Introduction"The Long Goodbye" is a 1973 criminal offense thriller based on Raymond Chandler's 1953 novel of the same name. The movie, directed by Robert Altman and starring Elliott Gould as detective Philip Marlowe, checks out styles of relationship, deceit, and the developing societal norms and cultural attitudes in 1970s Los Angeles.
Plot SummaryIn "The Long Goodbye", the lead character, Marlowe, discovers himself laced in a tale of mystery and threat after a see from his friend Terry Lennox. Lennox asks Marlowe to drive him to Tijuana as he is under hazard, and trusting his friend, Marlowe agrees. When Lennox's wife is discovered dead, Marlowe is the prime suspect due to his association with Lennox. Marlowe demands his innocence and declines to cooperate with the authorities.
Meanwhile, Marlowe is approached by a brand-new customer, Eileen Wade who recruits him to find her alcohol-dependent husband, Roger. Marlowe discovers Roger at a rehab center and escorts him home, unintentionally entangling himself even more in the unfolding mystery involving the Wades.
Revealing the truthMarlowe is unintentionally thrown into a web of intrigue including the Wades and Lennox. Roger Wade inadvertently drowns at a celebration; Marlowe believes foul play and doubts Eileen's psychological reaction to the death of her hubby. After a revelation from Lennox's Mexican spouse, Marlowe deduces that Terry had not devoted suicide as idea however was still alive and was connected to the Wades.
ConclusionCompletion of "The Long Goodbye" reveals that Terry, apparently killed his other half and staged his death, all with the assistance of Eileen, with whom he was having an affair. This discovery rattles Marlowe's faith in his pal and mankind. In a shocking act betraying his characteristic non-violent ways, Marlowe murders Terry Lennox validating it as his ethical duty to the memory of his friend's partner.
Eileen flees the scene, leaving Marlowe as the last male standing in this ominous plot. The movie ends with Marlowe's haunting rendition of the theme song, encapsulating his disillusionment and illustrating the changing societal worths of the era.
Overall Themes"The Long Goodbye" provides a critique of society's ethical compass in the 1970s, signified by Marlowe's own struggle with age-old friendships and loyalties amidst betrayal and deceit. This film is a tale of subterfuge where the lines in between friend and enemy are blurred and concerns the very essence of what it implies to be a buddy. It stays one of Robert Altman's many unforgettable works, with its unique movie design and Elliot Gould's portrayal of the iconic detective, Philip Marlowe.
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