The Big Sleep

Screenplay by William Faulkner, Leigh Brackett, and Jules Furthman

Based on the book (same name) by Raymond Chandler

Directed by Howard Hawks

Released in 1946/Filmed in 1944, pre-release in 1945 but never in theatres

My Rating: B+

This month’s assignment for the Words Behind The Pictures Challenge was to pick one of three Humphrey Bogart film, read the screenplay and watch the movie. I picked The Big Sleep and I’m very glad I did. It was complicated and sometimes confusing but it had me re-reading, re-watching, and re-thinking the story. It was extremely enjoyable or I wouldn’t have gone to all that work. The plot was very intricate so I’m going to summarize it in a very superficial way. My apologies to Mr. Faulkner.

Based on the Raymond Chandler novel, The Big Sleep is the saga of one of detective Philip Marlowe’s cases. Marlowe (Humphrey Bogart) is hired by millionaire General Sternwood to settle the gambling debts his wild daughter, Carmen (Martha Vickers) owes to a local bookseller. Carmen’s older sister, Vivian (Lauren Bacall), suspects her father’s real motive was to find a friend who disappeared suddenly a month ago.

While sitting in his car outside the bookseller’s home, Marlowe hears gunshots and a woman’s scream. Inside the house he finds the bookseller murdered, a camera with missing film, and Carmen, stoned into oblivion. This first murder (there are seven total) sets Marlowe on a path that bounces from one bad guy to another. He confronts blackmailers, mobsters, pornographers, in his efforts to help the General. Marlowe begins to see that Vivian is right: the mysterious disappearance of the family friend seems to be at the center of everything.

The screenplay was great fun to read. It was easy to imagine that I was one of the actors preparing for the big screen. Some directions were confusing. For instance, here’s one instruction to Marlowe:

MARLOWE

(giving her a look she could chin herself on)

What does that mean? I’m guessing that’s what directors are for.

I found the screenplay and the movie often confusing. I suspect it’s because I was reading/watching it through my twenty-first century eyes. Back in the 1940′s there were so many restrictions on what movies could say or show or do that I had to seriously read between the lines. In the real world in which this story was set there were subjects that could not be shown: pornography, drug use,

The dvd I watched had two versions of The Big Sleep. On one side was a cut of the movie that was scheduled to be released to theatres in 1945 but then cancelled. Parts of the movie were re-shot and then the final movie was released in 1946. The dvd also contained portions of a documentary made by people at the UCLA Film School archives. In it was further information about the two versions and why it happened. If you are going to rent or buy this movie, try to get this one.

There were murders in the movie that were actually never resolved which is another thing that confused me. But according to the experts, it didn’t really matter. They claim what really made the movie a classic is the inter-play between Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. They most definitely had that sizzle. See what you think. Here’s a clip of my favorite part of the movie.

My thoughts after reading the screenplay:

Until now I’ve never seen this movie. I think that worked in my favor when I read the screenplay. I had no preconceived ideas about scenery or the actors or any of the little nuances seen only in a movie. In reading the screenplay without having seen the movie, I was free to create my own scenery and my own actors.

It wasn’t hard to create my own actors. This story is built around characters that are stereotypes of various high school kids. Except for the references to the shopping mall and music that was popular in the 1980′s, the screenplay could have been set in any time period. They could have happened anytime in the past seventy-five years; maybe longer than that, but I have no personal knowledge beyond seventy-five years. Here are the stereotypes I saw:

• The sexually experienced girl who gives advice to other girls
• The younger girl who sees sex as a way to be popular with boys
• The kid who is the wheeler-dealer
• The kid who gets his big identity by working at a job
• The kid who specializes in being “on” something (alcohol, drugs, marijuana, etc.)
• The jocks and the cheerleaders
• The teachers who each have their own quirky ways with students

We had these stereotypes in high school when I was a student 50 years ago. My mom talked about them in her high school 75 years ago. I know there are some additional stereotypes added from more recent generations. I’m sure you can add your own.

Fast Times at Ridgemont High follows a few featured students through the school year. The tone is light but the story covers some heavy subjects: excessive drug use, abortion, irresponsible sex, and a few more.

My thoughts after seeing the movie:

First, let me say this movie was hilarious and fun but it had a message.

Second, Sean Penn was the absolute star of this movie. I didn’t catch that it was Sean Penn until someone pointed it out and then I had to go back and look at him again. Sean Penn’s portrayal of Spicoli is the only one who exceeded my expectations. While reading the screenplay I saw the characters differently and actually I liked the characters in my head better. I wonder if that is because I read the screenplay first?

I didn’t see the movie when it came out and I honestly don’t remember my kids talking about the movie. The two oldest would have been teenagers in 1982. IF they saw it then, they probably didn’t want me to know about it. At the time I wouldn’t have approved of it for their age. But for older teens I think the exaggerated stereotypes would be fun and easy for them to relate to. I wouldn’t want younger teens to believe the moral character shown in the movie was how all teens do or should behave.

Overall, I felt my first screenplay experience was very good. If you want to dip your reading toe into screenplays, visit Michael. He provides the download of the screenplay. You have to find the movie. Just in case you were like me and didn’t see the movie, here’s the trailer for Fast Times At Ridgemont High. Enjoy.

I love to watch good movies almost as much as I love to read. I especially love it when someone makes a good movie out of one of my favorite books. I knew there were screenplays but it never occurred to me that I could read a screenplay. Michael at A Few Minutes With Michael has educated me on the subject as well as tempted me to read some. He has a new year-long challenge. Here’s how it works:

The first Saturday of every month, from September, 2009, through to August, 2010, an electronic copy of one screenplay will be made available through Michael’s blog.

Of course, the more months you complete, the more chances you’ll have for winning a collection of screenplays Michael will be awarding to one random participant in August, 2010.

The goal is to read the screenplay and then watch the movie before the end of that month and comment on what you’ve experienced.

The more screenplays you get through, the stronger you are as a reading challenger, but you only need to do one month to consider yourself to have completed this challenge.

This is an ideal challenge for those of us who love movies and want to take a closer look at screenplays or for those who want to try something new. It doesn’t cost a thing. The screenplay will be available to be read on A Few Minutes With Michael. Go to Michael’s blog and check it out. I sure hope you’ll join in on the fun.