The Long Goodbye (1973)

Los Angeles private investigator Philip Marlowe (Elliott Gould) helps a friend (Jim Bouton) in trouble cross the border into Mexico. The police later inform him that his friend's wife was found beaten to death and the friend is suspected of her murder. When the friend later confesses to the murder before committing suicide, it would seem to be the end of the case. But it's not and as Marlowe investigates further, a terrible truth emerges. Based on the novel by Raymond Chandler and directed by Robert Altman (NASHVILLE). THE LONG GOODBYE is one of those films which received a hostile reception on its initial release by both critics (Pauline Kael and Roger Ebert were exceptions) and the public. Posterity has been kind and the film is now regarded as a genre classic of its kind, a revisionist look at the private eyes of 40s and 50s film noir. Leigh Brackett, who co-wrote the 1946 film of Chandler's THE BIG SLEEP, updates the novel to contemporary L.A. and converts Marlowe from a tough talking private eye to an idealistic mensch. Brackett simplifies and pares down Chandler's convoluted plot and comes up with a terrific ending not in the book. Chandler purists may grumble at what Altman has done to Marlowe but I found the movie distinctive and with a sly wit. The excellent cast includes Sterling Hayden, Nina Van Pallandt, Mark Rydell, Henry Gibson, Warren Berlinger, David Arkin and Arnold Schwarzenegger.