Description: Robert Mitchum stars as Philip Marlowe, Raymond Chandler's classic hard-boiled detective. Marlowe's case begins when he is hired by an ex-con to locate his missing sweetheart, Velma. No sooner has Marlowe's search begun than he's beaten unconscious and wakes up next to a corpse. Marlowe's being framed for the murder and he has to clear his name. But what does this have to do with the missing Velma? Marlowe soon finds himself caught between a beauty and a beast as he doggedly follows every clue looking for answers. His quest takes him from the swankiest of nightclubs to the darkest of back alleys. This is Los Angeles in all its 1940's film-noir glory. This is Raymond Chandler at his best and Robert Mitchum in the role of a lifetime. Robert Mitchum, Charlotte Rampling
Amazon.com: 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's plenty of Mitchum's renowned self-deprecating humor 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 lovable 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 '70s had to offer. (By the way, you'll notice Sylvester Stallone in a rather violent cameo, a year before his Rocky breakthrough.) --Bill Desowitz
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Rating: - My All-Time Favorite Film of the Genre
Robert Mitchum, Sylvia Miles, Charlotte Rampling, Harry Dean Stanton, Jack O'Halloran, John Ireland and Sylvester Stallone,among others - what a lineup. Of the entire genre of film noir, tough guy detective films, this one is by far the best. Mitchum is at his all time best, even though he's nearly sixty in this film (a bit old to play Marlowe, in my opinion, but he carries it off with absolute aplomb). He is the quintessential tough guy gumshoe Marlowe (he floors Dick Powell's previous characterization of the role), Sylvia Miles and Charlotte Rampling turn in flawless performances, and in fact Sylvia Miles received a well-deserved Oscar nod for hers. John Ireland and Harry Dean Stanton also gave marquee performances as well. Even young Sylvester Stallone is a surprise. But another one that stands out for me personally is the absolutely perfectly cast Jack O'Halloran as Moose Malloy. He plays the uber-big ... Read More
Rating: - one of the best!
I am now trying to purchase this movie, it looks like I can only get it in used VHS form. (I cant wait any longer for it on DVD, but will definately buy it again when it is available on DVD WS).
But I will forever remember this movie as a young teen, sitting in the theatre, when it first came out in the 1970's. I sat and watched it over and over and over again! I've always loved Robert Mitchum, always loved Film Noir and this Movie has it all. Mitchum was a great actor and this is by far his greatest role, his greatest acting in his long career. The acting, the cinematography, the music, all great! Yes, lots of previous versions from the 30's, etc which were also good, but this one is NOT good, it is GREAT! This could have been and has the exact great look of a 30's, 40's, 50's noir. I cant say enough about this flick, so I'll stop now! If you like film noir, Robert mitchum, mysteries, an excellent movie, then ... Read More
Rating: - They don't make films like that anymore
L.A. of June 1941 as it was depicted in the Raymond Chandler's novel of the same title is filled with the dark secrets of the past that better stay uncovered. Philip Marlow, PE (Robert Mitcum) takes a job to find a vanished girlfriend of the felon Moose Malloy, and he has no idea what will follow. As Marlow searches for Velma Galento, he has to deal with a beautiful but cold and calculating seductress (Charlotte Rampling - young, sensual and dangerous), a jealous corrupt detective (Stanton), an old alcoholic girlfriend (Sylvia Miles in one of her two Oscar nominated performances, second - the shortest in the history of Oscars, for "Midnight Cowboy"), and a buffed thug (Sylvester Stallone -- it was fun to see him before he became a star of Rocky and Rambo).
This adaptation of Raymond Chandler novel features action, suspense, humor, mystery and Robert Mitchum in one of his best performances as a man struggling ... Read More
Rating: - FIND MY VELMA, PLEASE
Phillip Marlowe, Raymond Chandler's classic noir hard-boiled private detective forever literarily associated with Los Angeles and its means streets is right at home here in his search for the inevitable `missing woman' (`dame' for the non-politically correct types) of an ex-convict who will not take no for an answer. And a `missing woman" who wants to stay missing and will not take no for an answer. There is plenty of sparse but function dialogue, physical action and a couple of plot twists, particularly around the identity of the above-mentioned `dame' that caught me off guard. Give me those background oil derricks churning out the wealth while looking for Rusty Regan in Big Sleep or the run down stucco flats in pursue of Moose's Velma in Farewell, My Lovely any day. As always with Chandler you get high literature in a plebian package. Robert Mitchum is just the right actor at that point in his career where his profile ... Read More
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- My All-Time Favorite Film of the Genre
- They don't make films like that anymore
