Farewell My Lovely [DVD] [1975]
Of all the Philip Marlowes, Robert Mitchum’s in Farewell, My Lovely resonates most deeply. That’s because this is Marlowe past his prime, and Mitchum imbues Raymond Chandler’s legendary private detective with a sense of maturity as well as a melancholy spirit. And yet there is plenty of Mitchum’s renowned self-deprecating humour and charismatic charm to remind us of his own iconic presence. As in the previous 1944 film version, Murder, My Sweet, Marlowe searches all over L.A. for the elusive girlfriend of ex-con Moose Malloy, a loveable giant who might as well be King Kong. In typical Chandler fashion, the weary Marlowe uncovers a hotbed of lust, corruption and betrayal. Like Malloy, he’s disillusioned by it all, despite his tough exterior, and possesses a tinge of sentimentality for the good old days. About the only current dream he can hold onto is Joe DiMaggio and his fabulous hitting streak. Made in 1975, a year after Chinatown (shot by the same cinematographer, John Alonzo), Farewell, My Lovely is more straightforward and nostalgic, but still possesses a requisite hard-boiled edge, and the best kind of angst the 1970s had to offer. (By the way, you will notice Sylvester Stallone in a rather violent cameo, a year before his Rocky breakthrough.) –Bill Desowitz, Amazon.com
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Review by Dundee Dave for Farewell My Lovely [DVD] [1975]
(5 / 5)
Rating:
This is surely Mitchum’s best performance. Forget the earlier glamour-boy. Crumpled, aging and seedy but with a heart of gold – Mitchum plays Marlowe with a master’s touch. The careful under-playing of the sets and the characters fills the film with a believable atmosphere of corrupt and violent late-thirties Los Angeles. The plot never falters and the twist near the end, when Moose’s girlfriend is revealed, is excellent. Charlotte Rampling oozes erotic magnetism and the supporting actors are magnificent, although Jack O’Halloran’s “Moose Malloy” seems slightly wooden and Sylvester Stallone is quite forgettable. John Ireland and Harry Dean Stanton portray the ‘honest cop’ and ‘corrupt cop’ respectively to perfection; Stanton makes you want to count the cutlery every time he leaves the scene. Sylvia Miles’s ‘Jessie Florian’ – the failed and aging starlet, alcoholic and careless off her dress and appearance, is well played too. All this, plus an excellent score and lots of little subliminal touches, re-create the time and the place so well. Splash in the bourbon, light yet another cigarette, push your hat back on your head, heave a world-weary sigh, close the curtains on the neon lights and the wailing siren – and enjoy.
Review by Dennis Littrell for Farewell My Lovely [DVD] [1975]
(4 / 5)
Rating:
The year is 1941 and Joltin’ Joe DiMaggio is on a hitting streak, and that is about the only thing in life that world-weary Philip Marlowe takes any pleasure in.This is a workman-like adaptation of the novel by Raymond Chandler. Dimple-chinned Robert Mitchum at 58, an underrated actor with charisma and star appeal, is unfortunately a bit over the hill as Chandler’s hard-nosed, realist gumshoe Philip Marlowe, especially when romancing the babes. Still he does a good job and seems almost made for the part.The main babe that needs romancing here is Charlotte Rampling who plays Helen Grayle, a scheming, trampy, psychopathic, sexy thing on the make for anything she can get. She’s the lovely who goes farewell–well, one of them.Sylvia Miles got a supporting actress Oscar nomination for her portrayal of Mrs. Florian, one-time show girl turned lush. And Sylvester Stallone, looking almost as young as a choir boy, had a bit part as an anonymous thug. Jack O’Halloran played the very dense and obsessed Moose Malloy with a steady moronic malevolence. John Ireland is the good cop and Harry Dean Stanton the bad one. Kate Murtagh is the madam from hell who likes to throw her considerable weight around.Comparing this to the original from 1944 entitled “Murder, My Sweet,” staring Dick Powell and Claire Trevor, I have to say it is more realistic and edgier, and wonderfully atmospheric, but not as enjoyable, perhaps because Mitchum seems a little dead compared to Powell. But that is entirely the point, as Chandler’s intent was to showcase a Philip Marlowe near the end of his tether, a man oppressed with the vileness of life and ready to toss it in.In either case, the convoluted plot involving the missing “Velma,” various Los Angeles dives, dead bodies aplenty, and lots of police and political corruption remains somewhat opaque but still manages to hold our interest.See this for Robert Mitchum, one of Hollywood’s greatest with over a hundred and thirty films to his credit, a man who personified nonchalance on the screen, a guy who felt equally at home in a “B” Western as in a dramatic feature, a man who mesmerized audiences with seeming indifference.
Review by Bob Isaaks for Farewell My Lovely [DVD] [1975]
(5 / 5)
Rating:
When this movie came out, I had just read all Raymond Chandler’s novels for the first time and was hooked. Mitchum captures the weary, romantic private eye perfect – and is helped out by a great cast, Charlotte Rampling, Harry Dean Stanton …besides Chinatown, the best noir-style movie of the seventies. Great pace and laden with atmosphere.
This movie made me a Mitchum-fan for life.
Philip Marlowe is in many ways a loser, and Mitchum is not afraid to
show this side of our hero, unlike so many other screen-versions of
this icon of crime novels.
Review by elizabeth for Farewell My Lovely [DVD] [1975]
(4 / 5)
Rating:
Well cast, well acted, cinema as I remember it. Strong storyline and Mitchum at his usual best.
Review by R. J. Brady for Farewell My Lovely [DVD] [1975]
(5 / 5)
Rating:
This film operates on many levels. Ostensibly it is a detective story but also it is embraces many other themes .It is an evocation of a lost era.
It deals with unrequited love, police corruption,human disillusionment and melancholy, above all it shows a semi mythical lone anti-hero who elects to abide by the chivalric code,transported to the 1930’s.
It is a much underrated movie depicting some great actors and scenes.Mitchum was born to play Marlowe.
Also the score is superb.