The definitive Humphrey Bogart/Lauren Bacall vehicle, The Big Sleep casts Bogart as Raymond Chandler's cynical private eye Philip Marlowe. Summoned to the home of the fabulously wealthy General Sternwood (Charles Waldron), Marlowe is hired to deal with a blackmailer shaking down the General's sensuous, thumb-sucking daughter Carmen (Martha Vickers). This earns Marlowe the displeasure of Carmen's sloe-eyed, seemingly straight-laced older sister Vivian (Bacall), who is fiercely protective of her somewhat addled sibling. As he pursues the case at hand, Marlowe gets mixed up in the murder of Arthur Geiger (Theodore von Eltz), a dealer in pornography. He also runs afoul of gambling-house proprietor Eddie Mars (John Ridgely), who seems to have some sort of hold over the enigmatic Vivian. Any further attempts to outline the plot would be futile: the storyline becomes so complicated and convoluted that even screenwriters William Faulkner, Leigh Brackett, and Jules Furthmann were forced to consult Raymond Chandler for advice (he was as confused by the plot as the screenwriters). When originally prepared for release in 1945, The Big Sleep featured a long exposition scene featuring police detective Bernie Ohls (Regis Toomey) explaining the more obscure plot details. This expository scene was ultimately sacrificed, along with several others, in favor of building up Bacall's part; for instance, a climactic sequence was reshot to emphasize sexual electricity between Bogart and Bacall, obliging @Warners to replace a supporting player who'd gone on to another project. The end result was one of the most famously baffling film noirs but also one of the most successful in sheer star power. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
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Side #2
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0.
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Side A.
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1.
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Credits. [1:00]
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2.
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Weaning needed. [1:43]
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3.
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The general's daughter. [6:18]
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4.
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Handling Vivian. [4:04]
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5.
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The book collector. [2:00]
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6.
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The Acme Books lady. [3:41]
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7.
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House on Laverne Terrace. [5:40]
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8.
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Harsh words for a special delivery. [2:48]
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9.
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Missing. [1:28]
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10.
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Body in a Packard. [3:23]
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11.
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Office visit. [5:35]
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12.
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Tail job. [4:11]
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13.
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Menance from Mars. [4:18]
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14.
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Everybody comes to Brady's. [6:48]
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15.
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Death at the door. [3:50]
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16.
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Hitman...clobbered. [3:56]
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17.
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Racy talk. [5:04]
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18.
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Tears Flowed like Wine. [4:41]
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19.
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Lucky lady. [1:56]
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20.
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Parking lot rescue. [2:21]
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21.
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Kiss and not tell. [2:06]
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22.
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Carmen bites. [1:23]
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23.
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Our way of saying lay off. [6:02]
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24.
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One right guy to another. [2:29]
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25.
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Unfunny drink. [5:14]
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26.
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Rendezvous with Agnes. [1:22]
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27.
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Spray job. [2:58]
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28.
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Unsetting Mrs. Mars. [3:48]
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29.
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Confronting Canino. [3:34]
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30.
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Taking an awful chance. [3:26]
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31.
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Another death at the door. [4:22]
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32.
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Nothing he can't fix. [2:07]
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Menu Group #1 with 32 chapter(s) covering 01:56:12
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1.
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Credits. [1:00]
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2.
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Weaning needed. [1:43]
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3.
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The general's daughter. [6:18]
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4.
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Handling Vivian. [4:04]
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5.
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The book collector. [2:00]
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6.
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The Acme Books lady. [3:41]
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7.
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House on Laverne Terrace. [7:26]
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8.
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Bringing Carmen home. [1:36]
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9.
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Missing. [1:28]
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10.
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Body in a Packard. [3:47]
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11.
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Tail job. [2:23]
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12.
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Office visit. [5:37]
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13.
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Menace from Mars. [6:08]
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14.
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Everybody comes to Brady's. [6:14]
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15.
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Death at the door. [4:24]
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16.
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Hitman...clobbered. [4:04]
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17.
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Recap at the DA's office. [6:04]
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18.
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Completely closed?. [2:39]
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19.
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Tears Flowed like Wine. [1:58]
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20.
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Lucky lady. [4:38]
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21.
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Parking lot rescue. [2:18]
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22.
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Kiss and not tell. [2:04]
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23.
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Our way of saying lay off. [5:03]
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24.
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One right guy to another. [2:29]
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25.
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Unfunny drink. [5:14]
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26.
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Rendezvous with Agnes. [1:14]
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27.
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Spray job. [3:28]
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28.
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Upsetting Mrs. Mars. [3:26]
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29.
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Confronting Canino. [3:34]
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30.
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Taking an awful chance. [3:26]
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31.
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Another death at the door. [4:22]
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32.
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Nothing he can't fix. [2:06]
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