Steiner's Digest

Raymond Chandler’s Philip Marlowe is the quintessential hard-boiled detective.

Although Dashiell Hammett’s Continental Op and Sam Spade preceded him, Marlowe’s first appearance in „The Big Sleep“ (1939)
set the definitive standards for what his kind was and is supposed to be like: tough, incorruptible, stoically brave, sometimes to the point of self-destruction, deeply disillusioned, yet driven by an unrelenting love of truth and a rare sense of personal dignity.

Marlowe is larger than life. While his stories are filled with action, mystery, and dubious characters, it is primarily Marlowe himself who captivates readers.

He acts with uncompromising honesty and logic, embodying the bravery many aspire to but fear the consequences of. Marlowe bears the burden of moral integrity, an old-fashioned hero navigating an unheroic world.

This contrast between Marlowe and his environment creates a compelling tension that draws readers in. Yet, his laconic, streetwise perspective keeps the narrative grounded, preventing it from drifting into the lofty realm of classic tragedy, even though Chandler’s works are indeed literary masterpieces.

Marlowe is acutely aware of human frailty and accepts it stoically. However, he transcends these weaknesses. This makes it challenging to adapt his adventures to the screen satisfactorily.

While many films and TV shows have successfully recreated the corrupt world Marlowe inhabits and the colorful characters he encounters, they often falter in portraying Marlowe himself. His character is too complex and grand for any real human being to fully embody.

Several prominent actors have attempted the role. Humphrey Bogart perhaps came closest, despite being physically smaller and more slender than Chandler’s Marlowe. Bogart effectively conveyed Marlowe’s toughness and dogged determination to solve cases at any cost. However, his portrayal lacked the philosophical acceptance of the world’s corruption and the deep, unspoken inner life that Chandler hints at in his novels.

Robert Mitchum, James Caan, and, more recently, Liam Neeson have all taken on the role in „Farewell, My Lovely“ (1975)*, „Poodle Springs“ (1998), and „Marlowe“ (2022), respectively. While these actors were older than Marlowe is traditionally portrayed, they brought a stoic, experienced quality to the character and added a layer of humanity and tenderness not overtly present in the novels.

James Garner’s portrayal in the 1969 adaptation of „The Little Sister“ (Title: „Marlowe“) was likable but lacked authenticity as Marlowe. Moreover, Garner’s performance reminded audiences that Marlowe’s brand of heroism was even more outdated by then.

Powers Boothe, who played Marlowe in the 1983-1986 TV series „Philip Marlowe, Private Eye,“ struggled with the role. His smooth appearance, unconvincing tough-guy act, and wooden movements failed to capture Marlowe’s energy and complexity.

Robert Altman recognized Marlowe’s anachronistic nature. His brilliant solution was to make the idea of Marlowe as a relic of a bygone era the central theme of his 1973 adaptation of „The Long Goodbye“. This approach revitalized the original tension between a man of honor and loyalty and a world that doesn’t give a dime about his values, even exploits them.

Altman’s film is a masterpiece, capturing the essence of Chandler’s Marlowe by radically altering his external traits while preserving his core integrity and unwavering moral code. Marlowe moves in a confusing world, much like Chandler’s original character, but in a comical, almost tragicomic manner. It shifts the “tough-guy” attributes to another character, the Hemingwayesque writer Roger Wade, who succumbs to depression, alcoholism, and ultimately, the sea.

Yet, Gould’s Marlowe survives, unchanged, demonstrating that even larger-than-life heroes can evolve, or perhaps, that their steadfast nature is their true strength.

*Mitchum played Marlowe again in Michael Winner’s „The Big Sleep“ (1978). While the film is entertaining, Winner’s decision to set it in England makes it an odd, almost eccentric exception. Marlowe just doesn’t work outside of L.A.