US, 1973, 111 minutes, Colour.
Elliott Gould, Nina Van Pallandt, Sterling Hayden, Mark Rydell, Henry Gibson.
Directed by Robert Altman.
The Long Goodbye is a private eye thriller written and directed by Robert Altman. Altman is not a director of the ordinary kind of film - Mash, Mc Cabe and Mrs. Miller, Images, Nashville, Three Women and this private eye thriller, while it sometimes looks and sounds like the others in the genre does not. Elliott Gould's Philip Marlowe is quite a contrast with Dick Powell and Humphrey Bogart in the 40s, and even with James Garner in the more updated version in the late 60s. Gould is a nonchalant do-gooder with a touch of the slob and Altman makes us wonder how well he fits into modern California, its hippie Malibu mansioned society. The old style individualist looked good and tough in the 30s and 40s; but now his integrity appeals while the style is comic or outmoded. This means that the film dwells on the implications of the genre and its mystique as much as on the plot. Nina Van Pallandt, Stirling Hayden, Henry Gibson, amongst others, are excellent in the supporting cast. This makes this 70's version, Altman style of a Raymond Chandler novel, interestingly different.
1. The meaning and irony of the title, the background of Raymond Chandler stories and the character of Philip Marlowe?
2. The mystique of the thrillers of the 40s in novel form and in film form? The heritage and influence on American movies? The remakes of the 70's?
3. Why has Philip Marlowe become the outstanding American private eye? His particular characteristics? The tradition of actors who have played him? American values on the male, the individual, the loner?
4. How well did this film transform the plot and characters and mystique from the 40s to the 70s? The change of atmosphere? The private eye in the 70s, the locations of city, mansions? The femme fatale of the 70s compared with the earlier type? The strengths and weaknesses of this transfer? The change in American society?
5. The irony of the change in Philip Marlowe himself? The choice of Elliott Gould as Marlowe, his comic style? The importance of the prologue and the incident with the cat food? The detailed attention to this prologue? Philip Marlowe as living alone, as slob, his values? The loner, the male loner? His interest in his cat, the neighbours, being roughed up by the police? The way in which he is hired? His way of solving mysteries?
6. Comment on the world of Malibu: the homes, the ocean front? Wealth? The world of the Lennox's? Young girls doing Yoga? Cat food and supermarkets? Prisons? The syndicate? The doctors and their institutes? The closeness to Mexico as an escape? The tough wealthy world and the jet set? What comment did the film make on this world and its values?
7. The elements of spoof and parody in the film: Marlowe's sloppiness, the way he smoked and struck his matches, his talking to himself and saying "it's all OK by me"? His relationship with Eileen and the contrast with Lauren Bacall? Doing her own cooking and washing up? The parody in Marty and his heart-to-heart talk with Marlowe? Their stripping for honesty? Mexican photos and the police?
8. How was the ending a contrast? The grim justice executed by Marlowe as an individual? And yet the contrast of the Hollywood song and Marlowe's skipping and dancing down the street? Audience satisfaction or dissatisfaction with this ending?
9. The use of the theme song and the music as a thread in the film? Each of the characters singing it, playing it in different tempos? Culminating in the Hollywood song?
10. How well did the film develop Marlowe as a character? His sense of values in pursuing right and wrong? Solving the mystery? Loyalty to his friend and disillusionment when he found he was used? Sympathy for Eileen, for Roger?
11. How well plotted was the mystery? How involving? The details of the extricating of the truth?
12. Eileen and Roger as the Malibu couple? The detailed characterisation of Eileen as the hostess, loyal wife? The fact that she was lying? Roger and his reputation as a novelist? His strengths? His weaknesses and Dr. Veringer subduing him? The pathos of his conversations with Marlowe, dependence on drink? Clashes with Eileen? The fact that he was used by Eileen and Lennox and Dr. Veringer? His death?
13. The comic sinisterness of Dr. Veringer? His being so small? His work at the clinic and denying his identity? The importance of his disrupting the party? The little man slapping the big man and terrorising him? What parody was meant here?
14. The presentation of Marty Augustine as a crook? His toughs? His terrorising Marlowe, wanting his money? The sequence where he confronted Marlowe and the stripping? The fact that Eileen brought his money back?
15. The contribution of the minor characters in terms of plot, parody: Harry and his naivete, the man at the gate and his Hollywood mimicry?
16. The picture of the police as unsympathetic? Marlowe's confrontation with them?
17. The insight via mystery and parody into crime, right and wrong, friendship, justice and its execution?
