The Big Sleep - 1946

This film noir classic stars a young and skinny Lauren Bacall (she is about 18 years old in this movie) and somewhat seasoned actor Humphrey Bogart. Bogart plays Philip Marlowe a Private Dick (slang for private detective) who used to work for the DA's office but turned to private work. He is hired by a rich retired general at the start of the movie because the general wants to know why his two daughters are always hanging with the wrong crowd and why he is always getting blackmailed. Marlowe takes the case and finds himself involved with about 5 murders in a two day time period. The plot is confusing at best. The lines are terrific, and Bogart makes them even better. 3 stars