The Big Sleep (1946)

What Genre Is It?

Noir/Crime

Why Watch The Big Sleep?

Philip Marlowe (Humphrey Bogart) finds himself caught in the midst of blackmail, murder, love, and mystery in this classic Noir. When asked by General Sternwood to investigate a blackmail case involving his youngest daughter, Carmen Sternwood, Philip Marlowe thought the case routine. However, after the blackmailer is murdered, Marlowe is baffled—even more so when the body just disappears.

There are only two clues– both in the blackmailer’s living room: a statue with a hidden camera (but no film) and a clueless Carmen who was in the room when the murder happened (but not in a clear state of mind).

The routine case gets more complicated as other suspects and other murders pull Marlowe deeper into the Sternwood family’s history and closer to the Sternwood family’s connections—particularly the connections of the two Sternwood daughters: Vivian and Carmen. Can Marlowe discover who is at the root of all these incidents before someone tries to knock him off? If Vivian is sincere, is there a chance her and Marlowe might fall in love? On the other hand, if Vivian is like her sister Carmen, how much danger could Vivian be to Marlowe as he endeavors to solve the case?

Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall are dynamic in this film. Humphrey’s humor is one of the film’s highlights, and Lauren’s ability to wrap her expressions in mystery will not fail to delight the audience. The Big Sleep is the second film starring Bogie and Bacall together.   

Behind the Scenes Fun

Memorable Quote

“I don’t mind if you don’t like my manners. I don’t like ‘em myself. They’re pretty bad. I grieve over them on long winter evenings.”

~Philip Marlowe