Murder, My Sweet (1944)

Film discussion

We encourage our audience to have an opinion about the films they watch. We hope they enjoy our screenings but more importantly we'd like them to articulate what they do and don't like about what they've seen.

We believe in the power of storytelling and that all the films we show have a good story to tell while maintaining a strong point of view.

On this page we'll be sharing our thoughts about the films we've screened, and we'd encourage you to add to the discussion in the comments section.

1/7/2017

Murder, My Sweet (1944)

3 Comments

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There is much to celebrate about Murder, My Sweet. The most striking element of the film is definitely Raymond Chandler's dialogue. It has a gritty, visual element to it that can make you wince and laugh at the same time as all his strong willed characters (like Marlowe, Moose and Amthor) repeatedly butt heads. The sharp dialogue and the powerful Marlowe voice-overs are distinctive Chandler touches which make the film a stand out.

This is also a remarkable performance from Dick Powell who transitioned from light hearted musicals to film noir leads so effortlessly, this film being his first such role and a portrayal of Phillip Marlowe that Chandler himself approved of.

And the film has the most striking of femme fatales in Helen Grayle (Claire Trevor), a woman with murder in mind and with enough seductive charm to drive the men around her to murder as well.

One of the greats of the film noir genre.

What are your thoughts?

3 Comments

Zazen link

5/7/2017 11:15:29 am

What makes this genera interesting for folks interested in philosophy is how each film has a set of complex moral conundrums, along with a dialectic edginess that boarders para consistent logicians, and the logical positivists of 1950s’.
This film from a philosophical discourse portrayed the notion of facts (as what is the case) contrasted from values (what ought to be the case). Though fact and value becomes blurred and vague through the passions as rationalism tries to prevail.
Therefore it begs the question. Can it be determined what ought to be, from what is? So to be blind may reveal a truth not privy for those who see. Good film

Helen Reichard

25/7/2017 04:07:52 pm

What a great film.

The snappy, smart, comical jesting by Marlowe was superb. Was this a time when one could use one’s brain to make a comment instead of being restricted to using the same repeated “coarse language”?

I liked the scene when Marlowe is in the courtyard outside the mansion and is waiting for the girl – he lights a cigarette by striking his match on the bottom of the statue of Cupid. Cupid did not seem to object! is that 'Film Noir humour'?

eripley999

14/9/2017 07:54:09 pm

Chandler's writing and Marlowe's personality came through with Powell. A surprisingly good film. Who would have thought? The thing about Chandler's tough guy was he was 'subtle', not ham fisted/over the top brutality and Powell pull's it off with style...

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Murder, My Sweet (1944)

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