Everyone enjoys James Garner. Yes? Right. Gambler Bret Maverick. And later, Private Eye Jim Rockford. And squeezed in between we have his very bad take on detective Philip Marlowe. Unlike world-weary Bogart and / or Robert Montgomery in earlier versions (Big Sleep, Lady in the Lake) we have Garner's too-bubbly version of the private eye. Like The Big Sleep, this story through its very last scene is quite tough to keep up with. Unlike The Big Sleep, however, we aren't so won over by the performances that the plot details don't matter. Carroll O'Connor as a frustrated cop shows some early glimpses of the Archie Bunker to come. And Rita Moreno is terrific and very easy on the eyes as a stripper and suspect. But it's Garner's movie, and, based on this audition, I can see why he was chosen for TV's Rockford. But this ain't TV. It's a movie. And as such, should have delivered more. Much more.

Miserable 1969 film based on the Raymond Chandler novel. Total confusing and often quite annoying would best describe this train wreck of a picture.We go from ice pick murders to two sisters reporting their brother missing to all other sorts of mayhem.There is absolutely no cohesion in this film. What was the role of that shady, lunatic doctor?James Garner gets absolutely no support from the dreadful writing.Carroll O'Connor gives an interesting performance as a chief police officer who is quite cynical when it comes to people in general.

Suspense and private eye flicks are okay and this 1969 flick "Marlowe" is clearly no "Chinatown" it's still a film of wonder and mystery. Starring James Garner("The Rockford Files")as private eye Philip Marlowe who's tough and the money doesn't come easy still this private eye is smooth investigating cases and in this film he's on one of a missing person. And soon no one is who they seem the case takes twists and turns that involve blackmail and murders with ice picks. And all of this is taking place in a growing 1960's L.A. it's a hard boiled case with changing characters(it was nice to see a Bruce Lee appearance!) and that makes it tougher for Marlowe to crack the case. Overall this little suspense piece is entertaining it's funny watching the plot unfold and seeing new twist in a mystery game.

Orfamay Quest wants private detective Philip Marlowe to locate her brother.While working on the case he has to face an ice pick killer.Marlowe (1969) is a neo-noir based on the 1949 novel The Little Sister by Raymond Chandler.It's directed by Paul Bogart, who is a distant relative of Humphrey Bogart.He made the character of Philip Marlowe immortal.James Garner's Marlowe is pretty far from Humphrey's Marlowe, but he does a good job.Gayle Hunnicutt plays Mavis Wald.Carroll O'Connor is Lt. Christy French.Rita Moreno portrays stripper Dolores Gonzáles.Sharon Farrell is Orfamay.William Daniels plays the part of Mr. Crowell.H.M. Wynant is Sonny Steelgrave.Former child star Jackie Coogan plays Grant W. Hicks.Then we also see Bruce Lee showing his martial arts skills as Winslow Wong.This Marlowe mystery is pretty mediocre as a movie.It's not James Garner to blame, the story just never catches fire.