Marlowe

1969

Marlowe

Critics Consensus

No consensus yet.

71%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 7

49%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 555
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Movie Info

James Garner is so good as Raymond Chandler's philosophical gumshoe Philip Marlowe that you forget he's totally wrong for the part. Based on Chandler's The Little Sister, Marlowe involves the detective's efforts to locate the missing brother of Orfamay Quest (Sharon Farrell). He follows the clues to two men who deny any knowledge of the brother's existence. Since both men soon find themselves on the wrong end of an ice pick, Marlowe deduces that there's more to this caper than a mere missing-person case. The plot thickens as more "dramatis personae" are added to the intrigues, including TV star Gayle Hunnicutt, Hunnicutt's gangster boyfriend H.M. Wynant and stripper Rita Moreno. A pre-stardom Bruce Lee shows up as a karate-happy thug who lays waste to Marlowe's office shortly before suffering a spectacular demise. It is preferable to view Marlowe in videocassette or theatrical form; the commercial TV print cuts so much out that viewers are left with virtually nothing but protection leader and a few close-ups of James Garner.

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Cast

James Garner
as Philip Marlowe
Carroll O'Connor
as Lt. Christy French
Rita Moreno
as Dolores Gonzales
Sharon Farrell
as Orfamay Quest
Gayle Hunnicutt
as Mavis Wald
William Daniels
as Mr. Crowell
H.M. Wynant
as Sonny Steelgrave
Jackie Coogan
as Grant W. Hicks
Kenneth Tobey
as Sgt. Fred Beifus
Nate Esformes
as Paleface
Bruce Lee
as Winslow Wong
Christopher Cary
as Chuck
George Tyne
as Oliver Hady
Corinne Camacho
as Julie
Corinne Comacho
as Julie
Paul Stevens
as Dr. Vincent Lagardie
Roger Newman
as Orrin Quest
Boyd 'Red' Morgan
as Gumpshaw
Warren Finnerty
as Manager
Bartlett Robinson
as Munsey
Sonny Steelgrave
as H.M. Wynant
Ted Derby
as Tiger Man
Carol Ann Daniels
as Woman
Marlain Kallevig
as Woman
Chet Stratton
as Harold Munsey
Read Morgan
as Gumpshaw
Hoke Howell
as Intern
Mark Allen
as Attendant
Jason Wingreen
as Clerk
Ann Carroll
as Mona
Emil Alegata
as Waiter
Isabel Colley
as Receptionist
Bert L. Bantle
as Pilot
Tony Conkle
as Pilot
Dee Carroll
as Nurse
Jack English
as Director
Lou Whitehill
as Assistant Director
Mary Charlotte Wilcox
as YWCA Clerk
Tom Monroe
as Policeman
Nicole Jaffe
as Lilly
Camille Grant
as Belly Dancer
Fay Wilkie
as Psychologist
Buddy Garion
as Maitre d'
Paul Micale
as Waiter
Angus Duncan
as TV Actor
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Critic Reviews for Marlowe

All Critics (7) | Top Critics (1)

View All Critic Reviews (7)

Audience Reviews for Marlowe

  • Jan 15, 2014
    Very enjoyable mystery with Garner terrific in the lead, The film definitely has shades of Jim Rockford looking back at it now.
    jay n Super Reviewer
  • Aug 23, 2008
    James Garner is LA private detective Marlowe who is hired by a young girl to find her missing brother. What starts as a simple job turns into a mystery involving a high profile Hollywood actress, a ruthless gangster, cops, strippers, and one questionable doctor. Garner is very smooth as Marlowe. The standouts in this film include a wow striptease and incredible performance by Rita Moreno, who is smoking hot and a face off between Marlowe and Bruce Lee in his film debut. Enjoyable enough. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dolores Gonzáles: [responding, mid-striptease, to Philip Marlowe's question] The streets are paved with forgotten husbands!
    monty h Super Reviewer
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