THE BIG SLEEP

UK, 1978, 99 Minutes, Colour.
Robert Mitchum, Candy Clark, Sarah Miles, John Mills, Richard Boone, Oliver Reed, James Stewart, Joan Collins, Colin Blakely, Edward Fox, John Justin, Harry Andrews, Diana Quick, Martin Potter, James Donald.
Directed by Michael Winner.

Robert Mitchum was successful as Raymond Chandler's frequently portrayed private eye, Philip Marlowe, in Farewell, My Lovely. Writer-director Michael Winner has transposed this remake of the Bogart-Bacall? classic to London of the 70s and its off-beat filthy-rich society - quite a change from the dark and seedy U.S. cities of the 40s. As a complicated murder mystery, the film moves well (with some awkward flashbacks). Mitchum is set against a large number of reputable English stars (plus James Stewart and Candy Clark) like Sarah Miles, Oliver Reed and John Mills. The Big Sleep is death - and there are many murders in this entertaining thriller that will puzzle Chandler purists.

1. An enjoyable and successful thriller, detective story, mystery? The reputation of the original film and its status? The necessity of a remake, the effect of a remake?

2. The significance of Raymond Chandler's private eye stories in their time, in succeeding generations? Their popularity, their interpretation of aspects of the American character, the seedy private eye as hero? The image of the tough American hero, his integrity, solving mysteries, combating evil? The Philip Marlowe tradition in films over many decades? The appropriateness of updating Philip Marlowe in the 70s?

3. The effect of the updating of Marlowe and transferring him to England in the 70s? How well did the language, the personal narrative succeed in the English setting? The explanation of the fact of Marlowe’s presence in England after the war? The work of the private eye in the closed and seedy atmosphere of America of the 40s, how does it seem in the sunshine of England and its wealth in the 70s?

4. The importance of the English background: colour, light, wealth, stately houses, shops, wealthy homes, gambling clubs? The presence of evil in this kind of world?

5. The contribution of the large English cast and the stars? Their individual contribution? As contrasts for Robert Mitchum and his interpretation of Marlowe?

6. The significance of the title, Marlowe's explanation of it at the end? Death and the Big Sleep? General Sternwood and his illness, his dying? So many deaths? The all-pervasiveness of death and the Big Sleep?

7. The structure of the film in the driving in and out of General Sternwood's world? His world of good and evil? His setting the standards for integrity and truth? Marlowe and his standards as matching those of the General? What did the General experience in his search for the truth - and in his not receiving the full truth from Marlowe? What did Marlowe experience in his investigation, his encounter with these people? What did the audience experience - sharing Marlowe's experience?

8. How interesting was the problem, its many facets, the mysterious aspects, so much truth hidden, the ugliness between surface glamour, formal respectability? Insanity, evil? Facing the truth? concealing the truth from the General?

9. The significance of James Stewart acting the part of the General, appearing only twice? A strong presence throughout the film? His wishes, contracts? Personality, American hero, illness, a man of adventure and integrity? His motivation,, concern for Rusty Regan? His attitudes towards his daughters -and deceiving himself about them? Did he have the right to die in peace?

10. The picture of the two girls and their similarities and contrast? Camilla and her initial impulsiveness on Marlowe's arrival - and clues for the rest of the film? Her nymphomaniac behaviour, her thrusting herself at people and her wilful attitudes, her posing for the photos, her callous drug-filled attitudes towards Geiger's death? Drug-taking, wealth? Her being in Marlowe's bed and her reaction to being sent away by him? Owen the chauffeur killing for her? People loving her and rejecting her? The ugliness of her trying to shoot Marlowe? The revelation of the truth - her being committed? Could she be cured?

11. How did Charlotte compare with Camilla? Her brazen attitudes towards Marlowe during the initial interviews and being rude? Her manner, appearance, wealth, self-composure, posing? A wilful woman? The reason for her marrying Rusty Regan? Eddie Mars and his hold over her? The gambling sequence and her winning? Her flirting with Marlowe and being rejected - the comparison of her reaction with that of Camilla? Her love for her father? Marlowe's making her admit and face the truth and take care of Camilla? A strong character, well defined?

12. The issues of blackmail and the number of people involved, spending their lives and energies concocting plots, searching out information, weaving nets? The intricacy of the strands in the screenplay? The number of deaths resulting from involvements in blackmail - Geiger and his being shot, Joe Brody and his being shot, Owen's suicide, Carl's arrest? Harry's death? The irony of Agnes walking away? The mentality of the blackmailer? Greed, prurience? The morality of blackmail and its repercussions?

13. The Big Sleep and so much death - the visualising of so many killings, violence? Audience response to so much death?

14. Geiger and his world - his books, pornography racket, Carl and his liaison with him and his being avenged by him, the final lying in state? Did he deserve his death? His being used by Eddie Mars? Owen and the killing of Geiger with the photography session?

15. Brody and his rackets, his links with Agnes and Harry? The scenes in which he appeared, the sudden violence of his death? The character of Harry and his following Marlowe around, the little man, his being insulted by Marlowe, wanting money, doing deals with Kanino, the violence of his death? Agnes at the shop, in league with Brody, with Harry, her getting the money and walking away sad - her teasing Marlowe with giving information? The irony of her escaping scot-free?

16. The world of Eddie Mars and his club, suave, owning Geiger's house, concealing the truth, his hold over Charlotte, threatening Marlowe, trying to pay him off for his protection? The revelation of the truth especially about Mona? Eddie mars as evil?

17. Kanino and explicit mad violence, his appearance, shouting and laughing, drinking? His murder of Harry? His attack on Marlowe? The violence of his death with so much gunfire? Mona's presence and helping Marlowe?

18. The presentation of the English police, their investigations e.g. Owen's suicide, their contacts with Marlowe, their attitude towards his investigations? Links with society, friendships etc.?

19. The build-up to the climax with Mona, with the two girls? Marlowe's dealing with each of the two girls, in the light of his experience with General Sternwood? Marlowe's reaction with the men in the film, the women?

20. The effect of this experience on Marlowe himself? His declaration of principles and judgement to Charlotte? Robert Mitchum's portrait of Marlowe? The American detective, the private eye? The transfer from America? Atmosphere of English crime compared with that of America? Marlowe as better-to-do than usual - appearance, manner of speaking, people he was dealing with? Skill, understanding, intuition? Doing his job?

21. The pace of the film, the structure and its momentum, the placing of the flashbacks, the number of characters and their delineation, minor characters e.g. the man running away with the pornographic book? An enjoyable and interesting murder mystery? A critique of contemporary values?