Fresh
This is arguably the high-water mark of Hollywood's love affair with the infinitely slippery possibilities of the English language.
Tom Huddleston, Time Out
The Big Sleep
The picture they were born for!
1946 · 1h 54m · Approved
Crime, Mystery, Thriller
Directed by
Howard Hawks
Overview
Private Investigator Philip Marlowe is hired by wealthy General Sternwood regarding a matter involving his youngest daughter Carmen. Before the complex case is over, Marlowe sees murder, blackmail, deception, and what might be love.
Director and cast
- Howard Hawks Director
- Humphrey Bogart as Philip Marlowe
- Lauren Bacall as Vivian Sternwood Rutledge
- John Ridgely as Eddie Mars
- Martha Vickers as Carmen Sternwood
- Dorothy Malone as Acme Bookstore proprietress
- Louis Jean Heydt as Joe Brody
- Charles Waldron as General Sternwood
- Regis Toomey as Chief Inspector Bernie Ohls
- Sonia Darrin as Agnes Lowzier (uncredited)
- Charles D. Brown Cast
Critics on Rotten Tomatoes
Top critics, in their words
96%
Tomatometer
Fresh
The Big Sleep is wakeful fare for folks who don't care what is going on, or why, so long as the talk is hard and the action harder.
James Agee, TIME Magazine
Fresh
The Big Sleep, though, is witty and sinister, and in an odd way is a realistic portrayal of big-city life with Arabian Nights overtones.
Manny Farber, The New Republic
Fresh
Brittle Chandler characters have been transferred to the screen with punch by Howard Hawks' production and direction, providing full load of rough, tense action most of the way.
Variety Staff, Variety
Fresh
What you remember here are moments.
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
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