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The Big Sleep poster

The Big Sleep

CrimeThrillerMystery
1946, 1h 54min
Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall ignite the screen in this classic film noir adaptation of Raymond Chandler's first novel, The Big Sleep (published in 1939), in which he first introduced L.A. private eye Philip Marlowe. Bogart plays Chandlers' legendary gumshoe and director Howard Hawkes serves up snappy character encounters (particularly involving Lauren Bacall) with a brisk pace and atmosphere galore in this certified classic. When Marlowe accepts the blackmail case of one of Los Angeles' wealthiest men, his probe leads deep into a web of lies, drugs, pornography and murder woven around his client's two beautiful daughters. But Marlowe's most startling discovery is his inexorable attraction to one of the sisters (played by Bacall). This was the first Bogart/Bacall film released after their 1945 marriage, which lasted until Bogart's death in 1957.
Country: United States
Director:
Howard Hawks
Cast:
Bess Flowers,
Bob Steele,
Regis Toomey,
Emmett Vogan
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Ratings

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IMDb rating Visit page
IMDb rating 7.9
Critic rating Average critic rating
Critic rating 9

Reviews

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Kasper Løvborg
rated 10

Bogart IS Marlowe. And the dialogue is this freaking cool: "I don't mind if you don't like my manners, I don't like them myself. They are pretty bad. I grieve over them on long winter evenings."

3 years ago
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Critic Kim Newman
rated 10

...it remains a classic, wholly lovable movie, deploying Chandler’s large and picturesque supporting cast to exceptional effect...

Read full review at Empire
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Critic Eric Diedrichs
rated 8

...en av filmhistoriens främsta film-noirrullar.

Read full review at Filmtopp

Cast & Crew

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Howard Hawks
Director
Bess Flowers
As Woman with Bumped Man
Bob Steele
As Lash Canino
Regis Toomey
As Chief Inspector Bernie Ohls
Emmett Vogan
As Ed - Deputy Sheriff (uncredited)
Theodore von Eltz
As Arthur Gwynn Geiger (uncredited)
William H. O'Brien
As Waiter (uncredited)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Big Sleep about? Toggle content

Philip Marlowe, a private detective in Los Angeles, is hired by General Sternwood to investigate his daughter Carmen's gambling debts. Marlowe discovers that Carmen's blackmailer, Arthur Geiger, has been murdered and the body has disappeared. He follows leads to a pornographer's apartment and a gambler's hideout, where he encounters Vivian Sternwood and her sister Carmen. Marlowe becomes embroiled in a web of murder and blackmail as he tries to uncover the truth behind Geiger's death. He chases down suspects and uncovers hidden motives, all while navigating his attraction to Vivian. The case takes unexpected turns as Marlowe delves deeper into the seedy underworld of LA nightclubs and crime bosses.

Where can I stream The Big Sleep? Toggle content

You can stream The Big Sleep on:

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Rakuten TV, 
Sky Store, 
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What movies are similar to The Big Sleep? Toggle content

Some movies that have similar genres and were produced around the same time as The Big Sleep include The Lady from Shanghai, Trapped, Gaslight, The Maltese Falcon, Crossfire, Cover Up.

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The Lady from Shanghai poster
The Lady from Shanghai
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Trapped poster
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Gaslight poster
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The Maltese Falcon poster
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Crossfire poster
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Cover Up poster
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The Man Who Cheated Himself poster
The Man Who Cheated Himself
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