The Long Goodbye (1973)

The Long Goodbye (1973) dir. Altman

Opens with the famous cat scene. 3 AM. Looks through the trash. 

Jim Bouton and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Who knows what history has  in store for these two?  Curry Brand cat food !

Thanks a lot but they hurt my teeth. He’s a real smart-ass, Lieutenant!

I’m Sorry, Marlowe!

What are you sorry about?

I’m sorry you’re so stupid!

My husband has a drinking problem. Dried apricot?

I live across the street from Richard Nixon: That’s why I’m in perfect physical condition!

Roman Polanski played by Mark Rydell! Check!

That’s someone I love: You, I don’t even like.

Harry, in case you lose me in traffic, here’s the address where I’m going: Button your clothes, be neat, and go sit in the car!

I think they’re lesbians: No, they’re doing yoga.

It’s like being impotent: I understand what that’s like, too!

Malibu Colony Marlboro Man: Aquavit ftw!

Now we’re in Mexico! Now we’re back in Malibu Colony!

Now we have a really good scene where Sterling Hayden wades out into the surf!

Everybody take off your clothes! Arnold jumps on it!

So the guy who goes to the store at 3 AM for cat food solves everything with a gangland-style execution back in Mexico. Like all Chandler, it’s perfectly styled and plotted unfathomably. And yet it all makes perfect sense from beginning to end. 

Very fast paced. I never knew Altman could be this disciplined. There’s not a second of down time or exposition. It’s all go, go, go.

A magnificent picture! One of Atman's best! Check it out!