The Big Sleep (1946)

Mysteries, whether they are in book form or on the big screen, all display similar characteristics. There are good guys who solve the crime, usually murder. There are the love interests, usually someone in a slinky dress and pumps willing to help the hero through any rough patches which arise. The suspects, usually those who have had a continuing or periodic contact with the victim, and may have crossed swords with them for some distracting but ultimately meaningless reason but for the killer. And the clues include events that might have caused the death, tangible items of interest used in the commission of the felony or the circumstances that put the suspects in the victim’s vicinity. All of this gets summarized a time or two during the mystery just so nobody gets lost and drifts away to the fridge. The Big Sleep does all of this and more. But it has one thing most mysteries don’t. No, I don’t mean the electricity between Philip Marlowe (Humphrey Bogart) and Vivian Sternwood Rutledge (Lauren Bacall). I mean the extra body. Watch it and keep track. You’ll see.

Director:  Howard Hawks Writer:  Raymond Chandler; William Faulkner; Leigh Brackett; Jules Furthman Cast:
Humphrey Bogart -  Philip Marlowe Lauren Bacall -  Vivian Sternwood Rutledge John Ridgely -  Eddie Mars Martha Vickers -  Carmen Sternwood Dorothy Malone -  Acme Bookstore proprietress Peggy Knudsen -  Mona Mars Regis Toomey -  Chief Insp. Bernie Ohls (District Attorney’s Office) Charles Waldron -  Gen. Sternwood		Charles D. Brown -  Norris (Sternwood’s butler) Bob Steele -  Canino (Mars’ henchman) Elisha Cook, Jr. -  Harry Jones Louis Jean Heydt -  Joe Brody