This 1975 version of Chandler's novel is an underrated retro Noir and can often get confused with the very poor version of
Big Sleep made only a couple of years later. Although Mitchum is much older than Marlowe was portrayed in the actual book he compensates for this in many other ways and his love of everything Noir can be felt. Director Dick Richards shoots it using deep Whiskey tones and Charlotte Rampling acts as masterful as ever. The movie also features a cameo role by that legend of Noir writers Jim Thompson.
It definitely has it's flaws but it wouldn't be a bad idea to watch this with L.A Confidential and Chinatown as more polished bookends to get close to the authentic Los Angeles which Chandler and others portayed.
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