The Long Goodbye

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Raymond Chandler's cynically idealistic hero, Philip Marlowe, has been played by everyone from Humphrey Bogart to James Garner--but no one gives him the kind of weirdly affect-less spin that Elliott Gould does in this terrific Robert Altman reimagining of Chandler's penultimate novel. Altman recasts Marlowe as an early '70s L.A. habitué, who gets involved in a couple of cases at once. The most interesting involves a suicidal writer (Sterling Hayden in a larger-than-life performance) whom Marlowe is supposed to keep away from malevolent New-Ageish guru Henry Gibson. A variety of wonderfully odd characters pop up, played by everyone from model Nina Van Pallandt to director Mark Rydell to ex-baseballer Jim Bouton. And yes, that is Arnold Schwarzenegger (in only his second movie) popping up as (what else?) a muscleman. Listen for the title song: It shows up in the strangest places. --Marshall Fine

Description

Elliott Gould gives one of his best performances (Esquire) as a quirky, mischievous PhilipMarlowe in Robert Altman's fascinating and original (Newsweek) send-up of Raymond Chandler's classic detective story. Co-starring Nina Van Pallandt and Sterling Hayden and written by Leigh Brackett (The Big Sleep) The Long Goodbye is a gloriously inspired tribute to Hollywood (The Hollywood Reporter) with an ending that's as controversial as it is provocative (Los Angeles Times)! Los Angeles private eye Philip Marlowe (Gould) faces the most bizarre case of his life, when a friend's apparent suicide turns into a double murder involving a sexy blonde, a disturbed gangster and a suitcase full of drug money. But as Marlowe stumbles toward the truth, hesoon finds himself lost in a maze of sex and deceitonly to discover that in L.A., if love is dangerous friendship is murder.

Customer Reviews:

WILL THE REAL PHILLIP MARLOWE STAND UP?.......2007-06-21

Phillip Marlowe, Raymond Chandler's classic noir hard-boiled private detective forever literarily associated with Los Angeles and its means streets is right at home here in his search, at the request of a friend, for the inevitable `missing woman' (`dame' for the non-politically correct types) who 'conveniently' turns up dead. There is plenty of sparse but functional dialogue, physical action and a couple of plot twists, particularly around the identity of the above-mentioned `dame' and the motives behind the involvement of the various wealthy California parties. Have no fear however the intrepid Marlowe will figure it out in the end and some kind of 'rough' justice will prevail. At this point in the Chandler Marlowe series our shamus has been around the block more than a few times but he still is punching away at the 'bad guys' and the absurdity of the modern world. How does this one compare with the other Marlowe volumes? Give me those background oil derricks churning out the wealth while looking for General Sternwood's Rusty Regan in Big Sleep or the run down stucco flats in some shady places in pursuit of Moose's Velma in Farewell, My Lovely any day. Nevertheless, as always with Chandler, you get high literature in a plebian package.

There have been many cinematic Phillip Marlowes from Bogart and Powell to Gould. They reflect their director's take on the times and on the character of Marlowe himself. The world-weary but virtuous Marlowe of the 1940's has been replaced in this film but a decidely out-of-tune Marlowe who could realisitcally be arrested for vagrancy any minute in the new up-scale and upward striving Los Angeles of 'new' California. Fortunately Robert Altman can make it work without being too syrupy. In other hands and with an actor other than Elliot Gould giving his all to the role that is an iffy proposition. In any case the days of Chandler's, Cain's and Hammett's intrepid California characters are long gone. But, thankfully, at least not on film.

Perfect.......2007-05-29

This is a superb adaptation of Raymond Chandlers famous story. Elliot Gould, in his best ever role, is perfectly cast as private detective Philip Marlowe. The opening scenes alone warrant purchase of this disc. In the early hours of the morning Marlowe has to get his cat the right food. This is funny and introduces you nicely to the slovenly Marlowe.

It helps that the films is directed by one of the great American filmmakers Robert Altman, who also directed M.A.S.H., Nashville and The Player. Sterling Hayden is fantastic as Wade, a scary Hemingway like writer with violent and depressive tendencies.

I have watched this film quite a few times now and have never noticed a problem with the transfer quality (mentioned in one review I saw). An essential movie for any film collection.

Altman's convoluted noir mystery.......2007-05-27

Robert Altman's career essentially began with 1970's "MASH," and a mere three years later Altman had already established an ecclectic bunch of films, including his reimagining of the western genre, "McCabe & Mrs. Miller," and his stab at horror, "Images." Altman next set out to revitalize the long-dormant film noir with an adaptation of Raymond Chandler's "The Long Goodbye," a Philip Marlowe mystery. Marlowe had previously been portrayed by the likes of Dick Powell in "Murder, My Sweet" and most memorably by Humphrey Bogart in Howard Hawks' "The Big Sleep," which Bogey starred in opposite wife Lauren Bacall.

For his Philip Marlowe, Altman made a choice only he could have made: Elliott Gould, who had previously appeared as the rambunctious "Trapper" John McIntyre in "MASH." Needless to say, it was a curious decision, but one that - for this film at least - works and works well. Gould's Marlowe is unlike any other. He's considerably more upbeat his predecessors, and he talks to himself almost incessently. He lacks the cool and the confidence one expects in the role, and he lets himself get pushed around without putting up a fight. He is also dedicated to one thing and one thing alone: his cat. But for Altman's film, a convoluted, surreal neo-noir, Gould is perfect. His performance captures the displacement and nostalgia a person like Marlowe feels living in the 1970s (Altman updated the setting from Chandler's novel, which was set in the 1950s). While the other characters have big hair and leisure suits and baggy pants, Gould walks around in an old-fashioned suit and drives around in an automobile that can't have been manufactured after the 1950s. Altman stated that while he was envisioning the film, he nicknamed his Marlowe "Rip van Marlowe." The name fits.

The supporting cast includes Nina van Pallandt as the mysterious Eileen Wade, who does better in her role than any big-name actress could, as well as Sterling Hayden, who roars and grumbles like an angry bear as alcoholic writer Roger Wade. Henry Gibson is the sleazy, odd Dr. Verringer, and Jim Bouton is the obnoxiously cheery and foolish Terry Lennox. Young Arnold Schwarzenegger also appears toward the end of the film as an enormous bodyguard for Mark Rydell's ratty mobster.

One of the most interesting aspects of the film is that it was written by Leigh Brackett, who also co-wrote the screenplay for Hawks' "The Big Sleep" (although reportedly Robert Altman made numerous changes to the script, something he's rather infamous for doing). "The Big Sleep" remains the best and one of the most faithful adaptations of a Chandler novel, but Altman's "The Long Goodbye" has little in common with its brilliant source material. The complex plot of the book has been trimmed down to a thread, and a frequently incomprehensible thread at that. By the end of the film, we have at least a loose grasp of what has happened. And though the film's shock ending will no doubt infuriate fans of Chandler's work, it's a major part of what makes Altman's film so unique.

In the end, that's exactly what "The Long Goodbye" is: not a Chandler adaptation, nor a Philip Marlowe mystery, but a Robert Altman film. Altman is the real star of the film. He's often been occused of focusing more on what the film looks like than what the film is about, and if ever there was a film in which Altman was guilty of that, it's this one. He's more focused on making a shady noir film and not focused enough on crafting an intriguing mystery to go along with it (the intriguing mystery, if there is one, is just what the hell is going on). That's enough to make "The Long Goodbye" float, though, through Altman's tight angles, the murky photography, Gould's neurotic performance, and the theme song by a young John Williams, which appears in different variations at a number of points in the film (it's also the only music in the movie). Despite its flaws, "The Long Goodbye" had enough points of brilliance to earn it classic status, and interestingly enough, it accomplished Altman's goal of revitalizing the noir genre, paving the way for films like Roman Polanski's "Chinatown" and Arthur Penn's "Night Moves." It may not quite be a masterpiece, but as Marlowe says repeatedly, "It's okay with me."

Post-War Heroism Meets 1970s Los Angeles -With Cynical Results. .......2007-05-06

"The Long Goodbye" is based on Raymond Chandler's novel of the same name, reconceived by screenwriter Leigh Brackett and director Robert Altman, who displace the post-war P.I. Philip Marlowe to 1973, as if he had woken up from a 20-year sleep and found himself among the sun-kissed sybarites of then-modern Los Angeles. Terry Lennox (Jim Burton) implores his old friend Philip Marlowe (Elliot Gould) for a ride to Tijuana in the middle of the night. Terry's in some kind of trouble, so Marlowe obliges. Marlowe is arrested the next day on a trumped up charge by some cops who are sure he must know that Terry bludgeoned his wife to death. Marlowe is then hired by a Mrs. Eileen Wade (Nina von Pallandt), who lives in the same gated beachfront community as the Lennox's did, to find her eccentric alcoholic husband. And Marlowe is threatened by megalomaniac mobster Marty Augustine (Mark Rydell), whose $350,000 Terry made off with.

Marlowe can't escape the mystery of Terry Lennox. The case is pursuing him more than he is inclined to pursue it. Everyone thinks that Marlowe knows something about Terry that he doesn't. That sets the tone for "The Long Goodbye". In contrast to the conventional detective role, Philip Marlowe is the pursued, not the pursuer. He has no control, gets no respect, and has little choice but to investigate his friend's death. To add insult to injury, we're watching. Vilmos Zsigmond's constantly moving camera makes it creepily clear that we are voyeurs of Marlowe's troubles. That onus is a little uncomfortable at times. Robert Altman's focus on behavior adds detail and texture without overwhelming the story. His signature overlapping dialogue serves the chaotic moral climate well. Elliot Gould is fantastic man out of time, smoking and wearing dark suits in the Southern California heat. "The Long Goodbye" is a great neo-noir from that decade of emasculated noir protagonists, the 1970s, when private detectives became anachronisms.

The DVD (MGM 2002): There are 2 featurettes, a theatrical trailer (2 1/2 min), 5 radio ad spots (3 1/2 min, audio), and "'American Cinematographer' Reprint of 1973 Article" (text) by Edward Lipnick, from the March 1973 magazine. This long article is about the use of "post-flashing" to reduce contrast in beach scenes and to increase shadow detail in night scenes. "Rip Van Marlowe" (25 min) features interviews from 2002 with Robert Altman and Elliot Gould. They talk about how the film came to be made, themes, casting, camera movement, directing the actors, and stopping the release of the film to change misleading advertising. "Vilmos Zsigmond Flashes The Long Goodbye" (14 min) is a 2002 interview with cinematographer Zsigmond in which he discusses creating the visual aspect of the film with the production designer and Altman, night shooting, camera movement and "flashing" the film to achieve the desired effects. Subtitles are available for the film in English, French, Spanish. Dubbing available in French.

Quirky, Atmospheric, Unique Altman Spin to Chandler!.......2007-04-23

I admit, when I first viewed "The Long Goodbye", in 1973, I didn't like the film; the signature Altman touches (rambling storyline, cartoonish characters, dialog that fades in and out) seemed ill-suited to a hard-boiled detective movie, and Elliott Gould as Philip Marlowe? No WAY! Bogie had been perfect, Dick Powell, nearly as good, but "M.A.S.H.'s" 'Trapper John'? Too ethnic, too 'hip', too 'Altman'!

Well, seeing it again, nearly 34 years later, I now realize I was totally wrong! The film is brilliant, a carefully-crafted color Noir, with Gould truly remarkable as a man of morals in a period (the 1970s) lacking morality. Perhaps it isn't Raymond Chandler, but I don't think he'd have minded Altman's 'spin', at all!

In the first sequence of the film, Marlowe's cat wakes him to be fed; out of cat food, the detective drives to an all-night grocery, only to discover the cat's favorite brand is out of stock, so he attempts to fool the cat, emptying another brand into an empty can of 'her' food. The cat isn't fooled by the deception, however, and runs away, for good...

A simple scene, one I thought was simply Altman quirkiness, in '73...but, in fact, it neatly foreshadows the major theme of the film: betrayal by a friend, and the price. As events unfold, Marlowe would uncover treachery, a multitude of lies, and self-serving, amoral characters attempting to 'fool' him...with his resolution decisive, abrupt, and totally unexpected!

The casting is first-rate. Elliott Gould, Altman's only choice as Marlowe, actually works extremely well, BECAUSE he is against 'type'. Mumbling, bemused, a cigarette eternally between his lips, he gives the detective a blue-collar integrity that plays beautifully off the snobbish Malibu 'suspects'. And what an array of characters they are! From a grandiosely 'over-the-top' alcoholic writer (Sterling Hayden, in a role intended for Dan Blocker, who passed away, before filming began), to his sophisticated, long-suffering wife (Nina Van Pallandt), to a thuggish Jewish gangster attempting to be genteel (Mark Rydell), to a smug health guru (Henry Gibson), to Marlowe's cocky childhood buddy (Jim Bouton)...everyone has an agenda, and the detective must plow through all the deception, to uncover the truth.

There are a couple of notable cameos; Arnold Schwarzenegger, in only his second film, displays his massive physique, as a silent, mustached henchman; and David Carradine plays a philosophical cellmate, after Marlowe 'cracks wise' to the cops.

The film was a failure when released; Altman blamed poor marketing, with the studio promoting it as a 'traditional' detective flick, and audiences (including me) expecting a Bogart-like Marlowe. Time has, however, allowed the movie to succeed on it's own merits, and it is, today, considered a classic.

So please give the film a second look...You may discover a new favorite, in an old film!

Average customer rating:

WILL THE REAL PHILLIP MARLOWE STAND UP?
Perfect
Altman's convoluted noir mystery
Post-War Heroism Meets 1970s Los Angeles -With Cynical Results.
Quirky, Atmospheric, Unique Altman Spin to Chandler!

The Long Goodbye [Region 2]
Starring: Elliott Gould , Nina Van Pallandt , Sterling Hayden , Mark Rydell , and Henry Gibson
Director: Robert Altman
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Thrillers | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B00015N54W

Amazon.com essential video

Customer Reviews:

WILL THE REAL PHILLIP MARLOWE STAND UP?.......2007-06-21

Perfect.......2007-05-29

Altman's convoluted noir mystery.......2007-05-27

Post-War Heroism Meets 1970s Los Angeles -With Cynical Results. .......2007-05-06

Quirky, Atmospheric, Unique Altman Spin to Chandler!.......2007-04-23

Average customer rating:

Long Goodbye:Newtown Neurotics Live
Starring: Newtown Neurotics
Manufacturer: Wave Imports
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Music Video & Concerts | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B000C3L2FW
Release Date: 2005-12-27

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Long Hello and Short Goodbye [Region 2]
Starring: Nicolette Krebitz , Marc Hosemann , Sunnyi Melles , Axel Milberg , and Dietrich Hollinderbäumer
Director: Rainer Kaufmann
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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The Long Goodbye: Newtown Neurotics Live

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The Long Goodbye: Newtown Neurotics Live
Starring: Newtown Neurotics
Manufacturer: Cherry Red UK
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Punk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

British Punk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

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DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B000BJA90G
Release Date: 2005-12-27

Description

The first ever DVD to feature one of the great English Punk bands of all time - Newtown Neurotics. Hailing from Essex, the Neurotics combined their punk rock with a strong political slant. Their debut singles, 'Hypocrite' (1979) and 'When The Oil Runs Out' (1980) appeared on their own No Wonder label and instantly gained the band a fanbase amongst Punk followers. In 1982 their agenda became apparent with the classic 'Kick Out The Tories' single - the song went on to become a Punk anthem and the band's most famous track. Through the '80's the band became increasingly involved in the agit-pop scene, regularly playing benefit concerts and festivals. The Neurotics always enjoyed a loyal and fanatical following, and this was displayed when the band played their final show in 1988. "The Long Goodbye" features that show - at London's Fulham Greyhound - in it's full majesty. The performance is packed full of crowd favourite songs and features a guest performance from famed punk-poet Attila The Stockbroker.

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