The Big Sleep

“The picture they were born for!”

7.6

1946

1h 54m

MysteryCrimeThriller

Director: Howard Hawks

Overview

Private Investigator Philip Marlowe is hired by wealthy General Sternwood regarding a matter involving his youngest daughter Carmen. Before the complex case is over, Marlowe sees murder, blackmail, deception, and what might be love.

Trailer

The Big Sleep Official Trailer #1 - Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall Movie (1946) HD

Cast

Philip Marlowe

Humphrey Bogart

Philip Marlowe

Vivian Sternwood Rutledge

Lauren Bacall

Vivian Sternwood Rutledge

Eddie Mars

John Ridgely

Eddie Mars

Carmen Sternwood

Martha Vickers

Carmen Sternwood

Joe Brody

Louis Jean Heydt

Joe Brody

General Sternwood

Charles Waldron

General Sternwood

Chief Inspector Bernie Ohls

Regis Toomey

Chief Inspector Bernie Ohls

Agnes Lowzier (uncredited)

Sonia Darrin

Agnes Lowzier (uncredited)

Harry Jones

Elisha Cook Jr.

Harry Jones

Lash Canino

Bob Steele

Lash Canino

Acme Bookstore Proprietress

Dorothy Malone

Acme Bookstore Proprietress

Mona Mars

Peggy Knudsen

Mona Mars

Reviews

Andres Gomez

Oh, man, what a movie! Perfect on every sense. Great cast, with terrific Bogart and Bacall. Complex and interesting plot and smart dialogues. Only "funny" thing, if we want to say something, is the "perception" of the women roles in the movie. They are strangely all sexy and attracted to and tempting Philip Marlow.

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talisencrw

This continues the incredible run of films Bogie made with now-wife Lauren Bacall. Crackling script ran to perfection by Howard Hawks. Essential, especially for fans of detective thrillers or simply well-made movies.

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CinemaSerf

"General Sternwood" (Charles Waldron) has two daughters and poor old private detective "Philip Marlowe" (Humphrey Bogart) might be forgiven for ever getting involved with a case that sees him employed to investigate a case of blackmail against his youngest - "Carmen" (Martha Vickers). It looks like she is the target of the venal rare book seller "Geiger" but swiftly we realise that that's just the tip of an iceberg that includes not just that blackmail, but another one - with the duplicitous "Joe" (Louis Jean Heydt) and then there's the missing "Regan" which takes him fairly and squarely into the scheming orbit of the other daughter "Vivian" (Lauren Bacall). Soon he's chasing his tail, getting thumped, tied up, shot at - and all whilst he slowly falls for his femme fatale. Who's pulling the strings and why? The story itself isn't the most complex - it's a fairly standard Raymond Chandler adventure. What makes this positively glow are the performances. Bogart and Bacall exude a chemistry that's understatedly provocative. Bacall, especially, uses the less-is-more style with a flash of her eyes or a gesture from her cigarette; Bogart just needs to smile or shrug. It comes alive. The effective use of rain, light, shade and a strong support from Vickers and Bob Steele as crooked henchman "Canino" all help this to create an atmosphere of menace tinged with some dark humour and presented via a strong script. Howard Hawks knows how to let his stars get on with it, and he delivers well with this compelling and superior example of Hollywood at it's very best.

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