IMDb > The Long Goodbye (1973)
The Long Goodbye
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The Long Goodbye (1973) More at IMDbPro »

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The Long Goodbye (1973) -- Trailerfan.com - Trailer (Flash)

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Overview

User Rating:
7.6/10   5,884 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 16% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Raymond Chandler (novel)
Leigh Brackett (screenplay)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Long Goodbye on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
7 March 1973 (USA) more
Tagline:
Nothing says goodbye like a bullet. more
Plot:
Detective Philip Marlowe tries to help a friend who is accused of murdering his wife. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
1 win more
User Comments:
Altman tells a story in a rhythm more (99 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Elliott Gould ... Philip Marlowe
Nina Van Pallandt ... Eileen Wade (as Nina van Pallandt)
Sterling Hayden ... Roger Wade aka Billy Joe Smith
Mark Rydell ... Marty Augustine

Henry Gibson ... Dr. Verringer
David Arkin ... Harry
Jim Bouton ... Terry Lennox
Warren Berlinger ... Morgan
Jo Ann Brody ... Jo Ann Eggenweiler
Stephen Coit ... Det. Farmer (as Steve Coit)
Jack Knight ... Mabel
Pepe Callahan ... Pepe
Vincent Palmieri ... Vince (as Vince Palmieri)
Pancho Córdova ... Doctor (as Pancho Cordoba)
Enrique Lucero ... Jefe
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Additional Details

Runtime:
112 min
Country:
Language:
Colour:
Colour (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Elliott Gould improvised the scene in police custody in which he smears fingerprint ink all over his face. more
Goofs:
Continuity: At the beginning of the film, Philip Marlowe opens the refrigerator to get food for his cat. There are two rows of eggs on the fridge's door, with one egg missing on the lower row. After a cut away scene, Philip reaches for some eggs, but now there are several eggs missing on the lower row. more
Quotes:
[Repeated Line]
Philip Marlowe: It's okay with me.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Batman (1989) more
Soundtrack:
Hooray for Hollywood more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
29 out of 36 people found the following comment useful.
Altman tells a story in a rhythm, 3 May 2003
10/10
Author: TheTwistedLiver from Chicago



Easily one of Altman's best films and an early precursor to other films later in the decade by the director. The Long Goodbye is a fine transition in style to Altmans later films like "Nashville" and "A Wedding" Elliot Gould does an outstanding job portraying the outre detective Phillip Marlowe, using his mumbling, bumbling, smart ass speaking style, as a technique to keep the film under the illusion that everything is in motion, like the ocean waves in the film, Marlowe speaks in a sort of beatnik type "Daddy-O" style combined with a smooth talking private eye, and the result works perfectly. The film works like it is timed by a metronome, it rolls along, seamlessly in a way that only Altman can achieve, and like the rhythm of the waves and Marlowe's speech, the camera is constantly in motion as well. The roving camera does an excellent job of allowing the viewer to feel as though they are witnessing more action than actually exists on screen.

Wade (Sterling Hayden) is a fantastic Hemingway-esque writer in the film. Hayden's size and booming voice, in conjunction with his alcoholism and potential brutality, lend an aroma of unpredictableness to his character. Wade's beautiful wife, who has a mysterious bruise on her face, is like a timid, loyal animal, subjected to the whims of her over bearing master. Henry Gibson, who plays Wade's doctor, is excellent as a sort of despotic mouse, who frightens an elephant into conforming to his will, this irony is one of the films intriguing, bizarre twists.

This film works well as a character study, and is one of the best films of the seventies. A must see for every student of film. 9/10

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Message Boards

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Recent Posts (updated daily)User
This movie is a joke avadhani
Criterion NiceGuyEddie75
What is Roger Wade drinking? Maxwell_Rollington
question about the Doctor hairylime
Why does she hire Marlowe? thegreenparrot
Sterling Hayden.. tidypainter
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