BRASHER DOUBLOON
US, 1947, 72 minutes, Black and white.
George Montgomery, Conrad Janis, Nancy Guild, Florence Bates.
Directed by John Brahm.
Brasher Doubloon is an interesting B-budget Philip Marlowe story. Dick Powell had created the character in the 1944 Murder, My Sweet and Robert Montgomery had been Marlowe in The Lady In the Lake. Humphrey Bogart had been outstanding in The Big Sleep.
George Montgomery is a pleasant but rather bland Philip Marlowe although the settings and the mystery are typical Chandler material briskly done for the brief running time of the film. Later Marlowes included James Garner, an ironic Elliot Gould in an updated version in Altman's The Long Goodbye and finally Robert Mitchum in re- remakes of Farewell My Lovely and The Big Sleep. This is not the greatest of the Marlowe films - perhaps it is the least. However it captures the atmosphere of Raymond Chandler's novels in the forties when they were so popular and is a contribution to the private eye genre. Florence Bates is outstanding as the villainess - she was striking in Rebecca.
1. The popularity of Raymond Chandler stories? The private eye stories and films, especially the tough films of the forties? Phillip Marlowe as the chief example of this detective?
2. How interesting an example of Chandler-Marlowe? private eye films? The strengths and twists of the plot, the picturing of the private eye, the brevity of the story and its presentation?
3. The basic characteristics of Philip Marlowe - his personality, his involvement in cases, the invitation of the mystery girl with her complex background and involvement in violence, a rich family with cover ups and scandals, a complex gallery of villains especially from the underworld, the relationship with the police? His sardonic comments on life and experience? irony, violence?
4. How suitable was George Montgomery as Philip Marlowe? Age, appearance, his bland manner, toughness, romance, his ability and smartness, quickness of wit and of action?
5. Why is Phillip Marlowe a typical American hero type? The individualist, working for himself, not with the police, able to be trusted, fidelity to his case, personal relationships, yet detachment? Strengths and weaknesses?
6. The plot taking 24 hours, the brevity of the film? How clear the presentation of the various strands, meshing them together? A satisfying mystery and investigation?
7. Merle Davis as heroine? The demure woman opening the door and welcoming him, communicating an atmosphere of fear and terror her wariness of being touched by men, her devotion to Mrs Murdoch, explaining her yet afraid of her, the romantic attachment to Marlowe and being taken on as a case, kissing him? Marlowe's suspecting her? Her devices to get the film and the coin back, the gun and forcing him even to strip so that she could get the coin? The contact with Vannier? The climax and her admitting her guilt? The revelation of Mrs Murdoch's hold over her and using her? The quick move into the happy ending? The typical complex American heroine - sweet and demure on the surface, complex underneath, capable of violence? Romance?
8. The initial portrait of Mrs Murdoch - her imperious way, domination of Merle, love for her son? Her abrupt manner, her treatment of Marlowe, dismissing him? Her comments about her son? Her pose as the devoted mother and widow? Her arrival at his office? Her unmasking and her presence in the film? A good villainess for this kind of film - and the complexity of the ageing woman as villain?
9. Leslie and his hold over Merle, aggressiveness towards Marlowe, in league with the gamblers and his violence in their club, his presence at Vannier’s? The revelation that he was a murderer? Willing to be involved in blackmail against his mother? The son of his mother?
10. The quick portrait of the victims - the coin dealer Morningstar, Vannier - their interviews with Marlowe and the audience understanding their characters, shadiness, crimes? The club boss and his toughs and their interviews with Marlowe - their brutalising him and Marlowe’s escape?
11. The contrast with the police and their ordinary methods, their disapproval of Marlowe's methods yet working with him? The climax for the showing of the film?
12. The film as a suitable denouement for the murder mystery? The drawing together of the strands?
13. Such crime films as a portrait of society, ugliness, evil, the need for justice, power for hurt in human relationships, redeemable relationships?
