One of the few Raymond Chandler film adaptations I'd not seen before, this is a generally nice little detective story that moves along well and entertains throughout. In a number of ways it's really not that far below better and better-known attempts like The Big Sleep and Farewell My Lovely, and could almost have gotten there if not for George Montgomery in the lead: he'd be fine as a generic B-movie or TV show supporting actor, but he's far too bland and ordinary to play such an iconic character as Philip Marlowe, adding nothing at all to the role to distinguish himself from much better actors like Bogart and Mitchum; he looks and sounds like he'd be more at home singing a song and building a log cabin in Seven Brides For Seven Brothers than stripping away layers of deceit and corruption in the morally-corroded city night.
So probably a little more of a failure than a success, but still worth a one-time watch to fans of the genre.
So probably a little more of a failure than a success, but still worth a one-time watch to fans of the genre.