OTR TUESDAY: Philip Marlowe - "Lonely Canyons"

"The Accusing Finger" and Other Movie Posters of 1936

 

WATCH IT HERE! Forgotten Books on Film: THE BRASHER DOUBLOON / The High Window (1947)

Last week we watched TIME TO KILL (HERE), the first film version of The High Window, and saw it turned into a vehicle for the Michael Shayne series. This time we get the real thing (sort of), but under a different title. 

On this viewing, the reason for that retitling became very clear. They were trying their damndest to remind viewers - or maybe reviewers - of THE MALTESE FALCON. First, they gave the Doubloon a history, in that previous owner had suffered mysterious deaths (there ain't nothin' like that in the book), and then swiped a famous scene from the Falcon film that I'll let you discover for yourself.

Overall, this adaptation is even less faithful than THE HIGH WINDOW. At least the earlier version retained most of the major characters. This one ignores several. There's no sign or mention of Linda Conquest, the supposed thief of the doubloon, or her pal Lois, or Lois's gangster hubby Alex Morny. The absence of all those folks calls for a lot of jiggering around with the plot.

As Marlowe, George Montgomery is no Humphrey Bogart. Or Robert Montgomery. Or Dick Powell.  Or Robert Mitchum. Or even James Garner. He's is better than Elliott Gould, but that's not saying much.  He's about on a par with TIME TO KILL's Lloyd Nolan, I suppose. Where Nolan was too happy and friendly, Montgomery is too handsome and romantic. There's no romance in the book, but this film plays it up big, with Marlowe instantly on the make for Merle Davis (Nancy Guild), and Merle considerably less strange than she's supposed to be. Montgomery acts tougher than Nolan, and that's a good thing, but seems unable to deliver a wisecrack. 

For those wondering what a real Brasher Doubloon looks like, you need look no further. I've provided a couple of pics below. No, this is not from my collection. If anyone has an extra one lying around taking up space, though, you're welcome to send it my way. I promise to give it a good home. 

The six-sheet poster just below the film does reside in my collection, though I haven't seen it in all its glory in about 30 years. It hung on my wall back then, when I took the snapshot shown here. It's a gorgeous poster, and I wish like hell I could provide a better picture, but I no longer have a wall big enough to tack it up. The sucker is over six feet tall. Along with its other defects, the pic here is marred by the reflection of the window curtains in my old apartment.

Also below, you'll see a British poster, calling it THE HIGH WINDOW.  Nice to know the limeys had the sense to release the film under its proper title. 

WATCH IT HERE! Forgotten Books on Film: THE FALCON TAKES OVER / Farewell, My Lovely by Raymond Chandler (1942)

In honor of this flick appearing on YouTube, I treated myself to another trip through Farewell, My Lovely. It had been too long, and reading it again was a real joy. 

The Falcon Takes Over, as you may know, was the first film adaptation of the novel. And it's a very loose one. The Marlowe role, of course, went to George Sanders as Gay Lawrence, aka the Falcon. The bare bones of the plot survives more or less intact, as do the main characters - and most of them even have the same names. The major exception is Mrs. Grayle (the slinky blonde of the book), reborn as Diana Kenyon. Instead of the unfaithful wife of an elderly rich dude, she's now a playful society gal. 

The film sidesteps all of the more unsavory elements of the book. The blacks-only bar of the book is a swanky white night club. When the owner is killed in the first scene, there's no question of it being merely a "shine" killing. The marijuana cigarettes of the novel are replaced by a business card. Unlike Marlowe, who does a lot of drinking, the Falcon never touches a drop before sundown (and never at all in this film). And because the blonde is single, there's no hint of adultery. In the book, she plans to do the do with Marlowe, while the most she surrenders to the Falcon is a smooch. 

There are shortcuts, of course. Marlowe's two-day ordeal, pumped full of dope in a private sanitarium, is eliminated, as are lengthy scenes on a gambling ship. Some character backstories are shifted a bit, and motivations altered, but all the same people are murdered, and everything comes out pretty much the same in the end. But it's still nowhere near as good as the first serious adaptation of the book, which came along two years later in Murder, My Sweet. 

This was my first Falcon movie, and my biggest disappointment was George Sanders. Except for a single scene, he acts bored with it all, making him the least interesting character in the film. He sleepwalks through his scenes, mumbles his lines, displaying a complete lack of personality. Luckily, he's surrounded by a lively cast and healthy helpings of comic relief. It's especially fun seeing future wagonmaster Ward Bond as Moose Malloy.

But don't believe me. See for yourself . . .

Otto Penzler Auction Results: RAYMOND CHANDLER Books

$57,500 (inscribed)

These are the prices paid in the March 14, 2019 auction of the Otto Penzler Collection on the Heritage site. Proof that some folks are a lot crazier (and richer) than me. 

$2,500

$19,375 (inscribed)

$5,250

$2,375

$3,500

$1,375

$3,000 for both 1st and 2nd printings

$4.250

$1,125

$1,500

$400 for this and the book below

$3,000

$550 for this and the two following digests

$937.50 for this and the next two books