As regards my reading choices growing up, I graduated from the cutesy tomes of 'The famous Five' and 'Biggles', almost seamlessly into the gritty darkness of Raymond Chandler.
Similarly, around the same time my tastes in films went from cowboys-n-injuns whoopin' and a hollerin' in glorious ... Read review
Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall made screen history together more than once, but they ... more
were never more popular than in this 1946 adaptation of Raymond Chandler's novel, directed by Howard Hawks (To Have and Have Not). Bogart plays private eye Philip M...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall made screen history together more than once, but they ... more
were never more popular than in this 1946 adaptation of Raymond Chandler's novel, directed by Howard Hawks (To Have and Have Not). Bogart plays private eye Philip M...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Such a lot of guns around town and so few brains... One of the most satisfying and ... more
sheerly entertaining movies ever to come out of Hollywood this marvellous 1946 classic adaptation of Raymond Chandler's hard-boiled novel is the perfect vehicle for t...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
L.A. private eye Philip Marlowe takes on a blackmail case...and follows a trail peopled ... more
with murderers, pornographers, nightclub rogues, the spoiled rich and more. But Raymond Chandler's legendary gumshoe solves it in hard-boiled style - and style is w...
Robert Mitchum is the definitive Philip Marlowe. The ageing General Sternwood (James ... more
Stewart) is worried for his two daughters Camilla (Candy Clark) and Charlotte (Sarah Miles) and his ?10 million fortune. Philip Marlowe is asked by the General to inve...
Fresh, simple and very modern, this designer limited-service hotel is in the centre of ... more
Cheltenham. It offers value for money, great customer service and innovative designs.The award-winning hotel has bedrooms and suites to suit all types of traveller.All bedrooms have a flat-screen TV, broadband access and Wi-Fi (at an additional cost), complimentary tea/coffee-making facilities and security. All room rates include a continental buffet breakfast.The Big Sleep Hotel has new conference facilities and private parking..
Postage & Packaging:refer to website Availability:Price is per double room per night and may vary depending on date booked...
A designer budget hotel voted '1 of 25 coolest hotels in the world' by Conde Nast ... more
Traveller.The hotel is superbly located in the heart of Cardiff opposite Cardiff International Arena and only minutes away from other major venues.All 81 en suite bedrooms have great views, are modern and retro in design not to mention light and comfortable. A variety of rooms are available from suites to budget.The hotel offers a bar and function room. A small number of car parking spaces are available on site.The hotel was described as 'super cheap but sexy-chic' by Elle magazine..
Postage & Packaging:refer to website Availability:Price is per double room per night and may vary depending on date booked...
Large bright rooms good views over the city and the Seven estuary Rate includes ... more
continental breakfast The hotel is located in the city centre opposite Cardiff International Arena and a short walk from both railway stations the Millennium Stadium and the shopping centre Wireless internet is available in the public areas of the hotel Limited car parking is also available on site
Postage & Packaging:refer to website Availability:Price is per double room per night and may vary depending on date booked...
An award winning new fresh simple designer budget hotel nestled in the bustling retail ... more
heart of Regency Cheltenham Spa offering value for money great customer service and innovative designThe hotel boasts a wide range of bedrooms and suites at different prices to suit everyoneSituated just a few minutes walk from the centre of Cheltenham and close to the Montpellier section of town people can relax and enjoy a weekend shopping entertained in one of the many bars and clubs or with just a short drive enjoy the stunning Cotswold Hills All spacious bedrooms come with flat screen tv's Complimentary mini safe tea and coffee making facilities broadband and WiFi hairdryers and baths the hotel also has the latest technology in inter floor personal security
Postage & Packaging:refer to website Availability:Price is per double room per night and may vary depending on date booked...
With a superb location right on Eastbournes seafront this stylish and contemporary new ... more
budget hotel offers fantastic value for money great sea views and exciting new horizons in interior design This designer hotel is sleek stylish and long overdue Beautifully located for holidaymakers and business trips the Big Sleep Hotel offers a range of accommodation to suit the needs and budget of any visitor There are single double twin family and group rooms all available at great value rates Suites are also available and the hotel has a number of rooms suitable for disabled guests wheelchair users and those with reduced mobility Each of the rooms is stylish and contemporary with modern minimalist decor and contemporary comforts and amenities including flat screen TVs With a great location and comfortable stylish modern accommodation available at great value for money rates the Big Sleep Hotel is an excellent choice whatever your reason for visiting Eastbourne
Postage & Packaging:refer to website Availability:Price is per double room per night and may vary depending on date booked...
With a superb location on Eastbourne’s seafront, this sleek and stylish new designer ... more
budget hotel offers chic decor, fantastic value and great sea views. Each room has a minimalist decor and modern amenities, including a flat-screen TV. There are rooms suitable for disabled guests. The Big Sleep Hotel offers a substantial continental breakfast and has a fully licensed lounge and bar that are open to both residents and non-residents. The Big Sleep Hotel is directly opposite the Wishtower and less than 1 mile from Eastbourne Station. Eastbourne’s Western Lawns, the Congress and Devonshire Park theatres and the International Lawn Tennis Centre are within walking distance..
Postage & Packaging:refer to website Availability:Price is per double room per night and may vary depending on date booked...
A fun deck chair based on the original 1935 Penguin book jacket designs. Great for adding ... more
quirky style to your garden or patio. These colourful, folding deck chairs have solid beech frames made from sustainable, managed forests in Poland and have 4 seating positions for maximum comfort and relaxation.The covers are made from 100% cotton and are removable for easy cleaning too. The deck chair measures 137cm long when flat and the seat is 45cm wide.
Postage & Packaging:refer to website Availability:refer to website
Los Angeles PI Philip Marlowe is working for the Sternwood family. Old man Sternwood ... more
crippled and wheelchair-bound is being given the squeeze by a blackmailer and he wants Marlowe to make the problem go away. But with Sternwood's two wild devil-may-care daughters prowling LA's seedy backstreets Marlowe's got his work cut out and that's before he stumbles over the first corpse.
Postage & Packaging:£0.00 Availability:3-5 working days
Production Year: 1964 - Action/Adventure - Director: Cyril Endfield - Original Language: English - Classification: Parental Guidance - Starring:Stanley Baker, Jack Hawkins, Ulla Jacobsson, James Booth, Michael Caine, Nigel Green
Action/Adventure - Director: The Wachowski Brothers - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring:Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, Monica Bellucci, Jada Pinkett
Production Year: 2002 - Action/Adventure - Director: Vincenzo Natali - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring:Lucy Liu, David Hewlett, Anne Marie Scheffler, Joseph Scoren, Matthew Sharp, Jeremy Northam
Advantages: Style, atmosphere, and everything else Disadvantages: None for me
...growing up, I graduated from the cutesy tomes of 'The famous Five' and 'Biggles', almost seamlessly into the gritty darkness of Raymond Chandler.
Similarly, around the same time my tastes in films went from cowboys-n-injuns whoopin' and a hollerin' in glorious technicolour, to the black-n-white, oppressive darkness of film noir.
One of the best of the film noir genre was...and still is, THE BIG SLEEP starring Humphrey Bogart. ... ...it was brought to the screen by director Howard Hawks in 1946. Chandler's most famous creation was undoubtedly Philip Marlowe, the wise-cracking, world-weary, dryly cynical private detective - and many would say that, of all the actors who have portrayed this character, Bogart was the best. Personally, I think Dick Powell was closest to the Marlowe of the novels, but that's not to say Bogie wasn't excellent.
As regards my reading choices growing up, I graduated from the cutesy tomes of 'The famous Five' and 'Biggles', almost seamlessly into the gritty darkness of Raymond Chandler. Similarly, around the same time my tastes in films went from cowboys-n-injuns whoopin' and a hollerin' in glorious technicolour, to the black-n-white, oppressive darkness of film noir.
One of the best of the film noir genre was...and still is, THE BIG SLEEP starring Humphrey Bogart.
Adapted from Raymond Chandler's 1939 novel, it was brought to the screen by director Howard Hawks in 1946. Chandler's most famous creation was undoubtedly Philip Marlowe, the wise-cracking, world-weary, dryly cynical private detective - and many would say that, of all the actors who have portrayed this character, Bogart was the best. Personally, I think Dick Powell was closest to the Marlowe of the novels, but that's not to say Bogie wasn't excellent.
Marlowe's investigation involves clearing up a simple case of blackmail for old man Sternwood involving his nymphomaniac, doped-up daughter, Carmen (Martha Vickers). However, when Carmen's sister Vivian Rutledge (Lauren Bacall) probes Marlowe as to what he's investigating, the secrets start to tumble out the closet faster than a Marlowe wise-crack. Both sisters are involved in activities that are not exactly legal, and this leads us into a plot which gets embroiled with specialist book dealers who wouldn't know a Ben-Hur 1860 Third Edition with a duplicated line on page 116, from a Dasheil Hammett. Throw in a bit of pornography, dodgy gambling clubs and a shower of racketeers and blackmailers, a liberal sprinkling of sex and drugs, and more murders than you could point a gun at. All good stuff.
It appears that one, or both, of the Sternwood's daughters may be involved in the murders and Marlowe is continually trying to keep them out of trouble. It all seems to centre on a house owned by one Eddie Mars but...
...I won't go into anymore of the plot - not because I don't want to spoil the movie, but because it's so complicated, so intricately twisted, that I wouldn't know where to begin. There's a famous anecdote which demonstrates just how convoluted the plot is. Hawks apparently contacted Chandler during filming because he wasn't sure who had killed the Sternwood family chauffeur, or whether he had committed suicide. Chandler apparently told him he had no idea. (Maybe he was just miffed because he hadn't been asked to do the screenplay)
Suffice to say, there is enough dark menace and stylish atmosphere in the movie that you don't really care about who killed who...or why. Just soak up the experience.
Throughout the film, the partnership between Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall is electrifying. Although there are more sexually suggestive characterizations, namely the younger Sternwood sister and the girl in the book-shop (Dorothy Malone), it's when Bogart and Bacall are together that the sparks really start flying. In fact, extra scenes were added to the movie which feature some great exchanges between the two.
But for me, it's all in the writing. I don't think the film quite matches the book, but the dialogue is crisp, sharp, dry and witty, and it's hard not to smile even through this most 'black' of black films.
Howard Hawks direction rattles along at a cracking pace, and he captures the moody, rain-soaked darkness of LA nights magnificently. This is an LA where the sun never shines.
In my view, The Big Sleep is the classic example of film noir. There may be better story-lines, better plots, better performances...but this one has it all. You can hear the tension squeak as it's stretched to the limit. The corruption and perverted life-style of some of the characters is only suggested, but you'd need to be blinder than a trio of tail-less mice not to see what's going on just under the murky surface. It's even got a happy ending - an unusual feature of this genre.
The DVD extras
Although The Big Sleep was mostly filmed in 1944, it wasn't released until 1946, as the studios were keen to release more war movies before the bottom fell out of that market in Aug. '45. The DVD edition includes the original 1944 version, which is a couple of minutes shorter and doesn't have quite the same level of sexually innuendo. A year after The Big Sleep was filmed, the studio and Hawks shot many new scenes and re-shot some original ones - mainly to highlight the partnership of Bogart and Bacall. In total, about 16 mins of new material was added and around 18 mins of the original was deleted.
It's good to be able to compare the two editions. While the older version is probably truer to the original story, the later version, while more confusing plot-wise, is far more entertaining.
'The Big Sleep Comparisons 1945/1946' - This 15 minute documentary features Robert Gitt of UCLA analyzing the scene differences between the two versions. It's OK if you want an in-depth view of the differences between each, but I thought it a little fussy and quite uninteresting.
There are some production notes to compliment the documentary, plus English and French subtitles (English is the only spoken language), scene selections, and a theatrical trailer.
Advantages: Lots of well-known actors Disadvantages: Mitchum is not Marlowe
...As a recent convert to the work of writers like Raymond Chandler and James M Cain, when I saw this DVD was going free with last week's Mail on Sunday, I didn't hesitate to get hold of it. This is a re-make of the original film based on Raymond Chandler's work, which stars Humphrey Bogart and was made in 1946. This particular version, made in 1977, was directed by Michael Winner, who apparently took precautions to change the setting of the film, so ... ...have a copy of the original on video, but unfortunately my video player has broken, so I cannot comment first-hand on the differences. However, I understand that this version of The Big Sleep is very faithful to the original story, although some liberties have been taken with Philip Marlowe.
The director
Few will not have heard of Michael Winner, most recently because of those dreadful e-sure adverts, which isn't really much of a recommendation. ...
sunmeilan 21.02.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Big Sleep (DVD)
Advantages: Bogart and Bacall sizzle; the dialogue crackles; everything is nigh perfect Disadvantages: I could lie and tell you there are any, but i won't
First off let me say The Big Sleep looks magnificent in all its DVD glory. The picture is crisp and all those annoying crackling sounds we can remember from the VHS version have gone. So set it up on a big TV, turn off the lights, close the curtains and you’re as close as you’re ever gonna get to seeing it in the cinema without the effort of getting to one (though the effort is certainly worth it). OK, the packaging is kinda ordinary and there are ... ...TV plugs that regurgitate all the usual nonsense and are generally nothing better than extended commercials.
Anyway, a film this good doesn’t need extras to make it appealing. At a general RRP of about a tenner the price isn’t gonna put you off either.
But that’s not the point is it. The point is the Big Sleep itself. Let me say right off that I love this film. It is my favourite film alongside the great Pandora and the Flying Dutchman. Everything ...
No_name 22.11.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Big Sleep (DVD)
Advantages: Performances excellent, as is the dialogue Disadvantages: Plot is convoluted and confusing
From the outset let me just be clear - this film is bafflingly confusing but wonderful at the same time. Plot explanations would be long winded and confused. In a nut shell: the film is based on a Raymond Chandler Philip Marlowe novel. Humphrey Bogart plays the cynical private eye Philip Marlowe and is hired by General Sternwood Marlowe to investigate a blackmail plot on his naive childlike daughter Carmen (Martha Vickers). Marlowe encounters Carmen’s ... ...various complications along the way including a murder of a dealer in pornography. The plot is generally confusing owing to many editorial cuts when released to emphasise Bacall's part. this doesn't really overshadow what is a great film noir as the performances and chemistry from Bogart and Bacall are electric. I can't think we've seen anything like this since. The greatest strength is the dialogue performed with precision timing by the leads. It ...
Nixu1980 16.10.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of The Big Sleep (DVD)
Advantages: Fantastic Film Noir Disadvantages: none
...which never lets up all the way through. ......Very complexly plotted ...so you'll need to have your wits about you when watching........in fact this is so complex that even the writer ....when asked who killed the butler...didn't know the answer!
There's a great teaming up again with Lauren Bacall and excellent character actors along the way such as Elisha Cook Jr . Also Dorothy malone in that wonderfull scene in the bookstore. By the way the scene ... ...idea and not John Hustons.
The dialogue crackles and this is one film i've seen so many times and enjoyed it even more on each repeated viewing..........this is definitely one of my favourite film noir's of all time.
As a matter of interest Dick Powell the former crooner turned actor also played Phillip Marlowe in the film Farewell My Lovely and very near as good it was too.......some say better........but for me there's only one Bogart!!!!!!!!!!!! ...
zeroid 14.05.2004 (15.05.2004)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of The Big Sleep (DVD)
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Advantages: Hilarious! Touching, with very insightful dialogue and performances Disadvantages: Not very P-C at times so not for the sensitive
is not well established yet - nor is much said of the neighbours yet - this is all to come later.
The DVD contains:
EP1 Alive and Buried (when victor starts his early retirement - unplanned of course!)
EP2 The BigSleep (when exercising becomes lethal)
EP3 The Valley of Fear (hooligans intimidate Victor, and in revenge he mistakenly intimidates an unsuspecting sales man)
EP4 I'll Retire to Bedlam (Victor's moods swing high and low as his boredom increases, and manages to offend everyone in his path)
EP5 The Eternal Quandrangle (marrital problems occur, and it won't be the last time that jealousy rears its ugly head either)
EP6 The Return of the Speckled Band (misjudged neighbourliness ends in catastrophe, but of course, we are left only to imagine the horrendous outcome of the disaster!)
A featurette is included on the DVD ...
Advantages: Original comedy writing. Excellent performances from Mitchell and Webb. Disadvantages: May be offensive.
It is only recently that David Mitchell and Robert Webb have been thrust into the mainstream so this first series of Peep Show may have passed a lot of people by.
Unlike nearly all comedies, Peep Show is filmed mainly from the two characters' points of view. The audience then hears the character's inner thoughts as voiceovers. Peep Show tells the story of two very different characters, Mark (the 50 year old Conservative trapped in the body of a 30 year old) and Jeremy (the young musician who thinks he will make it big). The series sometimes touches on 'taboo' subjects. For example, Mark in one episode sleeps with a school girl (aged 16 or 17) which is probably why the DVD has an 18 certificate.
Basically, throughout the entire series, Mark is fighting for the affections of his work colleague Sophie. Similarly, Jeremy is ...
Advantages: None I can see Disadvantages: Far too many to list
, and certainly the closest you feel to reality.
It's kind of ironic that I'll Sleep When I'm Dead was a big seller in respect of DVD sales, not only did it sit at number one in the charts for several weeks; but when I used to sell DVD's I could never get hold of enough of these. I can only conclude that the reason it was so popular was at the time of its DVD release Clive Owen was pretty much a guaranteed cert to be the new James Bond. Because having flitted through several websites today I cannot find one person that has anything decent to say about the film.
In my mind I'll Sleep When I'm Dead is another prime example of why the British film industry is in so much turmoil. It pretends to be a thinking movie, but I think it out thought itself; either that or they ran out of money. Too many dark brooding moments in which the characters look ...
Private Detective Philip Marlowe is hired to investigate a blackmail case in which a General's nympho daughter is involved. Bogie finds, several murders later, that he has fallen in love with her elder sister.
Release details
DVD Region
DVD
Studio(s)
WARNER HOME VIDEO; CINRAM LOGISTICS, ITV DVD; CINRAM LOGISTICS, PRISM LEISURE
Release date
01/07/2000, 11/06/2007, 22/08/2005
No of Discs
1
Catalogue No
D 065026, 3711524983, 30370 90523 R
Barcode
7321900650267, 5037115249838, 5030370905235
Production Designer
Carl Jules Weyl, Harry Pottle
Screenwriter
William Faulkner, Leigh Brackett, Jules Furthman, Raymond Chandler, Michael Winner
Interactive Menus, Scene Access, Trailer, Interactive Menus, Scene Access
Aspect Ratio
1.33 Full Screen, 16:9 Anamorphic Wide Screen
Sound
Mono, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Stereo
Dubbing Sound
Mono English French Italian, Dolby Digital Stereo English
Professional reviews
Review
"...The chemistry between Bogart and Bacall is so blatant it's no surprise to learn they were married the same year. A joy..." -- 5 out of 5 stars (Total Film, p.84, 01/03/2000)
, "...The production is handsome..." (Variety, 15/03/1978)
DVD Description
Chandler's first novel introduced private detective Philip Marlowe, and THE BIG SLEEP set the standard for private detective movies. Down-at-the-heels private eye Marlowe gets the assignment to clean up after the daughters of a dying millionaire, but dead people have a nasty habit of trailing in their wake. The famously tortuous story line (Hawks supposedly asked Chandler to clarify a plot point about the murder of the family chauffeur; the novelist hadn't a clue as to who did the deed) seems beside the point when Bogart and Bacall are onscreen. The final release was recut to include more of their scenes together. A must! Remade in 1978.
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