"Philip Marlowe, Private Eye" (1984) TV series 1984-1986

User Rating:

8.2/10   

Director:

Peter R. Hunt

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

27 April 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Mystery

Plot Keywords:

Detective | Private Detective

Awards:

7 nominations

Cast

Powers Boothe

...

Philip Marlowe (11 episodes, 1983-1986)

Runtime:

USA:60 min | 60 min (11 episodes)

Country:

UK | Canada | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

David Wickes TV

Quotes:

Philip Marlowe: Hollywood's the kind of town where they stick a knife in your back and then have you arrested for carrying a concealed weapon.

The Original Tough Guy Private Eye Returns

Raymond Chandler practically invented the detective noire genre with his Phillip Marlowe novels and stories. The trench coat. The fedora. The monotone first-person narration and the cynical outlook on life. They all started with Raymond Chandler's Phillip Marlowe.

So it's only appropriate that several actors have brought Phillip Marlowe to life over the years, most notably James Garner and Humphrey Bogart.

It's hard not to keep Humphrey Bogart's portrayal in mind when watching a Phillip Marlowe mystery, and most actors understandably pale by comparison. That said, Powers Boothe still does a worthy job. You must put all of the sleazy roles he's ever played out of your head. He perfectly portrays Phillip Marlowe as a cynical private investigator with a tough exterior but a heart of gold.

Samuel Matlovsky's musical score is the icing on the cake. The background music, and especially the haunting theme tune, definitely enhance the 1930's gumshoe atmosphere.

I've only seen a few episode from the '86 series. These episodes of "Phillip Marlowe: Private Eye" are filled with clever twist and turns, exciting gun fights, and plenty of tough-talking wise guys. If nothing else, they will inspire you to seek out the writings of Raymond Chandler.