“The Long Goodbye” is a 1973 Neo Noir detective thriller based on the book of the same name from Raymond Chandler. Elliott Gould plays the protagonist, the legendary sleuth Phillip Marlow.

While Chandler’s Marlow is a serious pensive intellectual who enjoys poetry and chess, Gould’s Marlow is a cat loving accommodating person, who is willing to get his fussy cat the best cat food at 3 am and in the process, willing to pick up brownies for his topless hippie neighbors. (who can blame him for the latter?)

Director: Robert Altman

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The movie is set in the 1970s unlike the book that is set in the early 50s. Soon after Marlow completes the above mentioned errands, an old friend, Lennox pays him a visit. Lennox wants a ride to the Mexican border, and Marlow obliges.

Upon Marlow’s return from fulfilling his obligation, the cops pay him a visit, demanding the whereabouts of Lennox. They question him for three days and disclose that Lennox’s wife Sylvia has been brutally murdered. Marlow is then released.

Soon after this, Mrs Wade, a rich lady hires Marlow to find her absconding husband. Marlow manages to find the husband in an upscale elder care facility and brings him back to Mrs Wade. He learns that the Wades were acquainted with his friend Lennox and Lennox’s diseased wife Sylvia.

Marlow now begins to investigate the mysterious death of Sylvia and uncovers a vicious plot of theft, betrayal and deceit. It would put Marlow on the bad side of a ruthless gangster Augustine, who claims that Lennox has stolen his money.

The movie is riveting with fine performances all around, making it a landmark movie for its time. One noteworthy facet of the movie is the theme song of the movie that the director has ingeniously inserted in different parts of the movie. Not only do you hear the song played in the background, it is performed by a singer at a bar, and then by a band in Mexico. The movie was selected for preservation in the United States National Film registry by the Library of Congress for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”.

Trivia: Schwarzenegger appears in couple of scenes of the movie as one of the Augustine’s goons.

I enjoyed the following quotes from the movie:

“Hey, why dont you think of the tigers  in India they are killing because they don’t get enough to eat?.. Why dont you go home to India?”

— Marlow admonishing his cat

“Why don’t you go over there and tell those girls they are going to catch a cold?”

–Marlow telling his cat, as he enjoys a glimpse of his topless neighbors.

All in all, ‘The Long Goodbye’ is a satirical thriller laced with Marlow’s wise cracking humor. This movie is a must for any thriller or mystery fan.