Marlowe Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A detective looking for a missing guy finds a bunch of people stabbed with ice picks, deals with blackmailing TV stars, a gangster, a stripper, and a martial artist who redecorates his office with kicks, somehow connecting it all back to the original missing person.

🍿 Marlowe: Detailed Plot Synopsis

A Simple Missing Person Case

Private detective Philip Marlowe is hired by a seemingly innocent young woman from Kansas, Orfamay Quest, to find her missing brother, Orrin, who came to Los Angeles years ago. What initially appears to be a straightforward missing persons case quickly escalates. Marlowe’s investigation into Orrin’s whereabouts leads him to a cheap hotel. Shortly after, key witnesses turn up dead with ice picks, indicating a far more dangerous conspiracy than anticipated.

Blackmail and Shady Connections

As Marlowe digs deeper, he uncovers a connection between the ice pick murders, blackmail photos, and a popular TV actress, Mavis Wald. Mavis is revealed to be Orfamay’s older sister. The blackmail scheme involves Mavis and her gangster boyfriend, Sonny Steelgrave. Marlowe finds himself entangled with Steelgrave’s dangerous associates, including a martial arts expert named Winslow Wong, who delivers a violent warning.

Escalating Danger and Unlikely Allies

Marlowe faces increasing threats from Steelgrave’s outfit and resistance from the police, led by Lieutenant Christy French. He also encounters Dr. Vincent Lagardie, who attempts to mislead him with drugged cigarettes. Seeking answers, Marlowe connects with Dolores Gonzáles, a stripper who has ties to the people involved. Her insights prove crucial as Marlowe navigates the complex web of deceit, crime, and family secrets.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Philip Marlowe (James Garner): A witty private detective hired to find a missing brother, who uncovers a complicated case involving murder, blackmail, and gangsters.
• Orfamay Quest (Sharon Farrell): A seemingly innocent young woman from Kansas who hires Marlowe to find her missing brother, triggering the main investigation.
• Mavis Wald (Gayle Hunnicutt): A popular TV star whose connection to blackmail photos and gangsters is central to the mystery Marlowe investigates.
• Lt. Christy French (Carroll O’Connor): A frustrated police detective who frequently clashes with Marlowe as the private eye pursues his own leads.
• Sonny Steelgrave (H.M. Wynant): A gangster linked to the blackmail plot and ice pick murders that Marlowe encounters during his case.
• Winslow Wong (Bruce Lee): A formidable martial arts expert working for Steelgrave who serves as a physical threat to Marlowe.
• Dolores Gonzáles (Rita Moreno): A stripper who has knowledge and connections relevant to the case that Marlowe is trying to solve.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Winslow Wong: “May I reach for my pocket?” – Winslow Wong asks Marlowe for permission before attempting to intimidate him with martial arts and a demonstration of his skills.
• Philip Marlowe: “It would give me great pleasure to see you do something foolish.” – Marlowe’s cool, unflappable reply to Winslow Wong’s implied threat, challenging him to make a move.
• Philip Marlowe: “Underneath the pasties is a size 40 heart.” – Marlowe makes a wry observation about the stripper Dolores, suggesting she has genuine feelings despite her tough exterior or profession.
• Sonny Steelgrave: “That’s your exit line, Marlowe. Follow it out.” – A gangster delivers a classic hardboiled threat, telling Marlowe to drop the case and leave.

💰Box Office

• Budget: N/A
• Domestic Gross: N/A
• Worldwide Gross: N/A

💥 Marlowe Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so I finally watched this after hearing about the Bruce Lee scene, and let me tell you, that scene alone is worth the price of admission! Seeing him just demolish Marlowe’s office was wild and totally unexpected. Beyond that, I really dug James Garner as Marlowe. He’s got this cool, relaxed vibe that’s super engaging, and yeah, you can totally see the Jim Rockford proto-type here. The plot is honestly kind of a tangled mess, I was definitely confused about who was doing what and why about halfway through. But man, the 60s style is everywhere – the clothes, the cars, the locations. It feels like a cool time capsule, even if some of the sets look a bit stagey. And Rita Moreno? She absolutely lights up the screen. Her scene is fantastic. It’s not a perfect detective film, but it’s a really fun watch with some seriously memorable moments and performances.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of classic detective stories and film noir, especially those open to a 1960s update”
  • “Viewers who enjoy James Garner’s acting style and charm”
  • “Fans of Bruce Lee interested in his early American film appearances”
  • “People interested in movies set in late 1960s Hollywood”
  • “Viewers who like complex mystery plots”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Violence (includes murders, physical altercations)”
  • “Suggestive content (references to prostitution/stripping, a striptease scene)”
  • “Mature themes (blackmail, crime, drugs implied)”
  • “Smoking”

Professional Reviews

• Synthesized from Reviews: “James Garner brings a laid-back charm to Marlowe, reminiscent of his later Rockford role, but the film struggles to fully update Chandler’s noir to the swinging ’60s. While the plot is convoluted and sometimes lacks the grit of its predecessors, standout supporting performances from Rita Moreno, Carroll O’Connor, and a memorable Bruce Lee cameo make it an entertaining, albeit flawed, period piece. It’s more stylish time capsule than hardboiled classic.
• Synthesized from Reviews: “Paul Bogart’s ‘Marlowe’ updates ‘The Little Sister’ with mixed results. The vibrant 60s palette contrasts sharply with the noir source material, and the plot feels messy and underdeveloped at times. Garner is amiable as the lead, but the film often feels like a TV movie pilot. The real highlights are the supporting turns, particularly Rita Moreno’s captivating presence and Bruce Lee’s brief but electric appearance, which momentarily jolts the film to life.

Audience Reactions

Bruce Lee destroying Marlowe’s office was an unexpected, awesome moment.: Many viewers appreciated James Garner’s charming and laid-back portrayal of Marlowe, often comparing it positively to his later ‘Rockford Files’ character.

Rita Moreno’s performance and dance scene were frequently highlighted as captivating.: The film’s 1960s setting, music, and fashion were enjoyed by many as a nostalgic time capsule.

Overall Consensus: A fun, stylish, but sometimes confusing 60s update of a classic detective story, praised for James Garner’s performance and memorable supporting cast members like Rita Moreno and Bruce Lee.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “This is one of only two films in which Bruce Lee spoke with his own voice (the other being Enter the Dragon (1973)). It is also the only film in which Lee played a villain.”
• “Marlowe’s office is located in the iconic Bradbury Building in downtown Los Angeles, a location famously used in other noir and science fiction films like Blade Runner.”
• “The film was originally titled “The Little Sister,” matching the Raymond Chandler novel it was based on.”

🖥️ How to Watch Marlowe?

The 1969 film ‘Marlowe’ may be available to stream on platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, or Google Play Movies & TV. Availability varies by region and subscription service. You can typically rent or purchase the movie digitally through these and other online retailers for on-demand viewing.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Marlowe, you might like these similar films:

• The Big Sleep (1946): The classic Humphrey Bogart adaptation of a Raymond Chandler novel, setting a high bar for the Philip Marlowe character and the noir genre.
• Harper (1966): Stars Paul Newman as a cynical private investigator in the 1960s, sharing the updated, somewhat disillusioned PI vibe with Marlowe.
• Chinatown (1974): A quintessential neo-noir film set in 1930s Los Angeles, featuring a complex mystery, pervasive corruption, and a world-weary protagonist.
• The Rockford Files (1974): James Garner’s iconic TV series, which features a laid-back, wisecracking private detective navigating the underbelly of Los Angeles, similar in tone to his Marlowe portrayal.
• Motherless Brooklyn (2019): A modern take on a complex, character-driven detective story with a protagonist navigating a web of corruption and secrets in a large city, updated for a contemporary audience.

🛒 Marlowe Related Products

• Marlowe (Warner Archive Collection): Own the digital or physical media version of the film to experience James Garner’s take on the classic detective and see the famous Bruce Lee scene anytime.
• The Little Sister (Philip Marlowe Series Book 5): Read the original Raymond Chandler novel that inspired the film to delve deeper into the source material and compare it to the 1960s adaptation.
• The Rockford Files: The Complete Series: Explore the iconic TV series starring James Garner that many critics and fans see foreshadowed in his ‘Marlowe’ performance.
• Bruce Lee: His Greatest Hits (Criterion Collection): A collector’s set featuring some of Bruce Lee’s most famous films, offering insight into the career of the martial arts legend seen in a memorable cameo in ‘Marlowe’.

🎧 Soundtrack

Marlowe features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Little Sister” – performed by Orpheus
• “Score” – performed by Peter Matz

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Bruce Lee in Marlowe but edited with his Trademark Battlecry / MARLOWE 1969 / Edited #shorts

Want to see a super quick, punchy clip of Bruce Lee absolutely owning his brief scene in Marlowe? This edited highlight with his iconic battlecry is pure, viral awesome and totally worth the 24 seconds!

Bruce Lee’s two scenes in Marlowe (1969 -ENG / Eng Sub) 1 / 2

Ever wondered how Bruce Lee fit into the detective world of Marlowe? Check out both of his full scenes right here – it’s fascinating to see him in one of his early Hollywood roles before he became a global icon!

PHILIP MARLOWE in TV & Film

So, you know Marlowe, but do you know how many times this classic detective has hit the screen? This video takes a cool look at Philip Marlowe’s history in movies and TV, showing you where the 1969 version fits in the legacy!

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