'The Long Goodbye'

Who? | Director, Robert Altman. Actors, Elliott Gould, Nina van Pallandt, Sterling Hyden (and a brief Arnold Schwarzenegger cameo). 

What? | We love the movie, 'The Long Goodbye.' Hard-boiled private detective Philip Marlowe (Elliott Gould) is asked by his old buddy Terry Lennox (Jim Bouton) for a ride to Mexico. Marlowe obliges, and when he returns to his LA bachelor pad, he's questioned by police about the death of Terry's wife. Marlowe remains a suspect until it's reported that Terry has committed suicide in Mexico. Marlowe doesn't buy it but takes a new case from a beautiful blond, Eileen Wade (Nina van Pallandt), who coincidentally has a past with Terry Lennox. The plot offers enough to keep you interested from beginning to end. But it's really the pacing, the cinematography and the largely improvised dialogue that keeps you in it. Here’s the trailer.

When? Where? | 'The Long Goodbye' takes place in Los Angeles, CA in 1973. 

Why do we like it? Reason 1 | Altman recreates Raymond Chandler's novel and puts his own spin on the classic LA noire. But instead of the story taking place in 1953 (the year the novel was written), it's cast 20 years later in groovy 1973. Hard-boiled private detective Philip Marlowe (Elliott Gould), however, is still firmly stuck in 1953. He drives a vintage Lincoln Continental, smokes a cigarette in every one of his scenes, wears a suit and tie throughout. During the making of the film, the crew referred to Gould's character as, 'Rip Van Marlowe.' The conceit works beautifully, and makes for a lot of genuinely funny moments. 

Why do we like it? Reason 2 | Altman makes another interesting choice regarding the movie's soundtrack. Anytime the audience hears background music of any kind, either as part of the film's score or being played by someone on screen, it's a different arrangement of the film's theme song and jazz standard, 'The Long Goodbye.' As such, there are six different credits for the film's theme song: the Dave Grusin Trio, Jack Sheldon, Clydie King, Jack Riley, the Morgan Ames' Aluminum Band, and the Tepoztlan Municipal Band.

Rating | 9.7/10 | ‘It’s ok with me.’

Reviewed By | Henry