The Big Sleep

MPAA Rating

Unrated

Theatrical Release Date

Aug 30, 1946

Genre(s)

• Film Noir
• Suspense
• Thrillers
• Mystery
• Detectives
• Classics
• Femme Fatales
• Private Eyes

Rating (Stars)

Description

Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall made screen history together more than once, but they were never more popular than in this 1946 adaptation of Raymond Chandler's novel, directed by Howard Hawks (To Have and Have Not). Bogart plays private eye Philip Marlowe, who is hired by a wealthy socialite (Bacall) to look into troubles stirred up by her wild, young sister (Martha Vickers). Legendarily complicated (so much so that even Chandler had trouble following the plot), the film is nonetheless hugely entertaining and atmospheric, an electrifying plunge into the exotica of detective fiction. William Faulkner wrote the screenplay. --Tom Keogh

Director

Howard Hawks

Stars

• Humphrey Bogart
• Lauren Bacall
• John Ridgely
• Martha Vickers
• Dorothy Malone

Running Time

230 minutes

Original Price

$19.97

Current Value

$4.50

DVD Features

• Black & White
• DVD-Video
• NTSC
• 1.33:1