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Chandler's life:
Raymond Thornton Chandler was born on 23rd July 1888 in Chicago, Illinois. He spent his youth in Britain, but he became an American citizen in 1956 again. In 1924 Raymond married Pearl Cecily Hurlburt. His first book was published in 1933. He got an award of the Mystery writers of America in 1954.
Raymond Chandler died on 26th March in 1959.
Characters:
Philip Marlow is a private detective and the main character in the book. He is 33 years old, tall and quite good looking. In the film we see that he smokes a lot and he drinks very much alcohol, so Marlow makes a cool impression and also the way he reacts in a situation. When we observe the dialogs we see, that Marlow is very quick-witted; he always knows an answer and he often has the last word. He isn't afraid of showing no respect to his opponents and gives others ( like Vivien ) often impudent answers. He doesn't obey orders and for this reason he got fired when he was a policeman. Nevertheless he is a trustworthy and reliable loner who finishes everything he has started; for example when he wants to find Rusty Regan although nobody pays him or wants him to do this.
General Sternwood is a very rich war veteran and Marlow's client. He is 70 years old and paralysed, so he has to sit in a wheelchair. He lives in a big villa with his two daughters, Carmen and Vivien, and his butler Norris. His wife is dead. I think he has a boring life, because he has nothing to do. Even the money is administered by his butler; when and how much his daughters get, for example. He enjoys sitting in his greenhouse, not because of the plants but because it is very warm there. He also likes to observe smoking and drinking persons. I think he is a poor and old but a good man.
Carmen Sternwood is the younger daughter of the General. She is 18 years old and like a baby or femme fatales. She looks pretty and always tries to be sexy for men because they are very important in her life. She also killed Rusty Regan because he didn't pay enough attention on her. "Carmen is a child who likes to pull wings off flies." the General tells about Carmen. She often chews her nails and her behaviour is immature and at the intellectual level of the behaviour of a little child. She often does something without thinking of it's consequences as we can see with the gambling cheques with the Sternwood get blackmailed.
Vivian Sternwood / Regan / Rutledge is the older daughter of the General. She was married three times and has her own life. She is a loner and plays a double game: On the one hand she is the good looking daughter of the General and on the other had she is ambling, quick-witted, calculating and clever woman who likes to stop Marlow before he finds out that Carmen killed Rusty Regan.
Norris is the butler of the Sternwoods. He is a discrete and loyal person who always stands by the family. He is also polite and is allowed to sign checks especially for the girls. He is a controlling figure and often decides for the General. Otherwise he runs the household and isn't an important person in the book.
Geiger is the owner of a bookshop. This bookshop has two parts: in the front he sells old and antique book and in the back room he has illegal pornographic books. He is a homosexual and lives with Carol Lindgren in the same house. Geiger is one of the blackmailers of the Sternwoods and wants to have his money back which he lent Carmen for gambling, drugs and fun. He is the first corpse killed by Owen during a naked photo shooting with Carmen in his house.
Joe Brody is the second blackmailer of the Sternwoods. He killed Owen, took the film with the photographs of Carmen and threatens to publish them, He knows everything about Geiger's bookshop and he takes the illegal books from the bookstore after Geiger's death. Brody gets murdered by Carol Lindgren who wants revenge for Geiger's death.
Agnes Lozelle is Geiger's secretary in his bookstore. She is a blond and though - sweet woman. She owns a pistol and also threatens Marlow with it to help her friend Brody. She also shows Brody the illegal pornographies in Geiger's shop. But for money she helps Marlow and tells him where she saw Mona and Canino.
Eddie Mars is the owner of an illegal casino where his good friend Vivian often gambles. He has a lot of friends in the corrupt police force. He pays a lot of money so that he can run his casino. Eddie Mars is a very rich, well - dressed man who has bodyguards. He has got a wife Mona Mars but they separated and in the book she seems to have run away with Rusty Regan. Eddie Mars is not disturbed by that.
Canino Lash has brown hair, brown eyes and always wear brown clothes and a brown hat. Everything is brown, also his car. He is short and heavy set. He takes care of things for Eddie Mars when he needs him (trouble-shooting). So he murders Harry Jones with poison.
Bernie Ohls is the person who gives Marlow the General's case. He is an inspector and friend of Marlow. (p. 70 / 15): "He was a medium-sized blondish man with stiff white eyebrows, calm yes and well-kept teeth. He looked like anybody you would pass on the street. I happened to know he had killed nine men - three of them when he was covered, or somebody thought he was. .. . "
DA Wild is the District Attorney. He comes from a Los Angeles family and knows the important families in Los Angeles ( Sternwoods, Mars, ect. ) and bends the law to help them.
Harry Jones works with Agnes. Once he follows Marlow and wants to give Marlow information where Agnes is. When Marlow comes to Harry's office Marlow watches as Canino kills him with poison.
Mona Mars is the wife of Eddie Mars. She ran away with Rusty Regan, Vivian's husband. She helps Marlow to escape when he is in her apartment. She still loves Eddie, she thinks he is not so bad and helps him and does everything he wants.
Plot:
I: Marlow comes to the Sternwoods house. He meets Norris and Carmen.
II: Marlow goes in the greenhouse and speaks with the General, who is blackmailed. Marlow gets the order from General.
III : First meeting between Marlow and Vivian in her room.
IV : Marlow comes to Geiger's bookshop. Geiger isn't there. Then he follows somebody who goes out of the shop.
V: He goes to an other bookstore near by and gets Geiger's description
VI : Marlow follows Geiger from the shop to his house. There he finds Geiger dead and Carmen naked and drugged.
VII : Marlow looks around in the house. Then he dresses Carmen and drives her home.
VIII : A maid takes care of her. Marlow drives back to Geiger's house; the corpse is gone.
IX : Ohls comes to Marlow because they found a second corpse Own
X : Marlow goes to Geiger's shop. There he sees, that some people take the illegal books away. He follows the car and comes to the apartment of Joe Brody.
XI : Marlow goes to his office where Vivian waits. She shows him the photos of Carmen from last night blackmailed again
XII : Geiger's house: Marlow meets Carmen who wants the photos. She says Brody killed Geiger.
XIII : Eddie Mars comes into the house. Speaks with Marlow who tells him about Geiger's death. Mars threatens Marlow with a gun.
XIV : Marlow goes to Brody's apartment and asks for Geiger. Brody threatens Marlow with a gun quarrel; Own is Geiger's murderer, Brody got the photos from him and killed him. Brody wants to blackmail the Sternwoods.
XV : Carmen comes in and wants her photos. more chaos ! Marlow gets all guns and the picture. Carmen goes home.
XVI : The bell rings, Brody opens and gets shot. Marlow follows the man who shot Brody Carol must decide whether he goes with the police or with Marlow
XVII : They drive to Geiger's house. There they have a fight; Marlow handcuffs him and phones Ohls
XVIII : Police office: Marlow, Ohls, Cronjager, Wilde: They think Marlow killed Geiger. Wilde: Rusty is the blackmailer? : No
XXII : Goes to Eddie Mars: get Partner. Vivien plays in the gambling room and she always wins. Marlow offers to bring her home, goes out and hids behind a tree.
XXIII : A man of Eddie Mars attacks Vivien, wants the money. Marlow help her, then they drive to the beach kiss
XXIV : When Marlow comes home Carmen lies naked on his bed. A drink for Carmen so that she gets dressed again. Goes home offended.
XXV : Next morning. Harry Jones follows Marlow. Info: Agnes saw Mona Mars with Canino. They will meet later in Harry Jones office.
XXVI : When Marlow comes to Harry Jones office he hears Canino and Joe speaking and so Marlow eavesdrops. Canino kills Joe with poison. Agnes call.
XXVII : Agnes and Marlow meet by a department stare. She tells him what she found out after he gave her money, where Mona meets Canino. Marlow goes there and meets Canino who knocks him out.
XXVIII : Marlow wakes up in a room with Mona Mars. Mona cuts the ropes and they kiss. Marlow leaves the room.
XXIX : Outside he takes a gun from a car and waits for Canino. When he comes Marlow shoots him.
XXX : Marlow tells the police everything but the want Eddie Mars and not a little fish.
Marlow goes to the General who gives him money to find out where Rusty Regan is.
XXXI : Marlow wants to give Carmen her gun back. She wants that Marlow learns her how to shoot.
XXXII : They drive a few kilometres and at the old oil-well Carmen tries to kill Marlow but he put blank cartridge in her gun.
Rusty was killed by Carmen because he rejected her. Marlow checked her game but Carmen tries it on Marlow too.
Eddie Mars blackmailed Vivian because he put the corpse away.
Norris knows everything but the General nothing.
American History:
The Big Sleep is set in the 30's. The time of Prohibition between the World Wars ( ~ 1920 - 33 ) was over. In the Prohibition wasn't allowed to produce, sell and drink alcohol. Also gambling and pornographic weren't allowed. Mafia and police became rich because nobody wanted to do without these. After this time was the time of depression in the world economy crises. The people have only little money because a lot of them have no a job.
In Austria there is a difficult economic situation at the moment because the rate of unemployment is quite high. For joining the European Union Austria had to meet the EU criteria for Stat deficits. So the government had to make savings which influenced the economy negatively. Thus there is a large number of unemployed people who are dissatisfied and frustrated.
Differences between book and film:
Book Film
Vivian Regan Vivian Rutledge
Carmen wears at the first meet with Marlow shapers jeans. She wears a miniskirt.
Sean Regan is married with Vivien They aren't married.
Philip Marlow is 33 years old and tall He is 39 years old and not tall
Marlow knows about the daughters and Sean Regan. He knows them very well: Regan is an alcohol smuggler and Marlow drank with him and shot with him. General says nobody can drink with Regan until they shot together
The woman in the bookshop is blond She isn't blond
Carmen is naked in Geiger's house, when Marlow finds the corps of Geiger. She isn't naked
Geiger sees the lady room of Geiger We don't see it in the film
Marlow drives Carmen home, the maid takes care of her. Vivien is at home and there is a scene with her added.
Marlow follows the people who took the illegal books away in a taxi Taxi driver is a woman.
Vivien calls the police when she is in Marlow's office fun call
Geiger's house: Eddie Mars wants to talk with Marlow, who he is ect. Marlow says that he is an detective and there come two bodyguards of Mars in and check Marlow
Marlow goes to Brody's apartment. There is Agnes. There is Vivien too.
Carmen wants to go home and kiss Marlow. Like to go home with Vivian and doesn't kiss Marlow.
After Brody is killed, Marlow follows Carol. In front of the house there is a shoot out.
In Geiger's house, Marlow handcuffs Carol He ties him to a chair.
There is no talk with Wilder and Cronjager
Scene: Marlow and Vivian in a restaurant
Marlow sees Vivian gambling in the casino room. Vivian sings there
Marlow and Vivian drive to the beach, talk together and then a kiss The relationship is much closer
Marlow goes home. Carmen lays naked on his bed. Carmen isn't naked.
Fourth day: phone rings and wakes Marlow up. Its Ohls: Marlow shouldn't do anything more now. Breakfast: Marlow calls Sternwood: Vivian says, that Rusty is in Mexico and she will go there. He goes out and looks in Harry Jones' car and two men beats up Marlow and say that Marlow shouldn't look for Rusty anymore. Harry Jones comes to talk to Marlow. They go in Marlow's office and they talk together.
When Marlow wakes up in Mona Mars room he sits on a chair. He sits on the floor.
He talks with Mona But Vivien is also there.
Mona cuts the rope and they kiss Vivien helps him.
Marlow and Vivian speak about the next steps. Marlow goes out, takes a gun from a car. Canino comes back with other men. Vivian screams. Canino runs into the house. A man is in front of the house. Marlow shoots and the man runs away. Canino comes out of the house behind Vivian. She deceives Canino and so he shoots somewhere. Marlow shoots Canino. Then Marlow and Vivien drive to Geiger's house and both admit that they have fallen in love with each other. In Geiger's house: Marlow calls Eddie Mars and says that he is in the strand house, he will be in Geiger's house in 20 minuets. Eddie Mars comes into the house and thinks he is the first but Marlow surprises him. They talk together. Marlow shoots him in the arm. Eddie Mars goes out and is killed by his own bodyguards. Marlow calls Ohls
Eddie Mars is guilty on everything and the Sternwood daughters aren't as bad as in the book
Dialogues:
Setting:
Similes:
p. 141 / 13 : His cigarette was jiggling like a doll on a coiled spring.
p. 219 / 27 : Her eyelids were flicking rapidly, like moth wings.
p. 227 / 20 : Dark silent mystified eyes stared at me solemnly, the doubt growing
larger in them, creeping into them noiselessly , like a cat in long grass
stalking a young blackbird.
p. 228 / 15 : Carmen is angry as an animal
p. 277 / 21 : Her breath was as delicate as the eyes of a fawn.
p. 227 / 25 : Blood began to move around in me, like a prospective tenant looking
over a house.
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