"The Big Sleep" - The 1946 Film (2017 Warners/HMV UK 'Premium Collection' BLU RAY Reissue) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…I'm Getting Cuter Every Minute…"

THE BIG SLEEP from 1946
2017 Warners/HMV UK 'Premium Collection' BLU RAY, DVD and Download Reissue

Directed by Howard Hawks and released in the summer of 1946 - No. 49 in the UK-issued Warners 'Premium Collection' BLU RAY Reissue Series is a true classic of the Noir genre – the witty, clever and impeccably stylish Bogart & Bacall vehicle - "The Big Sleep". Also UK-released 6 November 2017 onto BLU RAY is that other famous Bogart winner from five years earlier (1941) – "The Maltese Falcon".

Despite its occasional script references to the huge shadow of World War II – "The Big Sleep" positively brims with new sexiness, vim, great dialogue and a double-act chemistry that simply can’t be bought in any department store no matter how swanky. Here are the guns, gas-guzzlers and glamorous gals...

The outer glossy card slipcase housing the clear plastic case within lends this 2-disc release a very classy feel and the banded four artcards clipped inside are a very nice touch indeed (one of the cover-art movie poster and three of Bogart and Bacall in various close-up clinches). It’s a 2-Disc Set – a BLU RAY and a DVD – the BLU RAY is listed as Region ABC – All Regions or Region Free – so no issues with playback anywhere. But remember the DVD is Region 2 only – so Region 1 and 3 buyers should note this (however most will be buying this reissue for the All Regions BR disc). There is no booklet mores the pity (only 6 titles out of 56 so far in this British series have one) - but there is a ‘Watch It Anywhere’ Digital Download Code Sheet to use so you can watch the movie on the go on your mobile device. Technical details are...

Aspect Ratio: 1080 High Def 16x9 1:37:1

Audio is DTS-HD in English 2M, Dolby Digital, Castillan Spanish 2M, French 2M, German 2M, Latin Spanish 2M and Polish 2M.

Subtitles: English SDH, Castillan Spanish, French, German SDH, Latin Spanish and Polish

Extras include (a) the 1945 Alternate Version (b) The Big Sleep Comparisons 1945/1946 (c) Introduction by Robert Gitt and (d) Theatrical Trailer.

As you can see from the info above – the film in presented in its original Aspect Ratio of 1:37:1 (not widescreen) – which means a boxed view with black lines on both the left and right. The restored print is a joy to look at. From the moment Private Eye gumshoe Philip Marlowe enters the upmarket household of a wheelchair-bound General Sternwood to discuss his flighty mid-20s daughter Carmen and her debts to a bookstore owner – the print is glorious in all its Black and White Raymond Chandler period pomp (Sidney Hickox did the Cinematography).

Humphrey Bogart (Marlowe - a canny and suitably crumpled private eye), Charles Waldron (Sternwood - a cantankerous but practical father) and the gorgeous Martha Vickers as the young socialite Carmen slinkily smoozing everything in trousers – immediately start to light up the screen with their expertise and the sassy dialogue. But as soon as the older and smarter Sternwood daughter turns up – Lauren Bacall as Vivien Rutledge – and she gets to tangle with a clearly enamoured Bogie – the real sizzle begins. Vivien suspects that her wealthy papa has murderous enemies and the real reason he wants Marlowe is to not just plug his daughter's gambling connections and ability to bring scandal to the family name - but to find a young lad called Sean Regan who has disappeared mysteriously with secrets that can’t ever fall into the wrong hands. And on the story goes - twisting and turning and wrong-footing - as the Noir genre does. In fact the plot is bloody hard to follow at times if not impossibly convoluted - but who cares when it looks this good and has Bogart and Bacall steaming up the lends every few minutes.

The original 1945 version at 116 minutes is only a deuce longer than the re-shot, re-edited and re-released 1946 version (114 minutes) - but it has a different structure and ending. Also the part of Mona Mars played by Pat Clark in the first cut is replaced with Peggy Knudsen in the finally released 1946 version. The re-shoot took place for many reasons - mostly though because Hawks realised what was happening between Bogie and Bacall and he was smart enough to exploit their visual and physical dynamite. Their obvious affection and sexiness towards each other also ran in tandem with huge public interest in their slightly scandalous marriage. Hawks did well of course to milk that famous off-screen/on-screen chemistry - even though in my books you could argue that the seriously sexy Martha Vickers actually outshines Bacall (sacrilegious talk I know). And the bookstore assistant played by Dorothy Malone is equal to the task too (she only just passed in January 2018 aged 93).

Many have described the chemistry between Bogart and Bacall as incendiary – true – but for me it's the banter – the one-two verbal sucker punches from the William Faulkner, Leigh Brackett and Jules Furthman screenplay that send this movie soaring. Check these out...

Bacall: So you're a private detective. I didn't know they existed - except in books. Or else they were greasy little men snooping around hotel corridors. My - you're a mess - aren't you?

Bogart: I'm not very tall either. Next time, I'll come on stilts, wear a white tie and carry a tennis racket.

Bacall: I doubt if even that would help...

Bacall: I don't like your manners.

Bogart: I don’t like them either. I grieve over them long winter evenings...

In the bookstore – the initially friendly assistant (a front) smells a rat as Bogey grills her on her first edition expertise...knowledge she clearly doesn’t have...

Bogart: You do sell books - don't you?

Assistant (points downwards): What do they look like – grapefruit!

This is a film where gals are gals and any chump who gets fresh gets a sock in the jaw. Women casually says things like “...A lot depends on who’s in the saddle...” and this moll ain’t talking about her man’s odds at Epsom. Nobody smiles – people sleep in cars – smucks drown in cars – cops are either dead or dirty or both - shop assistants look like Harpers Bizarre models and any man without a Trilby is a bagman probably carrying a concealed weapon he intends to slug some wise guy with. And don’t get me started on the cool cars.

I love it - and this 2017 variant of "The Big Sleep" on BLU RAY is a sexy treat you need in your gangster's boudoir...

PS: Info on the Warner Brothers 'Premium Collection' BLU RAY Reissue Series 

Released In Conjunction With HMV UK (releases 2016 to 2018):

Each 2-Disc Set Contains a BLU RAY, a DVD, a Digital Download Code (with Ultraviolet), an Exclusive Outer Glossy Slipcase and 4 Art Cards (usually one is the movie poster and others are stills from the movie). None of the 56 releases to date have booklets except where noted (11, 27, 31, 40, 48 and 53) with “Casablanca” being the only issue in the Series with Three-Discs. The Entire Series is numbered on the silver spine with the year of the film's release above that number (as per the list below). Begun in October 2016 - releases are ongoing into 2018 and while some have been available in the USA - many titles are first time on BLU RAY in the UK and Europe...

2016:

1. Them (1955) - released 3 October 2016 - Barcode 5051892202770

2. Forbidden Planet (1956) - released 3 October 2016 - Barcode 5051892202985

3. The Omega Man (1971) - released 3 October 2016 - Barcode 5051892202763

4. Soylent Green (1973) - released 3 October 2016 - Barcode 5051892202756

5. All The President's Men (1976) - released 3 October 2016 - Barcode 5051892202626

6. Logan's Run (1976) - released 3 October 2016 - Barcode 5051892202718

7. The Shining - Extended Cut (1980) - released 3 October 2016 - Barcode 5051892202206

8. Diner (1982) - released 3 October 2016 - Barcode 5051892202664

9. Little Shop Of Horrors (1986) - released 3 October 2016 - Barcode 5051892202749

10. Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990) - released 3 October 2016 - Barcode 5051892202848

2017:

11. King Kong (1933) - released 27 February 2017 - Barcode 5051892206600 (with 32-Page Booklet)

12. The Adventures Of Robin Hood (1938) – released 27 February 2017 - Barcode 5051892206921

13. Excalibur (1981) – released 13 March 2017 - Barcode 5051892206280

14. The Mission (1986) - released 13 March 2017 - Barcode 5051892206877

15. Jason & The Argonauts (1963) - released 13 March 2017 - Barcode 5050349003724

16. The Hunger (1983) - released 17 Apr 2017 - Barcode 5051892207638

17. Performance (1970) - released 17 Apr 2017 - Barcode 5051892207621

18. The Time Machine (1960) - released 8 May 2017 - Barcode 5051892208291

19. Outland (1981) - released 8 May 2017 - Barcode 5051892208215

20. A Scanner Darkly (2006) - released 8 May 2017 - Barcode 5051892208857

21. Gattaca (1997) - released 8 May 2017 - Barcode 5050349523925

22. Donnie Brasco (1997) - released 29 May 2017 - Barcode 5050349609926

23. Blow (2001) - released 29 May 2017 - Barcode 5051892208277

24. Battle Of The Bulge (1965) - released 5 June 2017 - Barcode 5051892208260

25. The Dirty Dozen (1967) - released 5 June 2017 - Barcode 5051892208284

26. Casualties Of War (1989) - released 5 June 2017 - Barcode 5050349145820

27. Gettysburg: Director's Cut (1993) - released 12 June 2017 - Barcode 5051892208321

28. Jeremiah Johnson (1972) - released 12 June 2017 - Barcode 5051892208307

29. Legends Of The Fall (1994) - released 12 June 2017 - Barcode 5050629158823

30. Sex, Lies And Videotape (1989) - released 17 July 2017 - Barcode 5050349292623

31. A Streetcar Named Desire (1951) - released 17 July 2017 - Barcode 5051892209236

32. Cat On A Hot Tin Roof (1958) - released 17 July 2017 - Barcode 5051892209274

33. Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? (1966) - released 17 July 2017 - Barcode 5051892209328

34. White Heat (1949) - released 14 August 2017 - Barcode 5051892209687

35. The Public Enemy (1931) - released 14 August 2017 - Barcode 5051892209656

36. Little Caesar (1931) - released 14 August 2017 - Barcode 5051892209618

37. Point Blank (1967) - released 18 September 2017 – Barcode 5051892209632

38. The Yakuza (1974) - released 18 September 2017 - Barcode 5051892209663

39. Body Heat (1981) - released 18 September 2017 - Barcode 5051892209557

40. Chinatown (1974) - released 18 September 2017 - Barcode 5053083131807

41. Shaft (1971) - released 2 October 2017 - Barcode 5051892209649

42. New Jack City (1991) - released 2 October 2017 - Barcode 5051892209625

43. Pet Sematary (1986) - released 16 October 2017 - Barcode 5053083131814

44. House Of Wax 3D (1953) - released 16 October 2017 - Barcode 5051892209984

45. The Haunting (1963) – released 16 October 2017 – Barcode 5051892209915

46. A Clockwork Orange (1971) - released 16 October 2017 - Barcode 5051892210867

47. The Maltese Falcon (1941) - released 6 November 2017 - Barcode 5051892209922

48. Casablanca (1942) - released 5 February 2018 (delayed release) - Barcode 5051892209816 (Three Disc Special Edition with Booklet)

49. The Big Sleep (1946) - released 6 November 2017 - Barcode 50501892209892

50. Lost Horizon (1937) - released 6 November 2017 - Barcode 5050629028638 (80th Anniversary Reissue/4K Restoration with Booklet)

2018:

51. Amistad (1997) - released 15 January 2018 - Barcode 5053083134747

52. Munich (2005) - released 15 January 2018 - Barcode 5053083134754

53. (Frank Capra's) Mr. Smith Goes To Washington (1946) – released 5 February 2018 – Barcode 5050629038132

54. The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms (1953) – released 26 February 2018 – Barcode 5051892212618

55. Clash Of The Titans (1981) – released 26 February 2018 – Barcode 5050189221263

56. Valley Of The Gwangi (1969) – released 26 February 2018 – Barcode 5051892212625