Marlowe

Marlowe Theatrical release poster Country USA Directed by Paul Bogart Release Date 1969 Language English Studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distributor Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Main Cast Character Actor Philip Marlowe James Garner Mavis Wald Gayle Hunnicutt Dolores Gonzáles Rita Moreno Lt. Christy French Carroll O'Connor Sgt. Fred Beifus Kenneth Tobey Orfamay Quest Sharon Farrell Mr. Crowell William Daniels Winslow Bruce Lee Sonny Steelgrave H.M. Wynant Dr. Vincent Lagardie Paul Stevens

Marlowe is a 1969 neo-noir movie starring James Garner as author Raymond Chandler's famous private detective Philip Marlowe. Directed by Paul Bogart, the screenplay was written by Stirling Silliphant based on Chandler's 1949 novel The Little Sister. The supporting cast included Bruce Lee, Gayle Hunnicutt, Rita Moreno, Sharon Farrell, Carroll O'Connor,Kenneth Tobey and Jackie Coogan. There are many film buffs who consider the role as the prototype for James Garner's second Los Angeles P.I. character Jim Rockford in The Rockford Files, however any of the wisecracking Marlowe lines incorporated by Silliphant for this movie were taken directly from Chandler's novel. Silliphant was best known for his Academy Award-winning screenplay for In the Heat of the Night and for the screenplays of other popular movies such as Telefon, The Enforcer, Shaft in Africa and The Killer Elite and creating the television series Route 66 and Naked City.

The following weapons were used in the film Marlowe:

Smith & Wesson Model 10 Snub

Philip Marlowe (James Garner) carries a 2"-barreled Smith & Wesson Model 10 revolver in a shoulder holster until it is taken away by Sonny Steelgrave's thugs. In the novel, Marlowe carried a Luger.

Smith & Wesson Model 10 snub nose revolver, with smaller grips and newer sight and barrel design - .38 Special

Philip Marlowe (James Garner) holds his Smith & Wesson revolver on Grant W. Hicks.

Colt Python

After his first revolver is taken away, Philip Marlowe (James Garner) draws a snubnose Colt Python from an office drawer that he carries through the duration of the film in his shoulder holster.

Colt Python Snub Nose with 2.5" barrel - .357 Magnum

Marlowe (James Garner) with his Python drawn.

Smith & Wesson Model 36 Chief's Special

Detective Sgt. Fred Beifus (Kenneth Tobey) carries a Smith & Wesson Model 36 "Chief's Special" in a belt holster. Later Dr. Vincent Lagardie (Paul Stevens) uses a Smith & Wesson Model 36 "Chief's Special".

Smith & Wesson Model 36 - .38 Special

Beifus' Model 36 sits in his holster as he talks to Marlowe in Hicks' room.

Lagardie (Paul Stevens) with a Smith & Wesson Model 36.

Colt Government Model

Small-time grifter Grant W. Hicks (Jackie Coogan) keeps a Colt Government Model pistol in his suitcase. This is consistent with Hicks' "automatic… .45 gun" referred to by Raymond Chandler in his novel The Little Sister that the film was based on.

Colt Government Model M1911A1 - .45 ACP

Grant W. Hicks' 1911 series pistol rests in his suitcase.

Colt Model 1908 Vest Pocket

Mavis Wald (Gayle Hunnicutt) carries a nickel Colt Model 1908 Vest Pocket with pearl grips that Marlowe (James Garner) takes from her and places in the hand of Sonny Steelgrave (H.M. Wynant). Marlowe erroneously refers to the .25-caliber weapon as a ".32" throughout the film.

Colt Model 1908 Vest Pocket, nickel with pearl grips - .25 ACP

Mavis (Gayle Hunnicutt) gets the drop on Marlowe.

Marlowe sniffs Mavis' recently fired Colt Model 1908 Vest Pocket.

The dropped Colt.