The Long Goodbye free essay sample

The film stars Elliott Gould as Philip Marlowe, and features Sterling Hayden, Nina Van Pallandt, Jim Bouton and Mark Rydell. The film The Long Goodbye has been described as a study of a moral and decent man cast adrift in a selfish, self-obsessed society where lives can be thrown away without a backward glance and any notions of friendship and loyalty are eaningless. Robert Altman: Hollywood Survivor. Question: Does the plot of this film have unforeseen twists and turns? Is the story technique used in other film noir movies that you have seen in class? Discuss and provide examples. The Long Goodbye is a classic noir who done it filled with twist and turns from the start, with everyone spinning their lies trying to trap Phillip Marlowe. Terry Lennox hides the injuries on his fist with driving gloves. Terry then implied that he only hade a trivial fight with his wife so Marlowe wouldnt ask for details. We will write a custom essay sample on The Long Goodbye or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Terry in fact, did kill Sylvia after she found out that he was having an affair with Eileen Wade and threatened to tell the police of Terrys shady business dealings with Marty Augustine. Eileen Wade lies to Marlowe about her knowing the Lennoxs socially. Eileen also lied about Roger Wade having an affair with Sylvia Lennox to cover up her own affair with Terry Lennox and through Marlowe off the case. In the opening scene we are introduced to chain-smoking, wisecracking, privet eye, Phillip Marlowe and his long time friend, Terry Lennox. Terry is seen driving from his home in the Malibu Colony to Marlowes house, with signs of an altercation. Terry has a scratch on his cheek, and injuries to his fist, of which he covers up by wearing a pair of driving gloves. When Terry arrives, Marlowe notices Terrys face, but Terry Just plays it off as if he had another trivial fght with his wife. Terry then asks Marlowe for a lift to the Mexican boarder. The two hop in Marlowes car and drive to Tijuana. At this point, no knowledge is known about the fate of Sylvia Lenox, except for what seemed to be a minor fght with her husband Terry Lenox. Shortly after Marlowe returns home, two detectives asking questions about Terry Lenox show up at Marlowes house. The detectives arrest Marlowe, take him down to the station, and interrogate him. Marlowe learns that Sylvia Lenox is dead and Terry Lenox is the prime suspect. Upon Marlowes release from his three-day stay in Jail, he sees one of the detectives that interrogated him and questions the detective for information. Marlowe learns that Terry Lenox was affiliated was a mob boss, Marty Augustine. Furthermore, police were claiming the case was solved due to the fact that Terry Lenox committed suicide in Mexico, but not before leaving a suicide note admitting to the murder of his wife. However, Terrys body was never found. We dont know how or why Terry killed his wife. We dont really know if she is actually alive or not and/or how Terry is connected to Mr. Augustine at this point. Nonetheless, Marlowe is more than skeptical of this so called open and shut case and is determined to find out what really transpired. In the meantime, Marlowe is hired by Eileen Wade to find her missing husband Roger Wade, an alcoholic novelist with writers block. Marlowe investigates Malibus sub-culture of private detoxification clinics for rich alcoholics and drug addicts. In the proses of locating Roger Wade in a Malibu rehab clinic. Marlowe questions three women at the front desk about Roger Wade they tell Marlowe that there is no one by that name there. Marlowe then inquires about a Dr. Verringer they claimed he was out of town. Marlowe replys with his catch fraise Its all right by me, and infiltrates the rehab anyway. Phillip Marlowe finds Dr. Verringer trying to extort money from Roger Wade. we learn that Roger checked into the clinic on his own will. Nonetheless, Roger Wade was unable to leave on his own will and was kept heavily medicated. Marlowe returns Roger Wade back to his home in the Malibu colony. Soon after Marlowe returns home, he is meet by Marty Augustine and his thugs. Augustine and his gang begin to interrogate Marlowe and search his home for the 350,000 that Marty Augustine claims Terry Lennox stole from him. Marty Augustine: miour friend was a murder and a thief. Phillip Marlowe: Thats a lie. I know he didnt kill her. Augustine then Brutally attacked his own mistress Just to show Marlowe what would happen to him if he didnt find the money, saying: Her, I love. You, I dont even like. Marty Augustine leaves and heads for Roger and Eileen Wades house. Marlowe tails Augustine and sees Marty Augustine talking to Eileen Wade. Although the conversation was not heard, Marlowe now knows that there is a connection between the Lennoxs, Wades and Augustine. The next day Marlowe goes to see the Wades to find the connection between the wades and Marty Augustine. Roger wade said he didnt know terry Lennox and claimed that Marty Augustine owes him 50,000. At this point its hard to know whom to believe. Later that night a drunk Roger Wade commits suicide by swimming out into the ocean. After the police arrive, Eileen Wade lies and claims that Roger Wade was having an affair with Sylvia Lennox and may have killed her. Marlowe reports this information to the detective on the scene who informs Marlowe that the police were aware that Roger Wade saw Sylvia Lennox, they know when he left and when he checked into Dr. Verringers rehab clinic. Marlowe receives a letter with a 5,000-dollar bill arrives from Terry Lennox, sent from Mexico. On suspicions that Terry is still alive, Marlowe heads down to Mexico to get some answers. Soon After arriving in Mexico, Marlowe finds the Doctor and the police chief that found Terry Lennox dead. The Doctor and the Police chief both claim that Terry Lennox death was a suicide. Marlowe returns home only to be eet by Marty Augustine and his thugs. Augustines thugs start stripping off Marlowes close and expose a S dollar b Augustine immediately suspects Marlowe of lying about the whereabouts of his money. Right before things go from bad to worse and Marlowe is about to get stabbed, the missing money reappears and Marlowe is free to go. On his his way out, Augustine gives Marlowe back the 5,000- dollar bill and says, here, for your troubles, and if your in the neighborhood stop by some time. Marlowe replys Oh yeah, thanks a lot, especially since my fairy godmother came and dropped your three hundred and fifty grand back into your ap. It is clear to Marlowe that Terry Lennox is alive as a result of the letter with the 5,000-dollar bill and the money having been returned to Marty Augustine. Marlowe returns to Mexico for the second time and bribes the Mexican police and the Doctor with the 5,000-dollar bill that Terry sent him. Marlowe finds out that the suicide was staged and Terry is in Mexico somewhere. Marlowe finds Terry Lennox alive and well laying on a hammock. Terry confesses everything to Phillip. He told Marlowe how he was running money for Marty Augustine, his affair with Eileen Wade and the murder of his wife Sylvia. Terry says to Marlowe, Terry Lennox: I was in a bind. I needed help. Nobody cares. Phillip Marlowe: Nobody cares but me. Terry Lennox: Well thats you, Marlowe. Youll never learn youre a born loser. Phillip Marlowe: mieah, I even lost my cat. Marlowe shoots Terry, spits on the ground, and walks away. In the last scene Marlowe passes Eileen Wade on her way to Terry Lennox. Eileen slows down to catch a second glimpse of Marlowe walking the other way and had a realization. Terry, Sylvia, and Roger are now dead, and everyone lost in the end. The Long Goodbyes storytelling technique is very similar to that of the film Out of the Past (1947). Both male leads Phillip Marlowe and Jeff Bail y were privet detectives hired to find their employers spouse. Both were dragged through the under belly of society, being double-crossed at every turn and lead astray by everyone they come in contact with. In the film out of the Past, a small-town gas station owner with mysterious past is hired to by a criminal Whit Sterling to find a woman named Kathie who shot Whit and stole $40,000 from him. Jeff locates Kathie in Acapulco. Nonetheless, Kathie tells Jeff that she didnt steal the $40,000 and confesses her love for him. The two run away from Whit to an Isolated cabin in the woods. Jeffs former partner Fisher finds the couple hiding out in the cabin. Kathie guns down him down and Jeff buried the body. Meanwhile, Jeff finds a deposit slip in the amount of $40,000 in Kathies purse and leaves her. But, when Jeff inevitably meets Whit, he finds out that Kathie is living with Whit. Whit Request one more Job from Jeff to release Jeff from his debt. However, Jeff finds out that Whit was framing him. Question: Is the seeker-hero of this film on a quest? Is he tested, interrogated, attacked, and/or persecuted? Does he emerge safely from this ordeal and uncorrupted and strong? Or is he killed? Explain, providing examples. Phillip Marlowe is on a quest to prove his friends innocence both to the police and himself. Marlowes is physically attacked and persecuted by two detectives that arrive at Marlowes house upon his return from dropping off Terry. Det. Green and det. Dayton physically man handle Phillip as they attempt to question him about Terry Lennox. However, Marlowe replys, look guys, I dont nave to answer any Questions unless you guys have a specific charge. Det. Green signals to Det. Dayton to push Marlowe into Det. Greenly and arrest Marlowe on a trumpet up assault charge. The detectives take Marlowe to the police station to interrogate him. During the interrogation Marlowe only responses are sarcastic cynical remarks to their questions like, Detective: What are you doing here Marlowe? Phillip Marlowe: well Im here cause Im gettin ready for the big game Saturday. You know, were playing Notre Dame and I hope I catch a touchdown pass. The only time Marlowe becomes concerned is when he hears that Sylvia Lennox was murdered and Terry Lennox was the main suspect. The detectives become frustrated with Marlowe and send him to a holding cell for three days. Phillip Marlowe is tested when he is hired by Eileen Wade to find her missing husband Roger Wade. When asking about the details of Roger Wade, Eileen tells Marlowe This isnt the first time this has happened. My husband has a drinking problem. Eileen shows Marlowe a letter to a mysterious Doctor V asking for help. In the course of investigating Mrs. Wades missing-husband case, Marlowe visits a Malibu private detoxification clinic for rich alcoholics and drug attacks. There he finds three unhelpful nurses and a doctor. Marlowe shows them a picture of Roger and asks if they have seen or herd of him. All three nurses claim that nobody by that name or anyone who looked like that was there. Marlowe infiltrates he rehab anyway and to no ones surprise, finds Roger Wade. A known gangster Marty Augustine and his henchmen later visit Phillip Marlowe. Augustines henchman punches Marlowe after he makes a wisecrack about only seeing hoods by appointment. After questioning Marlowe about Terry Lennox and a missing $350,000 that Terry stole, Marty Augustine brings an atmosphere of mobility when making a point to Marlowe by smashing a coke bottle on his mistresss face and saying Her I love. You, I dont even like! This violent display shocked even the henchmen. Augustine tells Marlowe to find the money or else! Marlowe receives a $5,000-dollar ill from Terry Lennox leaving Marlowe suspicious that Terry might still be alive somewhere in Mexico. Nevertheless, Augustine catches up with Marlowe a second time. This time Augustine demands that Marlowe strip down and get naked. Marlowe refuses but Martys thugs pull off his Jacket to reveal a $5,000-dollar bill. Augustine immediately assumes that Marlowe and Terry are in cahoots together and commands one of his goons to Stick Marlowe. It seems as if Marlowes death is inevitable. Just in the nick of time, one of Augustines hoodlums informs Marty Augustine that the money was mysteriously dropped off. Marlowe was attacked, tested, persecuted, and interrogated by Dr. Verringer, Eileen Wade, the police, and Marty Augustine. However, Marlowes cynical attitude and sarcastic attitude toward the world remained fixed and unwavering. Phillip Marlowe survived his ordeal with Marty Augustine and the Police. However, Marlowe did shoot and kill Terry Lennox in the end. This can be viewed as Marlowe decent into corruption or Justice for Sylvia Lennox Question: What is the world view of this noir film, or rather, what is the films attitude toward humanity and the human condition, as expressed by the films writer and director? Explain, providing examples. The story and plot ot the 1973 cinematic adaptation deviate drastically trom those ot the 1953 novel; screenplay writer Leigh Brackett took many literary liberties with the story, plot, and characters of The Long Goodbye in adapting it. The Long Goodbye satirizes the changes in culture between the 1950s. Such as Phillip Marlowe working for Fifty bucks a day. A wage a privet eye would be charging in the 1950s. Marlowes chain-smoking, contrasted with a health-conscious California in which no one else in the movie smokes, is cited as another example of Marlowes incongruity with his surroundings. Altman did not read Chandlers entire book, but instead utilized Raymond Chandler Speaking, a collection of letters and essays. He gave copies of this book to the cast and crew, advising them to study the authors literary essays. However, Altman and Brackett did spend a copious amount of time discussing the plot and ending. Altman wanted Marlowe to be a loser. He even nicknamed Phillip Marlowes character Rip Van Marlowe, as if he was asleep for twenty years, woke up, and wandered around Los Angeles in the early 1970s but trying to invoke the morals of a previous era. Altman conceived of the film as a satire and made several changes to he script, like having Roger Wade commit suicide and having Marty Augustine smash a Coke bottle across his girlfriends face. Altman said, it was supposed to get the attention of the audience and remind them that, in spite of Marlowe, there is a real world out there, and it is a violent world. Question: Who are the male villains of this film? Are they corrupt? What has corrupted them? Explain, providing examples. The male villains of this film are Marty Augustine, his gang, the police, Dr. Verringer, and Terry Lennox. Using their authority weather it is lawful or otherwise, hese men used tactics like intimidation, manipulation, deceit, physical violence, and/ or all of the above to achieve their goals. Marlowe is first unknowingly conned by Terry Lennox into helping him escape from the murder of his wife with $350,000 dollars that doesnt belong to him. Upon Marlowes return home, he is ensnared by two corrupt detectives asking questions about Terry Lennox. Detective Green and Detective Dayton begin questioning Marlowe but he is uncooperative saying, l know how it works, I dont have to answer any questions unless you have a specific charge, and you dont have a specific charge. Det. Green signals to Det. Dayton to push Marlowe into Det. Green so they can arrest him with a charge. After he is released, Marty Augustine and his thugs confront Marlowe. Marlowe up to this point was unaware of the $350,000 that Lennox stole. Marty Augustine breaks a glass coke bottle over his own mistresss face to show Marlowe the consequences of crossing him. Phillip Marlowe is then hired by Eileen Wade to find her missing alcoholic husband Roger Wade. In the mites of investigating the missing Roger Wade, Marlowe meets Dr. Verringer. Verringer attempts to manipulate and deceive Phillip Marlowe in believing that Roger Wade is not under Dr. Verringers care nor has he ever seen or meet Roger Wade. Marlowe is does not buy into the doctors story and rescues Roger Wade and takes him home. Marlowe receives a letter in the mail from Terry Lennox with a $5,000 dollar-bill saying, Im sorry. Signed Terry. Soon atter Marty Augustine visits Phillip Marlowe once more, threatening and interrogating him again. Augustine finds the $5,000 dollar-bill and commands one his henchmen to Stick Marlowe with a knife. Nevertheless, the stolen $350,000 dollars was mysteriously returned Just in time and Marlowe was free to go. Marlowe heads to Mexico and uses the $5,000 dollar bill to ribe the Mexican police and doctor into revealing what really happened to Terry Lennox as well as where Terry was. Marlowe finds Lennox alive and well lying on a hammock. Terry Lennox confesses how he killed his wife, stole $350,000 dollars from Marty Augustine and used Marlowe as the fall guy. The Villains of this film distort the line between good and evil from a clear distention of black and white to an ambiguous grey line. There was not a genuine difference between the behavior from Marty Augustine to the police detectives that arrested and interrogated Marlowe. Both parties used violence and intimidation to achieve their goals.