The big Sleep

1 The Big Sleep is categorized as film noir. It is a style that emphasized cynical attitudes and sexual motives in crime dramas. These types of movies were prevalent between the 1940’s and the 1950’s. Associated with film noir is low-key lighting and the classic black and white style of the film from back then.

2 http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/45/The-Big-Sleep/articles.html

The article speaks on how the movie was a crime drama to the core. It was a very complicated woven story with intricate details that left most confused yet still enticed. According to the article, “Chandler (the writer of book that the movie was based on) claimed that Hawks (Producer/Director) even sent him a telegram, wanting to know who had committed one of the murders.” None of that matters though, because the dialogue and love story is enough to entertain and distract from the movies faults.

The film had gone through some changes throughout its conception. For example, in an effort to bring forth the raunchy attitudes that made Lauren Bacall a star, the director brought in Julius Epstein to write and add to the story. This was seen in the scene between her and Bogart and they are having a clear double-entendre conversation about horseback riding.

3 This movie pushed the boundary in regards to themes that weren’t allowed in movies at those times. The movie was very explicit and both the article and conversation in class covered that. It was high in sexual innuendos such as Humphrey Bogart and the ACME book store clerk having the book store closed for the afternoon, or the conversation about riding horseback.

4 Sexuality is woven into the drama as if they were meant to be, and it clearly shows that they were. Humphrey Bogart plays his role as a detective while not missing a beat to flatter, insult, or wittily make comments to and about anyone with showing remorse no matter what the scenario. He is as quick with the mouth as he is with the hand.

Lauren Bacall plays her role well also. She is a temptress, yet has wit of her own… almost as if she is the female counter part to Bogart’s role. The two of them make the film work because the story had me confused, yet it still kept me entertained and enthralled. Over all it’s a good movie and has great replay value… especially if you actually want to comprehend the story more.

CHECKLIST FOR PLAGIARISM 

1) ( x ) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class. 

2) ( x ) If I reused any information from other papers I have written for other classes, I clearly explain that in the paper. 

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4) (  x) I have not padded the bibliography. I have used all sources cited in the bibliography in the text of the paper. 

5) ( x) I have cited in the bibliography only the pages I personally read. 

6) ( x ) I have used direct quotations only in cases where it could not be stated in another way. I cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography. 

7) (  x) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper lacks interpretation or originality. 

8) ( x ) I checked yes on steps 1-7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the research and ideas used in my paper.