A number of reviews love to trash this version by comparing it to the Bogart/Bacall original but it’s really an apples to oranges comparison. They are two very different films removed by a generation from each other. The 1946 version is a classic Hollywood film noir that is loaded with atmosphere but heavily waters down the story and makes its biggest mistake by removing Marlowe’s first person narration. The 1978 version transplants the story to London and updates the setting to make it contemporary. While this is jarring at first, I got used to it quickly much like an updated version of Shakespeare. The setting may be changed but Chandler is still Chandler and this version restores the Marlowe narrative which is well delivered by Robert Mitchum.
Director Michael Winner stated that there was no way to remake a period version of the ’46 Howard Hawks original so that’s why he went with the updated one. It was also a way to keep costs down as the bulk of the budget went to pay the performers. It’s important to note that despite having Robert Mitchum, James Stewart, and Richard Boone for the U.S market this is essentially a British film made for a British/European audience who don’t bring along a lot of classic film noir baggage. Although Sarah Miles is miscast and has the worst bad hair day ever (I agree with another reviewer who said that she and Joan Collins should have swapped roles), I think Candy Clark does an admirable job with an impossible role and is better than most of her notices.
The real reasons for me to have this version are to see Mitchum, have the original storyline restored and to enjoy the supporting players. Jimmy Stewart was old and frail when he made this movie but he brings a melancholy dignity to General Sternwood. Although clearly in his cups in one of his last film appearances, Richard Boone can still manage to muster serious menace with just a touch of black humor (singing “Frankie & Johnny” after dispatching Joan Collins’ lover). As for Joan, this is right before DYNASTY and it’s easy to see that she was more than ready for prime time. Brit thespians Edward Fox, Colin Blakely, John Mills, and especially Oliver Reed as Eddie Mars bring assurance and a touch of class to the proceedings.
I originally had the old full frame Aritisan DVD release which was taken from an old Pioneer laserdisc and it wasn’t bad but it was also all there was. This new Shout Factory release is clearly superior as it has a better overall picture quality and it features a number of extras that were only available on the Region 2 release up until now. Shout Factory has also released Mitchum’s earlier FAREWELL MY LOVELY for those of you who want the period piece approach to Philip Marlowe. Don’t get me wrong, I love the 1946 version but I found this version to be just as entertaining unlike Robert Altman’s updated version of THE LONG GOODBYE with Elliot Gould. I’ll also mention James Garner’s contemporary MARLOWE from 1969 which also works and is well worth checking out.
The Capsule Critic 