Film Review
One of the best adaptations of a Raymond Chandler novel is this
quintessential film noir thriller, in which Dick Powell gives us the
definitive screen portrayal of the legendary detective Philip
Marlowe. Powell's fortunes as an actor were very much on the
decline when he made this film, and its enormous success is what
salvaged his career. Opposite Powell's superlative Marlowe,
Claire Trevor plays the silkily smooth femme fatale, and Mike Mazurki
puts in his best turn as the underworld henchman you would
least like to run into on a dark
night.
Murder, My Sweet has all the
essential ingredients of a great noir thriller - claustrophobic sets
draped in sinister shadows, stylishly atmospheric black and white
photography, a cast of bewilderingly ambiguous characters,
undercurrents of psychosis, mistrust and sexual tension, and a plot
murkier than a chief executive's income tax return. The
plot is so complicated and moves along so fast that it's just
impossible to take in everything that happens - so don't bother
trying.
Whilst the film's labyrinthine narrative complexity is initially
frustrating, it does add to the film's very distinctive dreamlike aura,
and, in any case, it does somehow all come together in the end - rather
like a self-assembly wardrobe (with a few unrecognisable bits left
over). The film captures perfectly the abrupt sardonic
humour of Chandler's novels, particularly in Marlowe's voiceover
narration, although the high point is a wonderfully expressionistic dream sequence.
Altogether, this is one of Edward Dmytryk's most inspired films,
somewhat better than its 1975 remake
Farewell,
My Lovely.
© James Travers 2008
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.
Next Edward Dmytryk film:
Cornered (1945)
Film Synopsis
Private detective Philip Marlowe has his work cut out when two cases
fall into his lap at the same time. First, ex-convict Moose
Malloy hires him to find his missing girlfriend, Velma. Then he
is coerced into working as a bodyguard for Lindsay Marriott when he
goes to collect a stolen jade necklace. The private eye quickly
learns that nothing is quite what it seems, that no one can be trusted,
and that the two seemingly unconnected cases are very closely
related. The question is: will he live to tell the tale?
© James Travers
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.