Except that GEORGE SANDERS seems bored by his role as The Falcon (it was his next to last assignment in Falcon films), and that he is no substitute for the tough detective Philip Marlowe, this early version of Chandler's "Farewell, My Lovely" is geared for a mixture of mystery, mirth and murder. LYNN BARI as an ambitious young newspaper reporter adds some zest to the co-starring female lead.
Interesting to see character actress ANN REVERE as a tough old broad, HANS CONREID as a double-crossing playboy and TURHAN BEY as a Swami. But the standout supporting roles are filled by WARD BOND as Moose Malloy and ALLEN JENKINS as Goldy, the Falcon's right-hand man afraid of Moose.
Bond looks like an impressive hot-tempered hulk and his scenes with Jenkins are both menacing and humorous. Jenkins plays his role for all the humor in the script--and there's plenty of that to go around. JAMES GLEASON as an exasperated detective is at his bombastic best.
It's a fun ride with a running time of just an hour, so the Chandler story had to be compressed. In that it's an intricate tale of murder and deception, it never gets the full treatment here. Nevertheless, for fans of GEORGE SANDERS, it's a worthwhile flick with overtones of humor and noirish mystery in the Chandler manner.
Interesting to see character actress ANN REVERE as a tough old broad, HANS CONREID as a double-crossing playboy and TURHAN BEY as a Swami. But the standout supporting roles are filled by WARD BOND as Moose Malloy and ALLEN JENKINS as Goldy, the Falcon's right-hand man afraid of Moose.
Bond looks like an impressive hot-tempered hulk and his scenes with Jenkins are both menacing and humorous. Jenkins plays his role for all the humor in the script--and there's plenty of that to go around. JAMES GLEASON as an exasperated detective is at his bombastic best.
It's a fun ride with a running time of just an hour, so the Chandler story had to be compressed. In that it's an intricate tale of murder and deception, it never gets the full treatment here. Nevertheless, for fans of GEORGE SANDERS, it's a worthwhile flick with overtones of humor and noirish mystery in the Chandler manner.