalize on both their on and off screen chemistry, Warner Brothers quickly re-teamed them in “The Big Sleep” the same year where they were again directed by Howard Hawks. Since WWII was still raging in the Pacific and Warner’s had so many war films to release, they shelved “The Big Sleep” until 1946. When it was finally released to the public that year, it was a sensation and made over three million dollars at the box office. Warner Home Video through it’s Archive Collection has “finally” released this classic film on Blu-ray(one of the most requested titles from fans) for the first time and the results are quite simply astounding. I’ve owned every previously released version(VHS, DVD) of “The Big Sleep” and always thought that the picture quality was lacking and hoped for a complete restoration. Those hopes were answered with this new Blu-ray. Digitally restored(by MPI) in 2K from a fine-grain master positive taken from the original nitrate negative, MPI has done a frame by frame restoration(Bitrate: 29.94) and fans will be very pleased with the results. However, because some of the original film elements had lots of wear and tear, not all of the picture quality is pristine. Those who watch this new Blu-ray will see these scenes right away as they are less stellar than the ones that come before and after, but overall 95% of the film is nearly pristine. There are no vertical lines, white specs, torn or damaged frames were a problem with previous DVD releases. Since most of the film takes place at night, this is where the cinematography by Sid Hickox really is effective. Blacks, whites and grays are well balanced with shadows, minimal lighting and even the heavy rain becoming part of the story. Daylight scenes are even more impressive with even the smallest details being very prominent. Bogart’s scenes with the young Dorothy Malone in the Acme Bookstore are so crystal clear that you can even see Malone’s pimples underneath her make-up. Costumes such has Bogart’s pin-striped suit and checkered raincoat as well as Bacall’s many beautifully designed outfits look brand new now on Blu-ray. Interiors, such as the wood paneled rooms of the Sternwood mansion as well as the seedy hotel rooms where some of the action takes place are equally eye popping. As for the story, it might take repeated viewings to figure out what is going on in the film but the screenplay(by Leigh Brackett, Jules Furthman and William Faulkner) retains much of Chandler’s crackling dialogue. When Bogart’s character(Phillip Marlowe) is asked by Mr. Sternwood if he’s met his younger daughter, Carmen, Marlowe replies: “Yes, she sat in my lap while I was standing up.” And the telephone scene between Bogart and Bacall as they banter back and forth with the police is still funny after all these years. The Audio(English DTS-HD MA 2.0 and Dolby Digital for French, German, Spanish and Polish) is very clear and free of any noise artifacts(hiss, pops, etc.) though a bit on the loud side. “The Big Sleep” is 114 minutes(Aspect ratio: 1.37:1) and contains the following subtitles: English SDH, Japanese, French, German, Spanish and Polish. All the special features from the DVD are carried over including the 1945 Pre-release version of the film; a comparison feature by Robert Gitt about the two versions; and the theatrical trailer. Please note that the 1945 Pre-release version has not been upgraded. The Blu-ray disc itself is housed in a standard solid Blu-ray case(not an eco-cutout case). With Warner’s finally releasing “The Big Sleep” and “Key Largo” this week on Blu-ray, fans of the films and Bogart and Bacall have a lot to celebrate. It comes highly recommended.
kathylee44 –
I didn’t like Bogart when I was younger because he seem so old and always so serious but I have learned to appreciate his acting style and talent.
Niclas Grabowski –
Worüber man sich nicht streiten kann, ist, dass dies ein herausragender, brillanter und unterhaltsamer Film ist. Und dass der Film über weite Strecken lustig ist und einfach gut aussieht. Worüber man sich aber streiten kann, ist, wovon dieser Film eigentlich handelt.
Vorgeblich geht es um eine Detektivstory. Der Privatdetektiv Philipp Marlowe von General Sternwood beauftragt, sich um die Geldforderungen eines dubiosen Geschäftsmannes namens Geiger zu kümmern. Dieser hat beim General Schuldscheine von dessen wilder Tochter Carmen vorgelegt. Darüber hinaus ist auch noch der engste Freund des Generals seit einem Monat verschwunden. Also ist viel zu tun für Marlowe. Doch schon auf dem Weg aus dem Haus heraus wird alles noch viel komplizierter: Die zweite Tochter des Generals, Vivian, versucht herauszufinden, womit der General Marlowe beauftragt hat, und zeigt, dass sie selbst offensichtlich etwas zu verbergen hat. Kompliziert? Ja, kompliziert. Aber abwarten, es wird nämlich noch viel besser, es gibt da auch noch einen Chauffeur, der in Carmen verliebt ist, einen obskuren Buchhändler mit Hinterzimmer, der merkwürdige Photos von Carmen macht, einen Nachtclubbesitzer, die Angestellte des Buchhändlers, dessen Fahrer und dann plötzlich noch drei Leichen. Ja, jetzt ist es wirklich kompliziert.
Und damit kommen wir zur eigentlichen Handlung. Es geht nämlich darum, wie die schöne Vivian (wunderbar ruppig gespielt von Lauren Bacall) den eigentlich schwer zugänglichen und mit beißendem Humor ausgestatteten Marlowe langsam rumkriegt. Und so sollte man sich von den Wendungen des Plots nicht zu sehr ablenken lassen. Es geht nicht um die Frage nach dem Mörder. Es geht um Verführung. Und um coole Dialoge, die zur Verführung dienen. Und um wunderbare Kleider, die bei der Verführung helfen. Und um das Eis, dass zwischen zwei Menschen langsam bricht, die beide schon eine schwierige Biographie hinter sich haben.
Ich finde es unglaublich faszinierend anzuschauen, wie sich Bogart und Bacall hier die Bälle zuspielen. Und man merkt, wie sich beide während des Films auch privat näher gekommen sind. Natürlich hat Bogart dann seine Frau verlassen, und dann die Bacall geheiratet. Zu seinen Gunsten muss man allerdings sagen, dass Bacall immerhin zwei Filme gebraucht hat, um ihn in der Wirklichkeit herumzukriegen (Haben oder Nichthaben war der erste Film der beiden). Und man merkt auch, dass auch der Regisseur Howard Hawks sich ziemlich in die Bacall verknallt hatte, und dass so die ebenfalls herausragende Darstellerleistung von Martha Vickers als jüngere Schwester Carmen unverdient etwas untergegangen ist.
Nebenbei ist “Tote schlafen fest” auch noch ein grandioses Beispiel für Selbstironie in einem Film. Auf Deutsch: Obwohl der Film als prägend für das Genre des Film Noir gilt, veräppelt er sich und das Image des harten Detektivs regelmäßig selbst und wirkt damit unglaublich modern. Nur ein Beispiel: Marlowe alias Bogart kann kaum an einer jungen Frau vorbeigehen, ohne dass diese ihm nicht sofort zum Opfer fällt. Und natürlich sind in diesem Film alle Frauen jung und hübsch, selbst Taxifahrerinnen, Buchhändlerinnen oder die Dame in der Ausleihe der städtischen Bibliothek. Ein weiteres Beispiel: Bogarts kurze Wandlung zum Professor in Geigers Bücherladen.
Was braucht ein Film noch mehr als schöne Bilder, klasse Darsteller, eine spannende (wenn auch verwirrende) Handlung, Humor, Ironie, Leidenschaft, Sex, schöne Kleider, gute Dialoge und ein Happy End? Mir fällt nichts mehr ein.
Stephen Schaefer –
Great, witty dialogue we rarely see nowadays. Classic.
Jimmy L. –
Don’t be fooled by the DVD cover: This IS a private-eye noir, complete with a tangled web of murder and mystery. The cover art only shows Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall in each other’s arms, with their names taking up most of the cover, but this isn’t some sappy romance. It’s an all-time classic noir.
Bogart plays private investigator Philip Marlowe in this film based on Raymond Chandler’s novel. The crime plot is complicated, but the movie is a lot of fun, nonetheless. Bogart is terrific in the cynical detective role, with his quick wit and fedora. Lauren Bacall plays the romantic interest in her second of four films with Bogart. (The two were later married.)
The DVD is fine, but nothing fancy. It’s a double-sided disc that comes in an eco-case (with the “recycle” symbol cut out of the plastic). The disc includes two versions of the film. On one side is the first version (the “pre-release version”), which was screened for the military during WWII. On the other side is the more familiar theatrical version, which includes alternate scenes reshot after the first version was screened. The big differences are Bogart’s scenes with Bacall, which were reshot to dial up the sexual chemistry between the two. The theatrical version is the best version to see.
Also included on the disc are a behind-the-scenes text feature, the theatrical trailer, and an interesting video explaining the differences between the 1945 pre-release version and the 1946 theatrical version.
Sometime in the future I’d like to see a special edition DVD with maybe an audio commentary, interviews, and some making-of featurettes, but right now this rather light DVD is the best there is. THE BIG SLEEP is certainly a great movie (if you’re into film noir, mysteries, 1940s classics, or Humphrey Bogart), and the DVD is pretty good. Especially if you can get it for a great price. Amazon offered the DVD for quite a bargain (five bucks), so I snapped it up. Well worth it.
* * * * *
If you’re interested in THE BIG SLEEP, you might also enjoy:
The Maltese Falcon (1941) – Bogart’s 1941 mystery classic as private eye Sam Spade
Casablanca (1942) – Bogart and Ingrid Bergman amid WWII tensions in Morocco
To Have and Have Not (1944) – Bogart and Bacall’s first film together
Out of the Past (1947) – another convoluted film noir, with Robert Mitchum as the detective
Murder, My Sweet (1944) – Dick Powell plays Philip Marlowe (a little different from Bogart’s take)
The Cheap Detective (1978) – comedy spoof of Bogart detective films, starring Peter Falk
Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid (1982) – Steve Martin detective comedy featuring clips from a number of classic noir films
Elaine R. Nedrow –
All the things you expect in a Bogart movie, drama, suspense, good dialog.