PHILIP MARLOWE in TV & Film

A brief look at Raymond Chandler's classic private detective character, Philip Marlowe, throughout TV and Film history.
Raymond Chandler in Hollywood by Al Clark was of great help in pulling quotes and factoids for this video. Check it out on the link below:
www.amazon.com/Raymond-Chandle...
Faster Does It by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (creativecommons.org/licenses/...)
Source: incompetech.com/music/royalty-...
Artist: incompetech.com/
I Knew a Guy by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (creativecommons.org/licenses/...)
Source: incompetech.com/music/royalty-...
Artist: incompetech.com/
The Falcon Takes Over (1942) RKO Pictures
Time to Kill (1942) 20th Century Fox
Murder, My Sweet (1944) RKO Pictures
The Big Sleep (1946) Warner Bros.
The Lady in the Lake (1947) MGM
The Brasher Doubloon (1947) 20th Century Fox
Philip Marlowe (1959-1960) ABC
Marlowe (1969) MGM
The Long Goodbye (1973) United Artists
Farewell, My Lovely (1975) Avco Embassy Pictures
The Big Sleep (1978) United Arts/ITV Studios
Philip Marlowe, Private Eye (1983,1986) HBO
Red Wind (Fallen Angels) (1995) Showtime
Poodle Springs (1998) HBO
Smart Philip (Mazaný Filip) (2003) Warner Bros. (Czech)
Marlowe (2007) ABC
The Long Goodbye (2014) NHK

[@Tiger74147]

"Hey that's okay by me."

[@RossM3838]

The key to getting Marlowe just right is to capture Chandlers poetic rhythms in the speech along with Marlowe's loneliness, sarcasm and sense of honor. Dick Powell and Humphrey Bogart get it just right. Robert Mitchum also does a nice job adding in a sense of age and weariness.

[@frankstonrat]

Absolutely agree, and I thought Ed Bishop did a fantastic job, in the respect of Marlowe's poetic rhythms, for a radio series on the BBC, adapting six Chandler's Marlowe stories. I think the series is available on Audiobooks and other sources.

[@EasternRomeOrthodoxy]

we should look at the different Marlowes as separate characters of Chandler's - something like brothers or family members, where the leader of them, the oldest brother or so, is Dick Powell

[@loilt5091]

In terms of vocal delivery, I prefer Ed Bishop...physically, neither Bogie & Powell aren't imposing enough to meet Chandler's description of Marlowe. A younger Robert Mitchum is the perfect Philip Marlowe.

[@robertpayne9470]

This is the first time I've heard the name "Marlowe" pronounced with the emphasis on the second syllable.

[@thewrestlingprofessor7536]

The narrator couldn't make up his mind how to pronounce it. Very annoying. Unprofessional. Perhaps pretentious.

[@peterwelsh1932]

Like, a juicy Pinot Noir or a nice dark Phillip Marlowe

[@Yowzoe]

...and he used that pronunciation a *plethora* of times

[@DaveBroTube]

@@Yowzoeand "detest" is not a noun.

[@rustynail766]

Generation xyz does that. They mangle names. Ray Milland is pronounced Mil. LAND. They say Millind. etc.

[@guskross6918]

This was a great video with clever editing and graphics. Hope you do more of these some day.

[@tonyscheinman3538]

It's a real shame this wasn't expanded to include radio versions of Philip Marlowe, as Gerald Mohr (NBC), Ed Bishop and Toby Jones (both BBC) were great Marlowes.

[@natebaumgartner9958]

U mean Toby Stevens?

[@mccuenoirfilms]

I literally just finished listening to a few episodes of Gerald Mohr’s version of Marlowe!

[@davidsigalow7349]

The Gerald Mohr series is great.

[@daniilashurov135]

Thanks for the great video! I really enjoyed 1946's Big Sleep and 1973's Long Goodbye, and was planning to watch Farewell, my lovely. Now, thanks to you, I add couple more movies and shows to my watchlist.

[@schizoidboy]

I remember the Philip Marlowe series that used to air on HBO. That show had style.

[@TheloniousCube]

MerLOT is a wine, MARlowe is the detective

[@jackxerox4845]

Yes but after a bottle or two of Merlot, Marlowe becomes Merlot

[@markanderson1795]

Great work. Thanks for putting this together.

[@pierregras7675]

Great. Thank you for this work.

[@georgemoore7196]

Thanks for the excellent review.

[@henrykujawa4427]

Fun trivia: In the 1953 "I, THE JURY" and the 1969 "MARLOWE", the office is in The Bradbury Building. Hammer & Marlowe were neighbors!

[@limacom]

Great recap video... thanks

[@jasonhull9154]

Chandler is my favorite author, and I really enjoyed this look at the adaptions of the Philip Marlowe stories. I've seen most of them (notably absent from my viewing history are the George Montgomery movie and the 1960 TV series). I still listen to the old radio show episodes, with Gerald Mohr being my favorite actor to voice the character. As for the actors who have played him on the screen, I wasn't crazy about Bogie, but Dick Powell was terrific. Robert Montgomery wasn't bad, but we got to see so little of him, given the film's first-person perspective. I thought Garner was just okay and Gould and Mitchum were both pretty good. However...Powers Boothe WAS Marlowe--the living, breathing incarnation of the character! No one, in my opinion, has epitomized the character as he did. For me, Boothe will always be the quintessential Philip Marlowe in the same way that Joan Hickson will always be the quintessential Miss Marple.

[@henrykujawa4427]

The 80s were pretty lucky with some things, weren't they? Joan Hickson as Marple, Jeremy Brett as Holmes, Powers Booth as Marlowe, Stacy Keach as Hammer... Sylvester McCoy as The Doctor (HEH-- I can't help it, he's my favorite!). Later we got got Maury Chaykin & Timothy Hutton as Nero Wolfe & Archie Goodwin-- best thing they did was make Archie the focus of the show, since Wolfe is NOT likable enough and never will be.

[@Melvinshermen]

Somebody need to make playback into a movie

[@n.b.2164]

I love the Lake in the Lake 1947. It's so unique and the acting is really good.

[@georgemoore7186]

seen 'em all and loved 'em all

[@larrycarmody8325]

Every one of Phillip Marlowe movies are great, I've seen just about everyone.

[@76tennboy]

And now, this year, Liam Neeson takes up the mantle!

[@davidsigalow7349]

That film was very good, too.

[@daleanderson1727]

Good stuff, thanks for sharing.

[@SMC01ful]

Powers Booth, is the quintessential Marlowe in my opinion. He put all of the best qualities displayed by previous "Marlowes," into one package. He was also the right age, height, and physique. The dude had charisma to burn, X-factor, a rawness, which made him such a popular character actor. He really should have received more recognition for his efforts. Bogey was bloody good, but he put his name to other detectives; hence, I think of him as Sam Spade.

[@JSB1882]

Dick Powell did a great job which I didn't see coming because I always thought of him as a song & dance man or light comedy roles. Bogart was excellent, but just didn't have the physical attributes of Marlowe. Robert Montgomery pulled it off too and I liked the "first person" narrative. Then all others for me turn into they could have called the character any name, but then Mitchum in "Farewell My Lovely" was just perfect Chandler. It's amazing to me that they went from excellent to pure crap with Mitchum's "The Big Sleep". Powers Boothe did a great job too - his voice really added to his portrayal.

[@davidsigalow7349]

Dick Powell knew he was getting too old to keep playing the boy tenor and wanted to change his image. He lobbied to get the lead in "Double Indemnity," but when that didn't work out, he made, "Murder, My Sweet." He went on to play a number of tough-guy roles, very credibly.

[@MOGGS1942]

Great video. So many Marlowe's, some I wasn't aware of. Much as I love Bogart, Mitchum, Garner, and Gould, my favourite is Dick Powell. I recently discovered the Powers Boothe series on u tube, and I think he does a great job in the lead role. I just love Marlowe. I think I could have been him in a previous life. Oh that I could be him now.

[@thesoultwins72]

+moggs ......I totally agree, for me Dick Powell IS Marlowe and by far the best of all iterations in the role. The narrator of this review implies that Raymond Chandler liked Humphrey Bogart most - and whilst Chandler often stated that Bogart was very good - Powell was always his favourite 'Marlowe' as he believed he perfectly captured all the nuances of the character he had created. Interestingly, there was a lot of concern with the choice of Powell has the 'hard-boiled', cynical detective - as up until that point he had largely been a 'song-and-dance' man or played light comedy roles. However, Powell wanted a change of direction as he felt he was too old (44) to play romantic leads any more. (indeed, he desperately wanted the part of Walter Neff in 'Double Indemnity' but had lost out to Fred MacMurray). There was another problem with his casting in the role. The studio were extremely anxious about using the original title of Chandler's novel - 'Farewell My Lovely' - which they thought audiences would perceive as a romantic piece given Powell's involvement. The decision was taken to re-title the film version as 'Murder My Sweet' (in America) to ensure it was clear to audiences that it was a detective/thriller. Powell's intuition paid off - and the impact on his career of being the first screen 'Marlowe' was stunning. He was immediately offered a much wider - and far grittier - range of roles, and cannily reinforced this new persona by making other noir classics such as 'Cornered', 'Johnny O'Clock' and 'Pitfall'. There have been many (and very 'varied'!) actors who have attempted to be the definitive Marlowe. Some have been pretty good - some have been dreadful! Bogart is unquestionably an excellent candidate. But it was always Bogart playing Bogart - not the character. So to repeat, the only actor that I believe really understood the true essence of Marlowe and projected that best....was Dick Powell

[@MOGGS1942]

+ TheSoulTwins ... I really enjoyed your post and found it quite fascinating. Dick Powell as Walter Neff ? Definitely. MacMurray was magnificent, but Mr.P would have been a terrific alternative choice. I can see why he "lost out" though, since his earlier roles were too soppy. That Powell made such a persuasive Marlow is testament to his qualities as an actor. Thankfully, he didn't have to sing in that role.

[@henrykujawa4427]

"So many Marlowe's" Kind of RIDICULOUS, isn't it? Like every time somebody decides to do one, they recast the part. It's as bad (or worse) than what happened with PHILO VANCE. (I'm now dearly wishing somebody would put in the effort to do proper RESTORATIONS on the first 3 Paramount films, since they clearly don't give a S*** about their old movies. The earliest MGM is in pristene condition, made around the same time. (I got the entire series on DVD recently and loved... well, most of them.)

[@jamesnetwall6168]

this video is great y have u done no others???

[@alg11297]

The Long Goodbye was a satire on the detective film. How could you miss that? It takes a couple of times to realize it but they play the theme song in nearly scene in a different way, he smokes constantly using anything to light the cigarette, when he gets clues he seems more baffled each time. And the opening scene with his cat could not have been funnier.

[@alexodonnell6191]

I must begin with an apology, I almost didn't watch this because of its running time....Oh hell, I thought another Marlowe buff who thinks he knows than he does....Boy was I ever wrong about that...instead of some verbose geek wannabe, living in his mother's basement with a cat, what did I get??? Pure celluloid gold, 24 carat... A 9 minute informative video essay tighter than a diamond choker...and diamond real, no pastel...look away just ONCE and you miss a diamond and get just a gift of priceless promise barely glimpsed in your peripheral vision...SO : THANK YOU sincerely for an almost hundred year tour of the appearances of my favourite book&celluloid detective...I learned a lot ( & I knew A BIT 😁 )...You are a wonderful example of why the internet can be SUCH a treasure trove...😀

[@brucewatts8447]

Thanks for this, I just watched the 4 film noir Philip Marlowe movies and was wondering if there were any other during the classic 1941-1958 period. Also there is a new Marlowe movie from 2022 with Liam Neeson as Marlowe.

[@mateusrosito3436]

great video. Amazing actualy.

[@desfarrell909]

Outrageously outstanding. I thought I was a fan.

[@thekeywitness]

It's worth also mentioning the radio show, which is quite entertaining. The version with Gerald Mohr is the best (Van Heflin did episodes too, but he lacks Mohr's biting humor).

[@firecracker4151]

Thank you!

[@jackxerox4845]

It was a hot damp August day and you couldn't keep your neck dry with a bath towel, I'd just been watching KZbin and a call came in from Violence McGee

[@TOFKAS01]

5:48 That movie was sometimes critisised for his old main actor. But Robert Mitchum gave perhaps the best Marlowe ever seen. Old age really suits that role....only the kiss scene between him and Charlotte Rampling was perhaps too awkward.

[@EasternRomeOrthodoxy]

No, it's not - it ain't Sherlock f*** Holmes, and Mitchum is no Marlowe, wasn't young, and far after the golden era, so no -that adaptation was sнוt - Murder My Sweet was perfect, not this boring a$$ trash

[@ursulamannix8301]

Great job.

[@jaybaybay0]

Just watched The long goodbye. Great film

[@jackgrattan1447]

I started reading Chandler in the early '70s in my early teens. I started seeing the films around the same time. Here are my ratings of the various Marlowes: I thought that Dick Powell made a great Marlowe in a great movie. His jowly, stubbled face and sour, smart alec disposition was much as I envisioned the character. Bogart? Not so much. He's too much Bogart, not enough Marlowe. And Howard Hawks just doesn't have a noir sensibility. Sid Hickox's standard Warners lighting doesn't help matters. Robert Montgomery made a good, hard bitten Marlowe, but the subjective camera starts losing it's novelty after a while. He played a much more Marlowesque character in his next film, the superb RIDE THE PINK HORSE. George Montgomery? Forget it. Marlowe would NEVER have a moustache. And THE HIGH WINDOW was one of Chandler's weakest books. James Garner may not be what I envisioned physically, but he's a great smart ass, a key Marlowe component. But William Daniels' slick color photography works against any real noir feeling. Purists seem to hate Altman's take on THE LONG GOODBYE, but I think that it really captures the spirit of Chandler's most ambitious book. And Elliot Gould really nails a man out of time and place, with his own personal code. Namely, a New York Jew who loves old movie music stuck in tacky, garish, amoral early '70s L.A. If there was ever an actor who brings to life EVERYTHING I envisioned in Marlowe, it's Robert Mitchum. But a YOUNG Robert Mitchum. He already played the character in everything but name in the classic OUT OF THE PAST. And finally, Powers Boothe was a really good Marlowe in the HBO series.

[@thesoultwins72]

@Jack Gratton........An excellent and very detailed synopsis of the actors who have played Marlowe. Just a few points I would like to add. But first, and like you - I started reading Raymond Chandler when I was a young boy. I was absolutely enthralled by his poetic and highly nuanced style - I had never read anything like it before. At school in the UK, we were required to read the 'classics' - Shakespeare, Chaucer, Dickens, Plato, Dante, Orwell, Wilde, Austin etc - as well as more 'modern' writers such as Wilfred Owen, Rupert Brooke, Hemmingway, Scott-Fitzgerald, Heller, Henry Miller and Nicholas Monserrat. All extremely fine writers and still among my favourites - but Chandler was [and still is] my all time number one writer and I regularly re-read his beautiful prose*. *I was lucky enough to buy a first edition 1939 copy of 'Trouble is my Business' - when I went on holiday to America and visited Powell's Bookstore in Portland Oregon. Although I have and absolutely love all seven of Chandler's novels, his short stories are often just as amazing. I actually bought 'Trouble is my Business' not just for the title story, but the simply wonderful 'Red Winds' - and have the book displayed on the opening pages: ''There was a desert wind blowing that night. It was one of those hot dry Santa Anas that come down through the mountain passes and curl your hair and make your nerves jump and your skin itch. On nights like that every booze party ends in a fight. Meek little wives feel the edge of the carving knife and study their husbands' necks. Anything can happen. You can even get a full glass of beer at a cocktail lounge''. But turning to the actors - IMHO Dick Powell was indisputably the best Marlowe ever. His portrayal of the world-weary, cynical detective was/is the gold standard - combining equal measures of pathos, irony and wit with a nonchalance few have ever replicated. Yet Powell was an established 'song-and-dance' man in the late 1930's and seemed a very unlikely candidate to play the role. Powell adroitly recognised the changing mood of America as World War II inexorably drew to its close. WWII had brought death, horror and brutality to America. A far cry from the fluffy. light-hearted musicals and comedies Powell was making at the time. But Powell was smart enough to realise this and sought more grittier, realistic parts in what could have been a career-ending move. Instead, it was an unmitigated piece of genius and following his debut as the eponymous detective he then made the excellent 'Johnny O'clock' to cement his place as a extremely gifted and versatile actor. But there is no finer accolade than the fact that Powell was Chandler's own favorite Marlowe. Chandler felt that Powell expertly captured all the qualities of his main character and was the perfect fit. Indeed, he famously said that if he had to base Marlowe on any actor - it would have been the 'revised' version of Powell. The two actually became quite close friends, which is testimony to their respect for each other - especially considering Chandler's irascible mood swings! Despite this, Chandler also very much liked Humphrey Bogart's accomplished performance in 'The Big Sleep'. Bogart like Powell, demonstrated many of the deft touches that Chandler had created about the detective in his writing. Yet as much as Chandler enjoyed Bogart's portrayal he felt it was too much Bogart being Bogart and not Marlowe. As supreme as Bogart was in 'The Big Sleep' Chandler still preferred Powell. Another actor that Chandler apparently would have liked to have seen play the part was a younger Robert Mitchum. [although Mitchum subsequently played Marlowe twice - firstly in the 1975 version of 'Farewell My Lovely' and then in the absolutely dreadful 1978 remake of the 'Big Sleep' - he was in his 60's at the time and had long lost the physical menace of his youth]. Personally I doubt even a young, taut Mitchum could have bettered either Bogart or Powell as Marlowe. As for all the other actors you mention that played Marlowe - again and like you, I very much enjoyed Elliot Gould's rendition in the 1973 film version of 'The Long Goodbye'. I can't really explain why as Altman's take on what is essentially [and is now recognised as] Chandler's finest ever piece of work - utterly destroys the main thrust and theme of profound friendship and loyalty. [although he was dying and the 'Long Goodbye' was his last novel - Chandler thankfully felt it was his zenith and the pinnacle of his abilities as a writer]. The 'Long Goodbye' has a beauty and poetry about it I have never read before or since. And it is far-and-away, my all-time favourite book by my all-time favourite writer. One last point - 'Farewell My Lovely' published in 1940 was Chandler's second book after 'The Big Sleep' [published in 1939] yet was the first to be turned into a film. Originally released as 'Farewell My Lovely' - it was subsequently re-released in the U.S [and first released in the UK] as 'Murder My Sweet' as the studio were worried that audiences would think it was a comedy/musical due to Dick Powell's appearance. [I have the original UK DVD release - which is titled 'Murder My Sweet'].

[@Muirmaiden]

"Ride The Pink Horse" was adapted from the novel by Dorothy B. Hughes, which starred ROBERT MONTGOMERY. It was "The Brasher Doubloon" that starred George Montgomery as Marlowe.

[@ralebeau]

The two radio series are here on YT.

[@jeaninestrong4345]

Thank you .

[@olive6405]

I wish you had mention the various radio versions, especially Gerald Mohr. And I thought James Garner made a pretty good Marlowe.

[@jimgulick9773]

I agree that Garner was a great Marlowe.

[@waynenewark5363]

I like Ed Bishop's Marlowe from the BBC Radio versions.

[@TheloniousCube]

Yes, although he says Dick Powell returned to playing Marlowe after many years, hadn't he played the character on radio several times?

[@olive6405]

@@TheloniousCube I think it was a radio adaption of MURDER MY SWWEET.

[@olive6405]

@@jimgulick9773 Way better than Elliot Ghould.

[@willyates9176]

I’m booked to watch Marlowe in a couple of weeks time in Canberra, Australia, and it stars Liam Neeson as Marlowe. The film also stars Jessica Lang and has other well known stars. I’m really looking forward to watching this, the trailer shows a lot of promise, but with those two names alone, it is worth going to see. 🇦🇺

[@halukkilic3171]

Did you like it?

[@loilt5091]

Not from the dreadful reviews I've seen...waste of time.

[@XavierKatzone]

What's with the "Mar-LOW"? Not digging the Long Goodbye for so many reasons. Sterling Hayden's the best part of that film.

[@careyatchison1348]

Philip Marlowe Private Eye (HBO) - now playing on KZbin.

[@tomasmorey1269]

Nice documentary

[@ronalda.saname396]

I like Phil Carey as Marlowe.

[@thomassaehler9038]

Why does he keep saying MarLOWE?

[@ZenFox0]

Yes, that was bugging me too. He pronounces it like ‘merlot’. I’ve always heard it pronounced MARlowe (mär′lō) /ˈmɑːrləʊ/, with the stress on the first syllable. This is the pronunciation of Marlowe given in Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, the American Heritage Dictionary, the Free Dictionary, the Oxford Dictionary, Wiktionary, and Wikipedia. It’s also how it’s pronounced in the films. Also, in American English, ‘plethora’ is usually pronounced: PLETHora (plĕth′ər-ə) or /ˈpleθərə/, not pleTHORa (plĭthôʹrə) or /plɪˈθɔːɹə/. www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Marlowe ahdictionary.com/word/search.html?q=Marlowe www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/us/definition/english/christopher-marlowe?q=Marlowe www.thefreedictionary.com/Marlowe en.m.wiktionary.org/wiki/Marlowe en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Marlowe www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plethora ahdictionary.com/word/search.html?q=plethora www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/us/definition/english/plethora?q=plethora www.thefreedictionary.com/plethora en.m.wiktionary.org/wiki/plethora

[@_Peremalfait]

My main issue with Robert Mitchum's Marlowe is his age. In the books Marlowe is portrayed as being on the edge of middle age. Mitchum was well beyond the edge. Garner was a good fit, there is really a lot of Marlowe in his Rockford character, but for me the 1940's Los Angeles landscape was so much a part of Chandler's work, as much as Marlowe himself, that the updated version lost something. There again the HBO series tried almost too hard to capture the noire genre. I guess I'll never be satisfied, and maybe that's a good thing so that the Marlowe that lives in my head will remain.

[@EasternRomeOrthodoxy]

Every Marlowe adaptation done after the 40s and the golden era is simply one big giant piece of SНlТ🤢🤢🤢

[@jaydee_0079]

Liam Neeson is in a New Adaptation - compares well to the first Robert Mitchum film.

[@phillipmarlowe0525]

In Lady in the lake there is an actress named Lila Leeds. Her and Robert Mitchum were arrested for drugs. Her career ended after that. Odd how she was in a Marlowe movie and the guy she was arrested with played Marlowe years later.

[@irish66]

i have seen all the movies. The best ones for me are original Big Sleep, and both versions of Lovely. I thought the Boothe tv series was very well done, and highly recommend the japsnese one.

[@ericericson3535]

The Bogey picture, the Big Sleep, was written for the screen by William Faulkner.

[@nesaalli8778]

I saw the lady in the lake and lots more.

[@ZenFox0]

Appreciate the recap of the films, several of which I was not aware of. The mispronunciations were noticeable, but I see many have already noted those. (I’ve been guilty of that too - mispronouncing words I’ve only heard in my own head.) Heck, even Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett mispronounced ‘poignant’ and ‘mores’, and Justice Sonya Sotomayor mispronounced the name of Kamala Harris.

[@gungadean]

THANX !!!

[@LydellFisk]

Pronouncing the name like that. It sort of stands out like spats at an Iowa picnic.

[@wesleyrodgers886]

Or a tarantula on angel food :-)

[@georgecollord7650]

Robert Mitchum turns Marlowe into Robert Mitchum (fantastic) but Powers Boothe is whom I enjoyed the most. To each his own! 😂

[@EasternRomeOrthodoxy]

Every Marlowe adaptation done after the 40s and the golden era is simply one big giant piece of SНlТ🤢🤢🤢

[@loilt5091]

@@EasternRomeOrthodoxy Okay dad...if YOU say so 🙊

[@dueserpenti]

Also, it's PLE-thora.

[@paperboxcutter]

Keven Mohr was an excellent Marlowe, but only on radio, starting in the late 1940's.

[@cathyschneider2126]

It's hard to accept your authority on this subject when you can't pronounce the iconic character's name. Also, Bruce Lee didn't star in the Garner version: he was a henchman, albeit a memorable one.

[@wesleyrodgers886]

Yep, don't rhyme with Merlot.

[@henrykujawa4427]

I didn't know about the 1950 TV "Big Sleep". My FAVORITE Marlowe film by a very wide margin is "THE BIG SLEEP" with Robert Mitchum and an all-star cast. I love absolutely everything about it, and especially the fact that it follows the book page by page, except in the one moment where it IMPROVES on the book by neatly filling in a long-standing plot hole. It made perfect sense when I saw it in a theatre, and I was stunned when I read the novel shortly after. And then some time later, knowing the story so well, I found I COULD NOT MAKE SENSE of the Bogart film until I'd seen it at least 6 times. These days I enjoy both... but for entirely-different reasons. The Dick Powell film's okay. But the last act ALWAYS confuses me, no matter how many times I've seen it, and his acting just ISN'T cutting it. I've liked him way better playing VILLAINS! Personally, my favorite adaptation of "FAREWELL MY LOVELY" is the one with George Sanders. That one's FUN!!!!! The Powers Booth series is of two parts... the first is MAGNIFICENT. So much, the English producers who were foolish enough to film in L.A. (usually it's the other way round) went bankrupt after 5 or 6 episodes. It took them 3 years to raise money in Canada, but the 2nd season is too damned dark and depressing on every count. My FAVORITE version of Marlowe is one you didn't mention: GERALD MOHR on the radio show. It's criminal that nobody ever cast him to play the part in film or on TV. He's better than Bogart! And finally... I recently heard the entire BBC radio series with Ed Bishop. One thing it revealed to me was that, apart from "The Big Sleep", all of Chandler's other Marlowe novels are IMPOSSIBLE to follow. I know people insist he was more concerned with style & mood, but, to me, if you're writing a mystery, it should damn well MAKE SENSE, too! (James Garner's "THE LITTLE SISTER" is impossible to make sense out of, either-- way more than the Bogart movie ever was.)

[@alandesouzacruz5124]

Smart Philip is Very good Film

[@TOFKAS01]

Funny how three Marlowe-movies in a row had action-stars in the cast....Bruce Lee, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone....

[@animalmother16]

I think Marlowe was a good film. Can't do better than Garner as a smart ass P.I. just as he played Rockford brilliantly.

[@kentallard8852]

Rockford isn't Marlowe

[@jackgrattan1447]

@@kentallard8852 Rockford Files producer Roy Huggins got his start writing hard boiled pulp novels, and was a huge fan of Chandler, as was Garner.

[@LarryWilliams-xu8qs]

Who is this Philip Merlot of which he speaks?

[@mikeobrien3744]

Good review over decades. I wonder why the character just doesn't work in the"modern age"?

[@TOFKAS01]

Especially Marlowe is a child of the 1930s and 40s with his post-great-depression and WW2 psychology. But perhaps....when the writers and directors are brave enough to make realy dirty stories, they could make a 21th century Marlowe.

[@JM-ot8ux]

Good film but why do you pronounce it MarLOWE? It's not a wine. It's MARlowe.

[@anythingafter10]

Thank you! That was bugging me all the way through it.

[@chriseagle5841]

phil-IP mar-LOWE

[@knicklas48]

He thinks is so COOOOL

[@smichelle65]

Worse, he jumps between pronouncing it MARlowe and MarLOWE, often in the same sentence. Driving me nuts.

[@JM-ot8ux]

@@chriseagle5841 We've heard from Stay Stupid.

[@mccuenoirfilms]

Murder my Sweet and The Big Sleep are in my Top 5 of all time.

[@EasternRomeOrthodoxy]

Yes, man o man...such perfect f**** films

[@Medellin1823]

Why does this seem so familiar to me?

[@thomethemistocles-madeira8488]

And the Liam Neesom "Marlowe"? Why it isn't in this list ?

[@TheGrohner]

You say Marlowe appeared "in more than" seven novels and numerous short stories. Not counting the garbage from Robert B. Parker and Benjamin Black, he appeared in exactly seven novels by Chandler.

[@jameswilletts9859]

Who says "more than seven" anyway?! That's not a thing.

[@kentallard8852]

The Big Sleep remake was awful. Translating it to contempory London wtf

[@olive6405]

It might have passed with either Sean Connery or Michael Caine as Marlowe, and if they had changed his name.

[@BANAANIKAKKU-qv8un]

Elliott gould and robert mitchum

[@johnnynoirman]

Bogart--A sense of humor with sense of contempt.

[@beatnikmary]

Narrator: Is it MAR-low? Or mar-LOW? Dunno, I'll just alternate between the two.

[@robertguttman1487]

There is a glaring omission in this presentation. Obviously whoever made this video belongs to the "internet generation" and is thus completely ignorant of the fact that there was once a very popular medium known as "radio". There was a very successful and popular radio series entitled "The Adventures of Phillip Marlowe" which ran from 1947 through 1951. It originally starred Van Heflin, although he was replaced after the first year by Gerald Mohr. Like most of the old radio programs, it is still available on the internet. All you have to do is google it.

[@TowGunner]

0:16 Pla-thor-a?

[@jakeornot6306]

What the heck? The first two pronunciations of "Marlowe" correctly put the emphasis on MAR - with increasing lapses ultimately ended with the narrator almost say, "MerLOT" as in the wine. It's MARlowe. The whole video is about MARlowe.

[@LesNos4r2]

Now it's Liam Neeson's turn in 2023..

[@Football__Junkie]

Nice video. Lot of ins. Lot of outs. Lot of what-have-yous

[@I_leave_mean_comments]

Why do you keep pronouncing his last name wrong? He's not French.

[@loilt5091]

In terms of vocal delivery, I prefer Ed Bishop...physically, neither Bogey or Powell are imposing enough to meet Chandler's description of Marlowe. Overall, a younger Robert Mitchum is the perfect Philip Marlowe. 🇨🇦

[@knicklas48]

marLOWE? Do think he was French?

[@johndrake2729]

Powers Boothe was Marlowe. Period.

[@jlovebirch]

Too bad the latest "Marlow", with Liam Neeson phoning it in, is such a mixed bag (trying to be another Chinatown) as it could have been so much better.

[@EmmaRay7266]

A wonderful overview. Is the narrator a computer? The voice consistently mispronounces "Marlowe" which is annoying at best.

[@rtblues]

Might want to start by learning how to pronounce MARLOWE!

[@ronnieerwin4585]

Bogart and Mitchell was the best

[@Melvinshermen]

Is just me but i found Weird that a black guy play marlowe

[@bird8995]

Just you.

[@bird8995]

It’s MARlowe not marLOWE…cmon yo

[@scottleft3672]

The busiest detective you know.

[@karlgrey9121]

Learn how to pronounce the P.I.'s name. The emphasis is on the 1st syllable, not the 2nd. It's not like Merlot.

[@violentinstincts]

PSA: you can't pronounce "plethora".

[@beowulfthedane]

mar LOWE,,,really!? You are as bad as the punks that cast that wuss Gould in The Long Goodbye! It's one syllable 'Marlo' like Marlo Thomas or Marlo Andretti! Bogart was perfect except he was too short. Marlowe was 4f on account a he got kicked in the choppers when he was blockin a punt! He was tall around 6'4". and he was around 30 in 1940 So if he was alive in the 70s He woulda been in a lotta pain from all the beatins he took in the 40s and 50s/ plus he would be in his 60s. I'm saying there has never been a Good adaptation of a Marlowe story. The Big Sleep was the best and it was only as good as can be expected when Marlowe is 6 inches too short. They should a used John Wayne to play Marlowe.

[@beowulfthedane]

I realize that it was Mar-e-o Andretti, but that is less funny and doesn't prove my point. Plus! I couldn't think of another Marlo.

[@chrisjaybecker]

I agree. MAR-lowe, not marLOWE. Every time the narrator says it that way it sounds like he's ordering a glass of Merlot. BTW, Philip Marlowe was named after badass Elizabethan poet/playwright/spy Christopher 'Kit' Marlowe.

[@thesoultwins72]

+Wesley Eskildsen.....whatever you are snorting - you really need to give it a rest! What little brains you had have turned to mush! (oh and by the way - MAR lowe IS 2 syllables!)

[@jimii2294]

Common... pronounce "Marlowe" correctly

[@trythinkingforachange4201]

Elliot Gould? - no way does he make a believable Marlowe

[@stevenhoward1868]

elliott gould does a great job in his own way. he brought something new to the character that bogie or montgomery couldn't. he was a dazed witty detective living in his own world with a cat for a friend. at first critics hated what altman and gould did to the role, but recently people have been starting to appreciate the performance more

[@PedroOrdep-kv5vw]

Yeh, that character is not the real Marlowe, but I'm not complaining, The Long Goodbye is one of my favorite movies.

[@Retroscoop]

The "fantastic" Elliott Gould ???? As Marlowe ??? Ow dear ow dear, that doesn't do your credibility much good ! By the way, what is that irritating habbit of pronouncing it marLOW in stead of MARlow ? What's next, marLON branDO ?

[@stevenhoward1868]

besides the mispronunciation, what's wrong with elliott gould as marlowe (yes is marlowe, not marlow. whats next? Marlone Brandone???😂😂😂😂

[@Retroscoop]

Now that's a solid argument, really. I'm deeply impressed both by your incredible intellectual debating skills and your good (hum-hum) taste. Probably the most by the latter. Gosh, if you really don't see what's wrong with Gould playing Marlowe, stick to commenting on mispronunciating, that's much safer. It's like asking what is wrong with Simon Le Bon becoming front man of AC DC. It's THAT much wrong.

[@stevenhoward1868]

Yes, i finally can see that i have bad taste because i appreciate elliott gould's performance. but i'd seriously like you to say whats so bad about the performance, if you possess these excellent debating skills. also you call me out on correcting mispronunciation when i was mocking you for doing the same to the video narrator. but okay, stick to your over extreme-purist point of view. You see, you keep on calling my taste bad but you still haven't said what wrong with the performance. your being a pretentious thinks-he-knows-every "film guy" but i'll throw you a little advice, actually state your reasoning before making a statement.

[@Retroscoop]

Coming from you, that is a nice compliment indeed. My guess is you think the same about everyone who disagrees with you. And what's the word for such persons ? It begins with A and ends with gant.

[@zufgh]

If you can't elaborate on why it's a bad performance and you're just gonna keep insulting people for questioning your opinion, it's probably best you stfu lol.

[@James_Bowie]

I hate the way you pronounce Marlowe as Mar-LOW.

[@gnolan4281]

Make up your mind. Is it MarLOWE or MARlowe? Quite the distraction.

[@ricardolorrio8228]

the Big Sleep 1978 is crap....

[@HappyHighwayman]

the new Marlowe movie was pretty bad

[@arifuretagamer]

Going to see the movie tomorrow guess it's a remake, if I'm not mistaken.