The Big Sleep on DVD (1946)

ASHLEY ROBERTS from Kent, England , 28/07/2004

Bogart is so brilliant in everything he does that its a shame he only recieved one Oscar for 'The African Queen'. With 'The Big Sleep', there is no exception, Bogart fizzes and crackles with charisma and charm as if he's constantly sharing a private joke with the audience, making light of any situation he finds himself in and remains a clear relation to the audeinces understanding of the film. We see what he sees and go where he goes. And through the ever-expanding maze of intrigue and mystery the plot boasts we never once tire of his company. At times the narrative is a little rushed, too many names are thrown at you too often and the revelation may require a large attention span to fully understand and care whats going on. However, despite its flaws it remains a powerful and charismatic film noir, a must-see for both fans of the genre and Bogart.

  6 out of 6 people found this review helpful

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McClennan from St Helens , 22/08/2005

Another Howard Hawks dazzler for me, with Bogart marrying Bacall the year that this film was made. Flirtatious, funny with some more great dialogue. I was wondering why Peter Bogdanovich loves Howard Hawks films, but after seeing three or four now I can see why. Great film.

  5 out of 5 people found this review helpful

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Tinderbox from England , 07/06/2004

Howard Hawks' major entry into the film noir genre, 'The Big Sleep' is a brilliantly written adaptation of Raymond Chandler's detective novel. The opening shot, that of two silhouettes wreathed in smoke, embodies the spirit of noir as well as hinting at the complex web of deceit covered in the story.

The plot itself can become a bit of a headache (several parts integral to the novel were even left out of the film) but Hawks slows the pace down judiciously to let Bogart trade lines with Bacall, the ultimate femme fatale. Even though not everything is revealed with clarity, the tentative suggestions of homosexuality and pornography are just as gripping as the shoot-outs and double-crosses.

A classic movie, then, one which isn't as taut as 'The Maltese Falcon' but has enough smoky atmosphere to make it equal in stature.

  5 out of 5 people found this review helpful

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Mertoun from Scotland , 03/01/2004

Often cited as the definitive Film Noir, the original Big Sleep, has it all. The film contains unexplained murder, the seedy underbelly of 1940's America, drinking, a femme fatale, dialogue sharper than a stilletto and a plot with more twists than a lemon rind in a martini.

Humphrey Bogart is everyones celluloid personification of Philip Marlow, the original private eye - a tarnished knight getting paid $30 a day to deal in other peoples troubles. Lauren Bacall is the beautiful Catherine Sternwood, high living, hard drinking spoilt brat.

But what makes this still a wonderful movie to watch is the way in which, just like the novel, you are placed right in the middle of Chandler's 1940s Los Angeles. Of course, it helps that the film was contemporary and Chandler was involved, but it goes to show that you don't need special effects, or even colour to make a riveting film.

  3 out of 5 people found this review helpful

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