Great movie, but I would love to see the pre-release version. Apparently Bacall's poor performance in another movie forced the studio to reshoot her scenes with Bogart to take advantage of their chemistry. This is the version that always televised.

Read the book. For its time, it was pretty raw. Porn, murder, gay revenge murder... Etc.
Love the movie but the book is better.

The first version of the film has been broadcast once or twice by TCM. IIRC, they broadcast it back to back with the theatrical release.

The scenes that were changed are included in the supplemental materials of the DVD issue of The Big Sleep.

The host was referring to this film as film noir. I have never considered this to be noir, any more than I consider The Maltese Falcon to be film noir. I know that these films are widely considered to be part of the noir canon, but they just don't feel that way to me.

However you choose to think of The Big Sleep, it's a thoroughly enjoyable film.

If I recall, there are some alternate versions on the dvd that was remastered a few years ago.

I have almost every Bogart film in my collection.

I watched it tonight for the umpteenth time and enjoyed every minute of it.

Para, I'm surprised that you don't consider this to be film noir and even more surprised that you exclude The Maltese Falcon.

I consider you an expert on film noir and would appreciate an expanded discussion.

Watch the early version if you can. There is something about it that makes me prefer it. I can't remember what that thing is of course. I think it has something to do with the younger sister.

I enjoy Dorothy Malone as the book shop girl.

^ ^ ^ ^ She's a cutie, isn't she. I'd hit it even with the hair up and the glasses on.

quote:

Originally posted by Jim Shugart:
Para, I'm surprised that you don't consider this to be film noir and even more surprised that you exclude The Maltese Falcon.

I can't give you a valid reason. Just about everyone else will tell you that these two films are American noir, with The Maltese Falcon being considered the very first film in the noir canon.

So, I'm a heretic

To me, The Maltese Falcon has more to do with the Warner Brothers pre-war crime film cycle than it does with films from the mature period of film noir- 1947 to 1950 or so. I love this film very much and I can't say enough good things about it, but it doesn't feel like film noir to me.

In the case of The Big Sleep, well, there's really not a femme fatale and Bogie is a good guy all the way. The film ends with the bad guys killed and Bogie and Bacall together. There's a bit of light-hearted banter in the film. It just doesn't feel like film noir, it lacks that "unusual and cruel" atmosphere, which is the only truly essential element of film noir.

Just as with The Maltese Falcon (the best directorial debut in the history of cinema), The Big Sleep is a true favorite of mine. I've seen it so many times, just love it, but to me, it ain't noir.

quote:

Originally posted by zoom6zoom:
I enjoy Dorothy Malone as the book shop girl.

This part about their being two versions, clears up the fact that I think I have seen two versions of the bookshop scenes.

quote:

Originally posted by NK402:

quote:

Originally posted by zoom6zoom:
I enjoy Dorothy Malone as the book shop girl.

This part about their being two versions, clears up the fact that I think I have seen two versions of the bookshop scenes.

There are two bookshops.

quote:

Originally posted by zoom6zoom:

quote:

Originally posted by NK402:

quote:

Originally posted by zoom6zoom:
I enjoy Dorothy Malone as the book shop girl.

This part about their being two versions, clears up the fact that I think I have seen two versions of the bookshop scenes.

There are two bookshops.

Two bookshops?

Geiger's book shop, with the character Agnes Lozier- "What do those look like? Grapefruit?", and the book shop across the street, with Dorothy Malone.

I have a vault of the late great Robert Osborne introing classics. Boy, do I miss that fella and the info he shared. I watched "Murder My Sweet" with Dick Powell. Just a great show. We will never see actors / actresses of their likes again.