Tote schlafen fest

A great atmosphere, traditionally fantastic Humphrey Bogart as Philip Marlowe, good tempo and the dialogues are almost unbelievably delicious. On the other hand, it has a needlessly overcomplicated screenplay. The Big Sleep is without a doubt one of the best classic film noir movies, but there are also other better ones. But at least one thing I have to admit: The beginning of the original trailer for The Big Sleep is priceless. (20.01.2007)

No trouble, but shortly after watching the perfect Maltese Falcon, great disappointment sets in. Except for the final and incredibly suspenseful ten minutes, it is a confused story that is tripped up by the knot of supporting characters. Lonino, Eddie, Harry, Geiger, Brody, or Regan have long merged into one before the climax. The spirit of the noir is unsurprisingly carried by Bogart and the dazzling Lauren Bacall. (16.02.2006)

If we talk about the noir genre, The Big Sleep is one of the titles that comes to mind first for a film fan, and you could even say that it is a showcase of the genre. However, it is not a typical representative of the black series because noir includes bitter endings and partnerships going awry, and The Big Sleep has a too optimistic outcome for noir. The film is also weakened by two shortcomings. The final form was influenced by censorship, which did not consider the homosexual relationship between two negative characters and also discreetly concealed the nature of illegal activities in Geiger's bookstore - namely the production and distribution of pornographic materials. This, however, leads to the loss of motivations and connections important for understanding the story. The script also has its shortcomings, as, for example, it does not provide any explanation for the chauffeur's murder. However, The Big Sleep did not gain its iconic status by mistake or for free. The chemistry between Bogart and Lauren Bacall works great and could be presented as an example of an ideal film partnership. Bogart's role as Marlowe suited him perfectly, both in appearance and intonation, and he had a sense of irony and was able to lightly dismiss his detective at the right moment. The director had a sense of atmosphere and mastered the craft of filmmaking excellently. He may not have been a seeker of new paths, but he understood what works in the genre, how to properly dose it, and use it. The complexity of the story and the presence of stars helped to cover up the shortcomings of the script. Overall impression: 85%. (20.07.2017)

To my taste, an overabundant glut of characters and motivations that you can soon get lost in if you fail to pay attention for a second. On the other hand, it’s properly unpredictable and atmospheric and rewards the attention of the viewer with regular, smart twists. That said, its cult status is mostly thanks to the cynical detective played by Humphrey Bogart, who in this role, even after 70 years, is still one of the five most charismatic actors in Hollywood history; if not three. 80% (21.11.2018)

Humphrey Bogart fits perfectly into this role for me, he delivers lines wonderfully and always knows exactly what he should say. He is incredibly dry, which is absolutely necessary for the character of Phil Marlowe. He does it wonderfully and it is he - in confrontation with all those women - who gives the film direction and carries it through to a successful end. Noir as it should be. And the main character doesn't have to die in the end. (02.10.2014)