From the hard-boiled detective Philip Marlowe to the seedy underworlds of Los Angeles, Chandler’s iconic stories…


Smart Philip. Poster of the 2003 movie and cover of the 1939 book, The Big Sleep
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The Big Sleep
Raymond Chandler, 1939
movie vs book
Václav Marhoul, 2003

The famous hero, private eye Phil Marlowe, a romantic cowboy who enforces the law on the lawless prairie of a big metropolis, is based on the stories of American author Raymond Chandler. He is trustworthy, pessimistic, and diligent. While frequently being harassed and beaten up by criminals and even the police, he toils away on the crimes that he finally solves after making a number of mistakes. Everything is for sale in this violent, dishonest, and corrupt world. All things aside from him.


Philip Marlowe, Private Eye. Poster of the 1983 TV series and cover of the 1939 book, The Big Sleep
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The Big Sleep
Raymond Chandler, 1939
TV series vs book
Peter Hunt, Robert Iscove, 1983-1986

The cases of private investigator Philip Marlowe are chronicled in the series. Storylines were taken from Chandler’s short stories and were set in Los Angeles in the 1930s.


Time to Kill. Poster of the 1942 movie and cover of the 1942 book, The High Window
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The High Window
Raymond Chandler, 1942
movie vs book
Herbert I. Leeds, 1942

A priceless antique coin was taken from its owner by her son, who then used it to settle a blackmailer, thus the owner hires a private investigator to find it. In no time at all, the private eye is enmeshed in fights, additional blackmail, hysterical ladies, and murder.


Marlowe: Choices. Poster of the 2007 movie and cover of the 1939 book, The Big Sleep
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The Big Sleep
Raymond Chandler, 1939
movie vs book
Rob Bowman, 2007

Set in 2007 in Los Angeles, Philip Marlowe still solves mysteries and doggedly fights for truth with his whiskey, his revolver, and his gravelly first-person narration. The case isn’t over until justice is served, even if the check bounces. The only change in his style is that he’s hired a girl Friday, a dame named Jessica who’s as hard-headed as she is easy on the eyes.


The Long Goodbye. Poster of the 2014 TV series and cover of the 1953 book
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The Long Goodbye
Raymond Chandler, 1953
TV series vs book
Kentaro Horikirizono, 2014-

In 1950s Tokyo, Tamotsu is suspected of killing Shizuka Harada, his actress wife. He runs away to Taiwan and kills himself. Private investigator Banji Masuzawa, a friend of Tamotsu, has questions about Tamotsu’s passing, but prominent media tycoon Heizo Harada conceals the facts. After that, Banji becomes entangled in a different case involving the Harada family’s neighbors.


Philip Marlowe. Poster of the 1959 TV series and cover of the 1939 book, The Big Sleep
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The Big Sleep
Raymond Chandler, 1939
TV series vs book
Raymond Chandler, 1959-1960

The series follows the cases of private detective Philip Marlowe. The action takes place in Los Angeles during the 1930s, with the plots being adapted from short stories by author Raymond Chandler. The series features Philip Carey as Marlowe and William Schallert co-stars as Police Lieutenant Manny Harris.

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“One of the most satisfying things to me is how faithful Scorsese was to my book.”

BRIAN SELZNICK (Writer)