Intense, gripping, stylish and poignant

It was OK. I don't see why everyone loves it so much. It wasn't very smart or deep or well-directed.

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

"Farewell, My Lovely" is another film version of the Raymond Chandler novel, "Murder, My Sweet," and thrusts Robert Mitchum in the role of the overly tired, beat-up but willing to take on a case private detective known as Philip Marlowe. As the film opens in 1941 Los Angeles, Marlowe has just tracked down a runaway girl, returned her to the parents, and gotten a good slug to the midsection for his troubles. Out of the shadows of a nightclub steps Moose Malloy, freshly released from prison, who tells Marlowe that he wants him to find his missing Velma. At first glance, it seems like a simple case, but it drags Mitchum, (Marlowe) through several shootings, muggings, an injection of a narcotic, and other mishaps before Marlowe can wrap up the matter of the missing showgirl, Velma. Mitchum manages to provide a great voice-over to move the film along, but it goes at a good pace on its own. The supporting cast includes John Ireland, Charlotte Rampling, Sylvia Miles, and introduces Jack O'Halloran as the Moose. Also, catch a young Sylvester Stallone in some work prior to his Rocky Balboa films. A great film noir for fans to enjoy.

This 1975 remake of Raymond Chandler's famous novel was obviously made with a great deal of respect and affection for both the writer's legendary private investigator, Philip Marlowe and also the style of the 1940s' film noir movies. 1941 Los Angeles is recreated in a way that looks really authentic, the visual style of the movie is faithful to the classic noir look and the casting is absolutely faultless. Importantly, the story is told in flashback with Marlowe's typically hardboiled narration adding wit, character and cynicism to the proceedings and of course, he gets lied to, knocked unconscious and harassed by the police as well as being shot at, drugged and set up as a patsy to take the rap for a series of murders.Mouse Malloy (Jack O'Halloran) is a softly-spoken giant of a man who, having just been released from a seven year prison sentence, hires Marlowe (Robert Mitchum) to find his long lost girlfriend Velma who'd been a performer at a nightclub called Florian's. Marlowe's investigations bring him into contact with Tommy Ray (Walter McGinn), a trumpeter who'd worked at the club and also the club owner's widow Jessie (Sylvia Miles). A photograph supplied by Tommy proves to be positively unhelpful and Jessie turns out to be a woman whose memory only works well when it's heavily fuelled by bourbon.Marlowe is also hired by a rather effeminate guy called Lindsay Marriott (John O'Leary) who's attempting to buy back a stolen jade necklace and wants Marlowe to act as his bodyguard during the exchange. Although Marlowe's involvement in this job doesn't end well, it does lead to him being hired to undertake another investigation for Helen Grayle (Charlotte Rampling) who's the dangerously seductive young wife of the politically powerful Judge Baxter Wilson Grayle (Jim Thompson). Through Helen, Marlowe meets Laird Brunette (Anthony Zerbe) the very corrupt and well connected operator whose gambling boat turns out to be the location where a number of important revelations are made before matters eventually come to a very violent conclusion.This time around, Philip Marlowe is getting older and starting to feel his age. He's tired, jaded and run down but his humanity and sense of humour are still intact. Robert Mitchum's appearance, movement and vocal delivery, all seem to be entirely natural and add immense authority and authenticity to his performance which is absolutely perfect and one of the movie's strongest components. The contributions made by the various members of the supporting cast are also top class.A couple of the strikingly good qualities of this movie are how much clarity has been brought to its inherently complicated plot and also how successfully its wonderfully evocative atmosphere has been created. Any fans of classic film noir who haven't already seen this movie are guaranteed to be well rewarded if they take the time to look it up.

The best of the more modern renditions of Forties' detective noir films ; this is the second adaptation of Raymond Chandler's novel, is much closer to the source text than the original . Featuring world-weary private eye Philip Marlowe (magnificent Robert Mitchum as a serviceable and seen-it-all detective) chasing for an ex-inmate's (Jack O'Halloran) lost girlfriend in 1941 Los Angeles . Meantime , there happens various murders and Marlowe being interrogated by Police Inspectors (John Ireland , Harry Dean Stanton) . The eye private becomes involved into a dark world of killing , treason and leading in twisted results .This interesting , hard-boiled film packs thrills , suspense , mayhem , and employs flashback fashion in ever-twisting directions , using that crisp Raymond Chandler narrative . The picture offers a nicely detailed production design by Dean Tavoularis who designed The Godfather . This is a remake and only a pace behind the Dick Powell original , using the novel's title from the first recreation titled ¨Murder my sweet¨(1944) by Edward Dmytryck starred by Dick Powell , Claire Trevor , Mike Mazurki and Otto Kruger . Very good acting by Robert Mitchum , even at 57 , as a down-on-his-luck detective who searches an ex-convict's sweetheart . This is a breakthrough dramatically for the great Robert Mitchum , at his best . Charlotte Rampling is stunning as a Femme Fatale and does quite a nice imitation of Lauren Bacall . Excellent support cast plenty of veteran actors as John Irekand , Sylvia Miles , Harry Dean Stanton , Anthony Zerbe and introducing the massive Jack O'Halloran . Furthermore , there's an early screen character for Silvester Stallone who along with Joe Spinell play the bad guys .Classic cinematographer John A. Alonzo prowls his camera menacingly through some wonderfully seedy neo-Forties settings . Evocative and atmospheric musical score by David Shire , including enjoyable leitmotif . This agreeable thick-ear thriller was well directed by Dick Richards , recreating compellingly this thrilling story , perhaps the most accurate of Chandler adaptations , and whose best movie this is . Furthermore , Dick gets to remain the mystery and suspense until the final . Before entering the film industry , Dick Richards was a contributing photographer for Life magazine , subsequently turning into filmmaking , he is a good craftsman who has directed a few films but of great quality , such as ¨The Culpepper Cattle¨, ¨March or die¨ , Death valley¨ and ¨Rafferty and the Gold Dust Twins ¨, in addition , he found the script for 'Tootsie' and co-produced it with Sydney Pollack . Rating : above average , essential and indispensable watching this Chandler's favorite version .

Farewell, My Lovely (1975) *** (out of 4) Private eye Phillip Marlowe (Robert Mitchum) is hired by a goon just out of prison to track down an old flame of his. As Marlowe begins to investigate he finds himself wrapped up in murder, deceit and one mysterious character after another. This here was the third version of Raymond Chandler's novel following THE FALCON TAKES OVER and MURDER, MY SWEET. The later of those two titles is considered the best of the trio but there's no question that this one here gives it a very good run for its money. One major benefit of making this story in 1975 instead of 1944 is the fact that there wasn't any Hayes Office to deal with so this version here can stay much closer to the original novel and include some major plot points including prostitution but you also get some darker language and violence. Another major factor to the success of this version is the casting of Mitchum who even at the age here was able to be one of the toughest and baddest guys you're going meet. I think it's fair to say that Mitchum was born to play this role with that laid back attitude, the perfect voice for the narration and of course you can believe him in this seedy world. Just take a look at the opening shot of him and that very look lets you know what you're in for and you can't help but crack a smile just by the way the actor's coolness comes across. The screenplay features a lot of dialogue straight from the novel and Mitchum does a very good job with this as well including a running gag about Joe DiMaggio's hit streak. It also doesn't hurt that the supporting cast features some terrific actors including Charlotte Rampling as the femme fetale who comes onto Marlowe. Sylvia Miles is also extremely good in her part as a drunk, John Ireland really packs a punch as a detective and Harry Dean Stanton is fun as a crooked cop who is constantly going against Marlowe. We even get Joe Spinell and Sylvester Stallone playing thugs. The screenplay is pretty strong from start to finish as it does a very good job at capturing the spirit of the film noir movies from the 1940s. Director Dick Richards handles the material very well and he manages to build a very good atmosphere that helps the story. The seedy Los Angeles atmosphere is very thick and mixes perfectly well with the cast. Fans of the novel should be happy with the results here but I think everyone will agree that there was no one better for Marlowe than Robert Mitchum.