There are spoilers in this post, specifically at the end of paragraph three.
The Long Goodbye, Robert Altman’s adaptation of Raymond Chandler’s final published novel in the Phillip Marlowe Mysteries series. Phillip Marlowe, the troubled, chain smoking, excessive drinking private dick is played by Elliot Gould (Friends, M*A*S*H).
Robert Altman has taken Phillip Marlowe from his 1950’s setting of the Raymond Chandler novels, and placed him in the 1970’s living amongst a group of hippie birds who spend the entire film topless and baked. Marlowe’s fish out of water nature is shown through his old car, references to old movie stars (albeit, Jimmy Stewart) and his interest in jazz. The music is the most interesting feature of the entire film, the music composed by John Williams (Star Wars and Indiana Jones) and performed by Jack Sheldon.
The plot follows the disappearance of Marlowe’s best friend Terry Lennox, the death of Terry Lennox’s wife, a rich Malibu beach community couple, a lifestyle hospital, the L.A. police and L.A. gangsters who Lennox owes $250,000. However, none of the aforementioned are neatly woven, and the story is never as complex and interesting as Chandler’s novels are. This is the greatest shame of this spirited adaptation. The female half of the Malibu beach community couple is Eileen Wade, who gives Marlowe his biggest breakthrough in his case with little to no detective interrogation, panache or wit which the Phillip Marlowe of the novel series uses in obtaining information from witnesses, suspects and police. For example, Eileen Wade gives up the information that “Yeah, Roger Killed (Terry Lennox’s) wife” and “Yeah, Terry Lennox is alive”.
Elliot Gould’s performance is entertaining and offers a different take on Chandler’s anti-hero, and Altman’s movie is anaesthetically pleasing, but the major let down, which ruins the entire adaptation is the lack of an exciting & challenging plot and witty screenplay.
2/5
