This film came out on dvd in 1999 and the dvd was pretty sad. No widescreen and the image didn't even look very clean. The release was from Pioneer, I think, and the dvd has been discontinued. I wonder who has the rights and if we'll get a decent dvd edition anytime soon? Mitchum's Big Sleep got released on dvd twice and neither was very good and that was an inferior film.
shareWell its gratifying to see that someone took in this film.
Just came over to this message board on a lark to see if one existed.
Farewell My Lovely came out after "Chinatown" when the Marlowe type detective
story enjoyed a resurgence.
Unfortunately "Farewell My Lovely" was not in the same league as Polanski's
benchmark work.
Part of the problem with FML is that it didn t have Robert Towne as a screenwriter.
Robert Mitchum (always fun to watch) did a fairly good job as Marlowe.
The film itself is stylish in its use of color in an attempt to capture the 1940's Los Angeles. It has a hazy yellowish ambience about it that is a genuine cinematic achievement. The film also has an authenically seedy quality about it. So much so that after watching it a person should feel like taking a bath.
A Special Credit with a star should be give to John Alonzo for the brilliant cinematography in this film. Added this comment because after writing the initial post, found who the cinematographer was. John Alonzo also did Chinatown, Tom Horn, Harold and Maude, and Scarface to name a few.
Overall if a good print of this film could be reproduced on DVD it would be
worth a look. If some night you want to go slumming without nostalgia in a sleepy Los Angeles of the past...give it a try.
Sorry to hear that, it's a great flick, one of my all-time favorites
shareThe criticism of the Pioneer DVD is uncalled for. My copy has a clean, if dark image. But the movie was a film noir recreation, so that is the way the movie should have looked. Another characteristic of the DVD is that it is one of the rarest non-Criterion DVDs released. For a region 1 DVD with a major Hollywood star, Farewell My Lovely has the highest resale price. Even the bootleg versions have a high asking price. There must be some litigation blocking a re-release of this movie, which gives Robert Mitchum one of his best roles.
shareThis should be given the full treatment as a DVD. This film is an undiscovered masterpiece. True to the real noir of the 40's, it is Mitchum at his best. He is simply perfect for this film- the right age of his life, the right look to his face, and that magnificent voice of his.
Shortly after this he hosted Saturday Night Live and did a great send-up of this type of movie.
Mitchum. The man was simply great.
Shortly after this he hosted Saturday Night Live and did a great send-up of this type of movie
I just received a VHS copy I ordered at Amazon (about $12 w/shipping). It was produced by AVID Home Entertainment around 1992. It's good enough for me, about the same as if you viewed it on broadcast TV. It doesn't look like this film was done in widescreen, so the smaller image is just fine. There does not appear to be any region 1 DVD's available right now (except for used ones maybe, at a very high price). Be careful of ordering one that isn't for the U.S....you won't be able to play it!
Regards,
RSGRE