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Marlowe

Marlowe

Crime · Mystery · Drama · 1969

Mysterious Orfamay Quest hires Los Angeles private investigator Philip Marlowe to find her missing brother. Though the job seems simple enough, it leads Marlowe into the underbelly of the city, turning up leads who are murdered with ice picks, exotic dancers, blackmailed television stars, and self-preserving gangsters. Soon, Marlowe's life is on the line right along with his case.

Movie details

Marlowe

“Marlowe is the best private eye in the business. Just ask the people he does business with.”

1969 Crime · Mystery · Drama 1h 36m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.1 / 10

Community rating

Mysterious Orfamay Quest hires Los Angeles private investigator Philip Marlowe to find her missing brother. Though the job seems simple enough, it leads Marlowe into the underbelly of the city, turning up leads who are murdered with ice picks, exotic dancers, blackmailed television stars, and self-preserving gangsters. Soon, Marlowe's life is on the line right along with his case.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Marlowe?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Where it lives

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Paul Bogart

Written by

Stirling Silliphant

James Garner

James Garner

Philip Marlowe

Gayle Hunnicutt

Gayle Hunnicutt

Mavis Wald

Carroll O'Connor

Carroll O'Connor

Lt. Christy French

Rita Moreno

Rita Moreno

Dolores Gonzáles

Sharon Farrell

Sharon Farrell

Orfamay Quest

William Daniels

William Daniels

Mr. Cromwell

H.M. Wynant

H.M. Wynant

Sonny Steelgrave

Court is in session

Put Marlowe on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Auteur Devotee

“Form is the argument.”

Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Technique in search of a pulse.”

Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.