The Big Sleep - double-entendre & innuendo

[Rumple Foreskin]

Just finished watching "The Big Sleep" starring Bogart and Bacall on TCM. In our "anything goes" age, there's not much call for double-entendres and innuendos. It's a change that makes life much easier for AH writers. That wasn't the case, however, back in the mid-40's when this movie was shot.

The novel is by Raymond Chandler. The screenplay by some hack named William Faulkner. In this scene Bogart (Phillip Marlowe) and Bacall (Vivian Sternwood Rutledge) are seated at a small table in an illegal casino/nightclub outside of LA.

Those who haven't read the book and/or seen the movie, should.

Rumple Foreskin

==

Vivian: Tell me: What do you usually do when you're not working?
Marlowe: Oh, play the horses, fool around.
Vivian: No women?
Marlowe: I'm generally working on something most of the time.
Vivian: Could that be stretched to include me?
Marlowe: Well I like you. I've told you that before.
Vivian: I like hearing you say it. But you didn't do much about it.
Marlowe: Well, neither did you.
Vivian: Well, speaking of horses, I like to play them myself. But I like to see them work out a little first, see if they're front-runners or come from behind, find out what their hole-card is. What makes them run.
Marlowe: Find out mine?
Vivian: I think so.
Marlowe: Go ahead.
Vivian: I'd say you don't like to be rated. You like to get out in front, open up a lead, take a little breather in the backstretch, and then come home free.
Marlowe: You don't like to be rated yourself.
Vivian: I haven't met anyone yet that can do it. Any suggestions?
Marlowe: Well, I can't tell till I've seen you over a distance of ground. You've got a touch of class, but, uh...I don't know how - how far you can go.
Vivian: A lot depends on who's in the saddle. Go ahead Marlowe, I like the way you work. In case you don't know it, you're doing all right.
Marlowe: There's one thing I can't figure out.
Vivian: What makes me run?
Marlowe: Uh-huh.
Vivian: I'll give you a little hint. Sugar won't work. It's been tried.

 

[NoJo]

Sexier than "I wonder what you'd be like to fuck". Or not. I'm not sure now.

But Bacall could say "hello" to Bogey and give him (and me) a hardon.

 

[Harry Leg]

You know how to whislte don't you? Just put your lips together and blow.

 

[Salvor-Hardon]

Lauren Bacall was and is the ultimate example of "attitude is everything". She could make the phone book sound hot, and then give a slightly wide eyed look as if to feign innocence but you knew when she smiled she did it completely on purpose.

Damn but she is incredible.

 

[Guest]

Does everyone realize Bacall was only 21 in that scene? Has there been since a young actress to approach her persona (in and off the screen)?

Rhetorically,

Perdita

 

[Salvor-Hardon]

Does everyone realize Bacall was only 21 in that scene? Has there been since a young actress to approach her persona (in and off the screen)?

Rhetorically,

Perdita

That's the thing, she could be an engenue or a seductress, and never miss a beat going form one to the other.

I doubt any of the Scarlett Johansens, or Rachel Weis's, and even Natalie Portman have the sheer power of presence she had.

Though heaven help me if someone were to be able to recapture that je ne sais que she had.

 

[Guest]

I doubt any of the Scarlett Johansens, or Rachel Weis's, and even Natalie Portman have the sheer power of presence she had.

Cancel that doubt. ("even" N. Portman? She has technique but no face.)

Weiss has a real intelligence and talent, but she's in her mid-30s and European so she's got it all over American starlets.

I larf too whenever I hear about the new Cary Grant or Gary Cooper. Pfft!

Perdita

 

[Salvor-Hardon]

Cancel that doubt. ("even" N. Portman? She has technique but no face.)

Weiss has a real intelligence and talent, but she's in her mid-30s and European so she's got it all over American starlets.

I larf too whenever I hear about the new Cary Grant or Gary Cooper. Pfft!

Perdita

I didn't know Rachel Weiss was already in her 30's. Her european flair is evident, though I'd still ike to see her in somethign truly sultry like the old noirs of Bcall and Veronica Lake.

Man but I miss women like that...... then again I want to be a man like Bogart too.

 

[Guest]

..... then again I want to be a man like Bogart too.

Ah ha ha, you and Woody Allen.

Perdita

 

[Salvor-Hardon]

Ah ha ha, you and Woody Allen.

Perdita

LOL sadly I'm closer to Woody Allen than Bogart, but I'm working on it. The white tuxedo jacket helps.