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: TIME TO KILL / The High Window by Raymond Chandler (1942)

I just read The High Window again. Damn, Chandler was good. And TIME TO KILL, the first film version - while a long, long way from being half as good - ain't bad either. 

Having done several of these book-to-film comparisons over the past few weeks, it's pretty much what I've come to expect. The basic plot is intact, with many corners cut. Some of the main characters retain their names, while others were changed. A few minor characters are missing. There are several surprising scenes where Chandler's dialogue was lifted directly from the book. 

Lloyd Nolan, of course, is not playing Philip Marlowe. He's supposed to be Mike Shayne. It seemed odd to me that with so many Shayne novels and stories out there, they would borrow one from Raymond Chandler. A quick check, though, revealed that prior to 1942 there had already been six Shayne films - but only five novels and two stories. The rest of Shayne's long career was still ahead of him.

Having read only a couple of Shayne stories (one by Halliday and one by James Reasoner), I can't really judge Nolan's performance in that role. As a Marlowe substitute, though, he's just too friendly. He's nice to everybody, good, bad and inbetween, and rarely drops a cutting remark. Likeable, sure, but not in a Marlowe way. 

I suppose it's time to take another look at THE BRASHER DOUBLOON, with George Montgomery wearing the Marlowe shoes. If I do, you'll hear about it here next week. 

Have you missed any of our Forgotten Books on Film? Here's what's gone before . . . 

Apr. 3: MEET NERO WOLFE / Fer-de-lance

Apr. 10: THE LEAGUE OF FRIGHTENED MEN

Apr. 17: THE WESTLAND CASE / Headed for a Hearse

Apr. 24: LADY IN THE MORGUE

May 1: THE FRENCH KEY

May 15: THE GLASS KEY

May 22: THE FALCON TAKES OVER / Farewell, My Lovely

May 29: WOMAN IN THE DARK