The Big Sleep

Private-eye Philip Marlowe is hired to keep an eye on General Sternwood's youngest daughter, Carmen, who has fallen into bad company and is likely to do some damage to herself and her family before long. He soon finds himself falling in love with her older sister, Vivien, who initially takes a deep dislike to Mr Marlowe. However, the plot thickens when murder follows murder...

Summary written by Graeme Roy

Directed by

Howard Hawks

Cast (in credits order) verified as complete

Humphrey Bogart .... Philip Marlowe
Lauren Bacall .... Vivian Sternwood Rutledge
John Ridgely .... Eddie Mars
Martha Vickers .... Carmen Sternwood
Dorothy Malone .... Book Seller
Peggy Knudsen .... Mona Mars
Regis Toomey .... Bernie Ohls
Charles Waldron .... General Sternwood
Charles D. Brown .... Norris, the Butler
Bob Steele (I) .... Canino
Elisha Cook Jr. .... Harry Jones
Louis Jean Heydt .... Joe Brody
Sonia Darrin .... Agnes Lowzier
James Flavin .... Captain Cronjager
Thomas E. Jackson .... District Attorney Wilde
Tom Rafferty .... Carol Lundgren
Theodore von Eltz .... Arthur Gwynne Geiger
Dan Wallace .... Owen Taylor
Joy Barlowe .... Taxi Driver
Forbes Murray .... Furtive Man
Emmett Vogan .... Deputy Sheriff

Written by

Leigh Brackett
Raymond Chandler (novel)
William Faulkner
Jules Furthman

Cinematography by

Sidney Hickox

Music by

Max Steiner

Costume Design by

Leah Rhodes

Film Editing by

Christian Nyby

Produced by

Howard Hawks
Jack L. Warner (executive)

Humphrey Bogart	....	Philip Marlowe
Lauren Bacall	....	Vivian Sternwood Rutledge
John Ridgely	....	Eddie Mars
Martha Vickers	....	Carmen Sternwood
Dorothy Malone	....	Book Seller
Peggy Knudsen	....	Mona Mars
Regis Toomey	....	Bernie Ohls
Charles Waldron	....	General Sternwood
Charles D. Brown	....	Norris, the Butler
Bob Steele (I)	....	Canino
Elisha Cook Jr.	....	Harry Jones
Louis Jean Heydt	....	Joe Brody
Sonia Darrin	....	Agnes Lowzier
James Flavin	....	Captain Cronjager
Thomas E. Jackson	....	District Attorney Wilde
Tom Rafferty	....	Carol Lundgren
Theodore von Eltz	....	Arthur Gwynne Geiger
Dan Wallace	....	Owen Taylor
Joy Barlowe	....	Taxi Driver
Forbes Murray	....	Furtive Man
Emmett Vogan	....	Deputy Sheriff

Leigh Brackett
Raymond Chandler			(novel)
William Faulkner
Jules Furthman