“The Long Goodbye” From someone who watches the world to someone who intervenes in it *Note! Contains spoilers.

"Long live Hollywood"

But at the very end of the film, Altman's version of The Long Goodbye takes a shocking turn. In the original, Lennox, with a facelift, appears at the end, and Marlowe realizes that he has been used. He slowly digests the shocking truth and quietly leaves the scene. But in the film, after learning The Truth, Marlowe fires a gun into Lennox's ribs, a radical change. Needless to say, this drew backlash from ardent Chandler fans.

But this was the story Altman wanted to tell. This was what he wanted Marlowe to do after 20 years of slumber. After reading the script for the first time, Altman requested that a clause be added to his contract stating that he would never change the ending, in exchange for accepting the directorial role. That's how impressed he was with Leigh Brackett's script. Brackett himself said:

"The ending, in which Marlowe commits murder, was decided even before Altman joined the project. (Omitted) At the time ' The Big Sleep ' was made, there was censorship, so it couldn't be done even if we had wanted to. (Omitted) I don't know if what we did was right, but I don't regret doing it. It felt 'right' at the time, and that's how it turned out." (*5)

“The Long Goodbye” © 1973 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. All Rights Reserved

From a bystander to an intervener in the world. Marlow, half awake and half asleep, brings the absurd story to a close of his own volition.

After he shoots his best friend Lennox, the music that plays is "Viva Hollywood" by the Benny Goodman Orchestra. Every time I watch this final scene, I feel a strange sense of elation. It's like a song that loudly declares his break from being a bystander. I'm sure Robert Altman was feeling that same excitement as he turned the camera. For some reason, I can't help but feel that way.

(*1) " The Long Goodbye " Hayakawa Publishing

(*2), (*3) " Robert Altman: My Films, My Life ", Kinema Junposha

(*4) " The Long Goodbye " Hayakawa Publishing

(*5) https://cinephiliabeyond.org/long-goodbye-robert-altman-leigh-bracketts-unique-fascinating-take-chandler-film-noir/

Text: Rui Takeshima

A pop culture writer who wants to be kicked by Hit Girl. Host of the web magazine "POP MASTER".

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"The Long Goodbye"

"Robert Altman Masterpiece Selection"

From May 26th (Friday), Kadokawa Cinema Yurakucho and other locations nationwide.

Distribution: Mermaid Film/Kopiapore Film

©️ 1973 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. All Rights Reserved