The Big Sleep (1978)

30% of users liked it
(1,391 ratings)

Robert Mitchum reprises his role as Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlowe from Farewell, My Lovely, in this misconceived remake of Howard Hawks's classic 1946 film -- transferring the setting from 1940s California to 1970s London. Marlowe is hired by a rich and dying General Sternwood (James Stewart) to… More Robert Mitchum reprises his role as Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlowe from Farewell, My Lovely, in this misconceived remake of Howard Hawks's classic 1946 film -- transferring the setting from 1940s California to 1970s London. Marlowe is hired by a rich and dying General Sternwood (James Stewart) to find out who is blackmailing him. Marlowe then meets Sterwood's daughters -- the crazy and degenerate Camilla (Candy Clark) and the more even-tempered Charlotte (Sarah Miles). Opening up a can of worms, Marlowe unveils a collection of unsavory characters -- Eddie Mars (Oliver Reed), an inveterate gambler having an affair with Charlotte; Joe Brody (Edward Fox), Camilla's ex-lover; and Agnes (Joan Collins), a sexy bookstore clerk. The plot becomes even more chaotic when it is found that Camilla has been posing in the nude for pornographer Arthur Geiger (John Justin). When Geiger turns up dead, Camilla becomes implicated in Geiger's murder. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 39 min.
Directed By: Michael Winner
Written By: Michael Winner
Genres: Drama, Art House & International, Mystery & Suspense

On DVD: Aug 22, 2000

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Unnecessary but still enjoyable color remake.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
The problem with the film, more than anything, is getting beyond the idea of it not being Bogie and Bacall up there on the screen.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Robert Mitchum's wry and worldly depiction of Marlowe, an intrepid detective, carries the movie.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Ken S

Thoroughly underwhelming
Steve B

Is it wrong to bring Marlowe into the present? No. But it IS wrong to move him to London. Mitchum makes a great Marlowe, but this movie just doesn't cut it. Stick with Farewell, My Lovely for your Mitchum-as-Marlowe fix.