The Long Goodbye (1973) (Widescreen)

Rip Van Marlowe

By Yahoo! Shopping User  Oct 16, 2002

This is Altman's second best film aside from McCABE AND MRS. MILLER. His 3 'anti' masterpieces are the anti-war film MASH, the anti-wester McCABE, and the anti-noir THE LONG GOODBYE. Intestingly enough this film came out one year prior to CHINATOWN..., which would re-establish the noir to some extent in a colored world. What Altman realized was that not all stories have a happy ending and sometimes you just have to do the unthinkable. Marlowe (Gould) is similar to the Rip Van Winkle character who has awaken, as seen in the beginning of the film. It is like he has been out-of-touch for many years and is now sleepwalking through this world of change and revolution. Sexual revolution and the idea of fitness and fun. He now as a detective (PI) is trying to place moral values back into this new society from which he has come into. His cat stays with him unless he doesn't give the cat what it wants (expensive cat food). The cat serves as a metaphor for his new world in that people only want you if you have what they want. His friend betrays him for the 'better good' without thinking of Marlowe's interests. Thus, what he had to do at the end NO SPOILER HERE was right by his moral senses. This film is also notable for the amazing Zsigmond Cinematography where he 'flashed' the film to give a washed out look, which was daring, but gives the film a proper look. This was before he would work with Michael Cimino on HEAVEN'S GATE another great film that should be seen even despite the maligned critic reviews. Read more Less