Yes, Powell was great in this!

Indeed, he's terrific in this.

Great movie, and the witty one liners. They just don't make them like that anymore.

And of course, the fashions, oh how I love them. Even the crooks are well dressed...

Philip Marlowe: She was a charming middle-aged lady with a face like a bucket of mud. I gave her a drink. She was a gal who'd take a drink, if she had to knock you down to get the bottle.

Great quote, Aus!

This movie has the distinction of being Anne Shirley's final film; she of course began her career as a child actress (then known as Dawn O'Day, which is how she appears in credits of various Pre-Code era movies).

I haven't seen this in years, so am pretty rusty about the specifics at this point, but do remember it's really good. Terrific cast, including the great Claire Trevor.

genplant, a question re pre-code.

I noticed watching an old movie the other night that married couples had double beds. When you look at tv shows, 50's and onwards maybe movies, not sure, married couples had twin beds. Did that occur once the I guess "code" was set? If that makes sense.

Yep. Thanks to the Production Code, which began being strictly enforced at the beginning of July 1934 (though existed since multiple years prior to then, but had always been routinely ignored), all the "squeaky clean" and "gee whiz" that Hollywood films of the 1930s through '40s became known for went into effect and substantially altered what was permitted, and mandated certain things that were required, thus creating a major tone and content change. Pre July 1934, people (including unmarried - in fact frequently unmarried) actually had sex (and sometimes lived together unmarried, or had extramarital affairs) and didn't die afterwards, or a character could kill someone (including a policeman) and actually get away with it - and have a wonderful life. There was semi-nudity. There were gay characters. Characters were raving drug addicts or alcoholics. Etc., etc.

There was credible depictions of real type people pre Production Code, but lots of "saccharine" afterwards (that of course, in clever type ways, some films managed to a little bit find indirect means to "slip something past" the censors via careful double entendres and the such). With the Production Code, if a character did anything immoral or criminal, basically they had to die or at least go to jail or lose their children or whatever else really bad and life-ruining by the end of the film. Of course, old Hollywood films of mid 1934 through the '40s are charming for that.

Thanks for that explanation. Who's idea was it to enforce the Production Code?

Apologies for going off topic everyone..last question

The Catholic Church and other religious groups. It was felt that Hollywood films were reveling in immorality, celebration of criminal types and gangsters, rampant violence, etc., and that viewers were being corrupted and that it would bring on the downfall of society.

If you think you might be interested, look up, on Wikipedia, the articles titled "Motion Picture Production Code" and "Pre-Code Hollywood". They very interestingly explain and describe what the deal was. I love Pre-Codes - not because they're supposedly wicked, but simply because they're really good, and often very topical, very "now", and are realistic looks back in time to during the height of the Depression when regular people had it so hard.

Thanks gen, I'll look it up. One of the reasons I love the movies from the 40s and late 30s is that there isn't that graphic in your face sex and violence that you see in movies today. No blood, swearing or sex not to mention the excellent dialogue. They actually let you use your imagination. One movie that really got me on the edge of my seat was Strangers on a Train and of course there's more. I loathe the violence of movies. You can just take so much of it and it's getting more difficult to find something decent to watch.

I agree, Aus, and love the same type movies that you do. A thing about Pre-Codes is that, by today's standards, there's absolutely nothing actually truly racy, risqué, or offensive about or in them, as it's still very much within entirely acceptable limits. But back prior to the mid 1930s, when times were not far removed from the Victorian era, I guess what Hollywood was putting out, trying to see where the line could be drawn for the particular times in question, many in the population were still easily shocked and offended or made uncomfortable.

Pre-Codes, viewed today, simply seem modern - but in a charming, appealing, nostalgic type way that's about life and the world as it actually was during the early 1930s - and like interesting stories that might have some "edge", but definitely not actually truly shocking. (I think you'd be crazy about the movies of that era.) Scandalizing or violent behaviour is spoken of, implied, or generally suggested, rather than outright depicted.

Yes I've got some of Bette Davis movies from the 30s. Dark Victory is my favourite so far. The ending is exactly what you are talking about.

Haven't watched them all yet

I was the OP on this thread, and I just want to say that this thread is a good example of why I have advocated against allowing the OP to delete a thread that has gone OT. The thread has taken some useful twists and turns, and remains very productive and interesting. Others have nurtured it, and no OP should be allowed to kill a thread just because it has wandered away from the original thought.

I agree, PT. It's like when one is having a face-to-face or telephone conversation in regular life, that frequently things simply happen to veer in new directions, but it all flows spontaneously, one thought or point to the next, and it's all interesting.

@ausfem said:

Great movie, and the witty one liners. They just don't make them like that anymore....

Philip Marlowe: She was a charming middle-aged lady with a face like a bucket of mud. I gave her a drink. She was a gal who'd take a drink, if she had to knock you down to get the bottle.

Another great line, recalling when he was passing out after being hit: "I caught the blackjack right behind my ear. A dark pool opened up at my feet. I dived in. It had no bottom. I felt pretty good--like an amputated leg."

Interestingly, future wife June Allyson told Powell he shouldn't take the role of Marlowe, because he wouldn't be believable in the role and would end up a laughingstock. After the film's success, she said humbly, "I guess that shows how much I know!" Raymond Chandler said this was the best film adaptation of any of his work.

Right, Dick Powell is very good in "Murder, My Sweet" and subsequent Noir, and also his innovative television productions.

But yet, there are some good Dick Powell Musicals, especially those with Joan Blondell, Ginger Rogers or Ann Dvorak (when WB loaned Miss Dvorak and him over to 20th).

Claire Trevor also does some fun 1930's pictures, like "Baby Take a Bow" with Shirley Temple and James Dunn. All three would eventually go into Drama roles, but these early gems are well worth the watch.

Anne Shirley also does some nice early work in her cute 1930's pictures, but she must have retired during her marriage with John Payne and then just left Hollywood.