The Big Sleep is known as one of the greatest Film Noir films ever (whether or not you agree that it is actually supposed to be in the Noir category). But, oddly enough, one of the reasons why it’s so great is because the plot is so crazy.
To summarize the movie, The Big Sleep, based on the Raymond Chandler pulp novels, follows private detective Philip Marlowe as he tracks down a killer and a blackmailer. That’s the short version. For the long version, you’ll have to search for it on Wikipedia, because it really makes no sense.
The convoluted plot, a well-constructed piece of construction as it is, is one of the reasons the film is so great. You get wrapped up in trying to figure out who killed whom, and the film becomes more interactive and fun. Also, the acting Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall did for their characters, Marlowe and Mrs. Vivian Rutledge, is a treat to watch. In fact, this is the movie which started the off-screen relationship between Bogart and Bacall,which would lead to their marriage.
For old-school movie fans, this film has everything you could ask for-crime, femme fatales, sharp and witty banter, smoky atmospheres, and strange, unraveling mysteries. This is a must-watch movie-make sure to catch it on Turner Classic Movies or DVD when you get the chance.
[...] The Big Sleep [...]