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The Big Sleep

  • 19781978
  • RR
  • 1h 39m
IMDb RATING
5.7/10
4.8K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Robert Mitchum and Candy Clark in The Big Sleep (1978)
Trailer 1
Play trailer2:15
1 Video
61 Photos
  • Crime
  • Drama
  • Mystery

Grizzled American private detective in England investigates a complicated case of blackmail turned murder involving a rich but honest elderly general, his two loose socialite daughters, a po... Read allGrizzled American private detective in England investigates a complicated case of blackmail turned murder involving a rich but honest elderly general, his two loose socialite daughters, a pornographer and a gangster.Grizzled American private detective in England investigates a complicated case of blackmail turned murder involving a rich but honest elderly general, his two loose socialite daughters, a pornographer and a gangster.

IMDb RATING
5.7/10
4.8K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Michael Winner
  • Writers
    • Michael Winner(screenplay)
    • Raymond Chandler(book)
  • Stars
    • Robert Mitchum
    • Sarah Miles
    • Richard Boone
Top credits
  • Director
    • Michael Winner
  • Writers
    • Michael Winner(screenplay)
    • Raymond Chandler(book)
  • Stars
    • Robert Mitchum
    • Sarah Miles
    • Richard Boone
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 58User reviews
    • 32Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    The Big Sleep
    Trailer 2:15
    The Big Sleep

    Photos61

    Sarah Miles in The Big Sleep (1978)
    The Big Sleep (1978)
    Robert Mitchum and Joan Collins in The Big Sleep (1978)
    The Big Sleep (1978)
    The Big Sleep (1978)
    The Big Sleep (1978)
    The Big Sleep (1978)
    The Big Sleep (1978)
    The Big Sleep (1978)
    The Big Sleep (1978)
    Sarah Miles in The Big Sleep (1978)
    Richard Boone and Sarah Miles in The Big Sleep (1978)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Robert Mitchum
    Robert Mitchum
    • Philip Marloweas Philip Marlowe
    Sarah Miles
    Sarah Miles
    • Charlotte Sternwoodas Charlotte Sternwood
    Richard Boone
    Richard Boone
    • Lash Caninoas Lash Canino
    Candy Clark
    Candy Clark
    • Camilla Sternwoodas Camilla Sternwood
    Joan Collins
    Joan Collins
    • Agnes Lozelleas Agnes Lozelle
    Edward Fox
    Edward Fox
    • Joe Brodyas Joe Brody
    John Mills
    John Mills
    • Inspector Carsonas Inspector Carson
    James Stewart
    James Stewart
    • General Sternwoodas General Sternwood
    Oliver Reed
    Oliver Reed
    • Eddie Marsas Eddie Mars
    Harry Andrews
    Harry Andrews
    • Norrisas Norris
    Colin Blakely
    Colin Blakely
    • Harry Jonesas Harry Jones
    Richard Todd
    Richard Todd
    • Commander Barkeras Commander Barker
    Diana Quick
    Diana Quick
    • Mona Grantas Mona Grant
    James Donald
    James Donald
    • Inspector Gregoryas Inspector Gregory
    John Justin
    John Justin
    • Arthur Geigeras Arthur Geiger
    Simon Fisher-Turner
    • Karl Lundgrenas Karl Lundgren
    • (as Simon Turner)
    Martin Potter
    Martin Potter
    • Owen Tayloras Owen Taylor
    David Savile
    • Rusty Reganas Rusty Regan
    • Director
      • Michael Winner
    • Writers
      • Michael Winner(screenplay)
      • Raymond Chandler(book)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Philip Marlowe (Robert Mitchum) is asked by the elderly General Sternwood (James Stewart) to investigate an attempt at blackmail on one of his daughters. He soon finds that the attempt is half-hearted at best, and seems to be more connected with the disappearance of the other daughter's husband, Rusty Regan (David Savile). Rusty's wife seems unconcerned with his disappearance, further complicating the mystery. Only General Sternwood seems concerned as mobsters and hired killers continue to appear in the path of the investigation. —John Vogel <jlvogel@comcast.net>
    • cleavage
    • bare breasts
    • female full frontal nudity
    • female pubic hair
    • pubic hair
    • 128 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Some days business is good - and some days it's murder!
    • Genres
      • Crime
      • Drama
      • Mystery
      • Thriller
    • Certificate
      • R
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      James Stewart had difficulty saying his lines on time due to hearing problems. Some of the cast were shocked by his aged appearance. Robert Mitchum recalled, "The picture was all about corpses, but Jimmy looked deader than any of them." Stewart actually outlived Mitchum by one day, nearly 20 years later.
    • Goofs
      When Marlowe takes the gun from Camilla after she unloads it on him with multiple blank rounds, he grabs the barrel with his bare hands. That should have proved to be very painful as the barrel would be extremely hot.
    • Quotes

      Charlotte Sternwood: [when Marlowe declines to blackmail her] Wha-? You don't want money?

      Philip Marlowe: Oh sure. All I itch for is money. I'm so greedy that for fifty pounds a day plus expenses on the day I work, I risk my future, the hatred of the cops, of Eddie Mars and his pals, I dodge bullets and put up with slaps and say "Thank you very much. If you have any further trouble please call me: I'll just put my card here on the table." I do all that for a few pounds. And maybe just a little bit to protect what little pride a sick and broken old man has in his family, so that he can believe his blood is not poisoned. That his little girls - though they may be a trifle wild - are not perverts and killers.

    • Connections
      Featured in James Stewart, Robert Mitchum: The Two Faces of America (2017)
    • Soundtracks
      Won't Somebody Dance With Me
      Music and Lyrics by Lynsey de Paul

      Sung by Diana Quick (uncredited)

    User reviews58

    Review
    Top review
    Mitchum is excellent in this!
    I haven't seen the Humphrey Bogart version of this Chandler remake but I enjoyed this one very much. Robert Mitchum brought great class to the role of Marlowe as few else could have done. His shady look, cool persona, and hilarious one-liners help to explain why Chandler is one of the greatest crime writers of all time. I haven't read any of the books but after seeing this film I am certainly much more interested in them.

    It came as a surprise to me that Michael Winner was the director for the film. A man I associate with expensive dinners at expensive restaurants. But after watching this, and Death Wish, I have a new-found respect for eating in style. This film is not a Peckinpah, but it still manages to be incredibly effective in it's delivery. I like the car Mitchum drives too, a Mercedes soft-top.

    The video is in widescreen by the way, requiring a screen re-adjustment or it'll look silly. Great performances from all of the actors and a superbly enjoyable plot in a film that has aged very well.

    Some people criticised this film for being in the English countryside and that it doesn't bear up with the film noir style. I disagree, film noir is not limited to shady city streets, as this film goes to show.
    helpful•21
    9
    • Minority_Report
    • Mar 1, 2002

    FAQ1

    • After reading the book three times and watching both versions of the film innumerable times, who killed owen taylor?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 7, 1978 (United Kingdom)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Tote schlafen besser
    • Filming locations
      • Knebworth House, Knebworth, Hertfordshire, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • Winkast Film Productions
      • ITC Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • £3,000,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 39 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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