I haven't seen _Farewell My Lovely_ in quite a long time, but
my impression was very favorable the two times I did see it.
Mitchum provides solidity within a plot that is not
distinguished (the novel is not a marvel of plot). And the
English actress Charlotte Rampling is wonderful. If this
actress has ever been less than stellar, I have missed
it.
Sometimes I think it would be better to film some of the
great Chandler short stories, like Bay City Blues, rather
than the patchwork novels that Chandler put together from
them.
In any case, I think the time for making Chandler movies
which preserve the verbosity of the novels is past. You would
only succeed in making a period piece or a piece of pastiche.
The main strength of Chandler the author is words, but his
second strength is place, atmosphere, and his third strength
is humor, and his fourth strength is well-timed explosive
action -- which is far more compact and effective in the
short stories.
Anyway, I realize I'm rambling.
Best,
mrt
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