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The Long Goodbye (1973)

R  |   |  Crime, Drama, Thriller  |  7 March 1973 (USA)
7.7
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Ratings: 7.7/10 from 16,863 users  
Reviews: 140 user | 120 critic

Detective Philip Marlowe tries to help a friend who is accused of murdering his wife.

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(screenplay), (novel)
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Title: The Long Goodbye (1973)

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
Nina van Pallandt ...
...
...
...
...
Harry
Jim Bouton ...
Warren Berlinger ...
Morgan
Jo Ann Brody ...
Jo Ann Eggenweiler
Stephen Coit ...
Detective Farmer (as Steve Coit)
Jack Knight ...
Mabel
Pepe Callahan ...
Pepe
Vincent Palmieri ...
Vince (as Vince Palmieri)
Pancho Córdova ...
Doctor (as Pancho Cordoba)
Enrique Lucero ...
Jefe
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Storyline

In the middle of the night, private eye Philip Marlowe drives his friend Terry Lennox to the Mexican border. When Marlowe returns home police are waiting for him and learns that Terry's wife Sylvia has been killed. He's arrested as an accessory but released after a few days and is told the case is closed since Terry Lennox has seemingly committed suicide in Mexico. Marlowe is visited by mobster Marty Augustine who wants to know what happened to the $350,000 Lennox was supposed to deliver for him. Meanwhile, Marlowe is hired by Eileen Wade to find her husband Roger who has a habit of disappearing when he wants to dry out but she can't find him in any any of his usual haunts. He finds him at Dr. Veringer's clinic and brings him. It soon becomes obvious to Marlowe that Terry's death, the Wades and Augustine are all somehow interconnected. Figuring out just what those connections are however will be anything but easy. Written by garykmcd

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Taglines:

"I have two friends in the world. One is a cat. The other is a murderer." - Elliot Gould as Phillip Marlowe See more »


Certificate:

R | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

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Language:

Release Date:

7 March 1973 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Der Tod kennt keine Wiederkehr  »

Company Credits

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Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

(Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Reportedly, director Robert Altman did not read all of Raymond Chandler's novel "The Long Goodbye" prior to production. Instead, Altman preferred to consult Chandler's a collection of letters and essays, "Raymond Chandler Speaking". Copies of this book were given to cast and crew who were advised to study it. See more »

Goofs

The ink handprints include the palm of Marlowe's hand, but it did not appear that the palm of his hand was on the ink pad. See more »

Quotes

Dave aka Socrates: [rambling from his prison cell] "Possession" is what you get in here now. Possession of noses, possession of gonads, possession of life. It's a weird world. Listen, some day, some day, all the pigs are gonna be in here, and the people are gonna be out there.
Philip Marlowe: You can bet on that. Listen Dave, remember, you're not in here, it's just your body.
See more »

Connections

References The Jazz Singer (1927) See more »

Soundtracks

Hooray for Hollywood
(uncredited)
Music by Richard A. Whiting
Lyrics by Johnny Mercer
Performed by Johnnie Davis
See more »

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User Reviews

 
Altman tells a story in a rhythm
3 May 2003 | by (Chicago) – See all my reviews



Easily one of Altman's best films and an early precursor to other films later in the decade by the director. The Long Goodbye is a fine transition in style to Altmans later films like "Nashville" and "A Wedding" Elliot Gould does an outstanding job portraying the outre detective Phillip Marlowe, using his mumbling, bumbling, smart ass speaking style, as a technique to keep the film under the illusion that everything is in motion, like the ocean waves in the film, Marlowe speaks in a sort of beatnik type "Daddy-O" style combined with a smooth talking private eye, and the result works perfectly. The film works like it is timed by a metronome, it rolls along, seamlessly in a way that only Altman can achieve, and like the rhythm of the waves and Marlowe's speech, the camera is constantly in motion as well. The roving camera does an excellent job of allowing the viewer to feel as though they are witnessing more action than actually exists on screen.

Wade (Sterling Hayden) is a fantastic Hemingway-esque writer in the film. Hayden's size and booming voice, in conjunction with his alcoholism and potential brutality, lend an aroma of unpredictableness to his character. Wade's beautiful wife, who has a mysterious bruise on her face, is like a timid, loyal animal, subjected to the whims of her over bearing master. Henry Gibson, who plays Wade's doctor, is excellent as a sort of despotic mouse, who frightens an elephant into conforming to his will, this irony is one of the films intriguing, bizarre twists.

This film works well as a character study, and is one of the best films of the seventies. A must see for every student of film. 9/10


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