Poodle Springs (TV 1998)

An aging Phillip Marlowe gets mixed up with blackmail & murder among elite social set in 1963.

Director:

Bob Rafelson

Writers:

Robert B. Parker (book), Raymond Chandler (book),

Stars:

James Caan, Dina Meyer, David Keith

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
James Caan	...	Philip Marlowe
Dina Meyer	...	Laura Parker-Marlowe
David Keith	...	Larry Victor / Charles Nichols
Tom Bower	...	Lt. Arnie Burns
Julia Campbell	...	Miriam 'Muffy' Blackstone-Nichols
Brian Cox	...	Clayton Blackstone
Nia Peeples	...	Angel
Sam Vlahos	...	Eddie Garcia
Michael Laskin	...	Manny Lipshultz
David Byrd	...	Seymour
Joe Don Baker	...	P.J. Parker
Royce D. Applegate	...	Ivan, the Motel Manager
Billy Beck	...	Old Man in Jail
Gary Bullock	...	L.A. Captain
Michael Cooke	...	Captain

Storyline

Set in 1963, an aging Philip Marlowe (James Caan) is supposedly giving up his wild times to get married to a younger socialite (Dina Meyer). However, as might be expected crime follows Marlowe as he is soon mixed up in blackmail and murders as a sleazy photographer (David Keith) threatens to expose photos of a former stripper (La Joy Farr) who is now running with a billionaire. As things progress, he soon realizes that his new wife's father (Joe Don Baker) is also involved.

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Plot Keywords:

murder | stripper | decolletage | matches | hooker | 

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Taglines:

Sex. Murder. Marlowe. This town has everything.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 July 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Crime no Nevada

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Avnet/Kerner Productions, Home Box Office (HBO), Mirage Enterprises

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Director Bob Rafelson had previously directed such similar 'film noir' fare as Black Widow and The Postman Always Rings Twice.

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Goofs

While Marlowe is talking to Muffy in his apartment, the newspaper article on the coffee table keeps changing position without being touched - alternatively jumping on and off the envelope and the table.

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Connections

References The Thin Man (1934)

User Reviews

Pretty good resurrection of Marlowe, but not as good as the source novel

The screen play Stoppard wrote from the credited Chandler/Parker novel is not bad, if far fetched, but not as good as the source. As a tough guy P.I. flic, this borders on fantasy, what with the additions and changes Stoppard made. Why the name changes, by the way? Linda Potter becomes Laura Parker, and Angel's character is reversed. Palm Springs, aka Poodle Springs winds up on the Nevada border. About the only thing not changed is the killer, and you'll have to see the film to find that out. Well, Caan makes a good Marlowe, looking satisfactorily battle worn, and the rest of the cast won't disappoint you. Direction is fair, but the editing is as lousy as usual for these days. Overall, this is an enjoyable private eye tale, if you can forget the novel, but that hare-brained conspiracy to move...; but hey, I'm about to give away too much!