A poor translation of an interesting book
There's no doubt that Raymond Chandler is a wonderful writer. But this film version of The Long Goodbye does not do the book any justice. It throws out the 1930's historical context and sets the book in the 1960's. This does not work. Elliot Gould is totally miscast as Philip Marlowe, Chandler's famous private eye. Gould lacks the toughness and wit of Chandler's Marlowe as well as the mannerisms and philosophy. Not surprising, The Long Goodbye is a complete flop. Don't waste your time and money on this film even if you love Chandler, Marlowe and film noir. Thomas Lee.

not bad, not bad at all, its worth watching,
HELLO, THIS IS QUIET A GOOD MOVIE FROM 1973, ITS WORTH WATCHING, REMEMBER ALL THE GREAT , GREAT MOVIES, WERE MADE IN THE 1970, TIES THANKS AGAIN TAKE CARE.

Amazing Film, Decent DVD
Another bare bones classic Altman film. This is a unique look at LA in the 70s, sort of like an ironic Chinatown doused in cocaine rather than alcohol.

Buy it for film library!
You really need to own this film. It's truly a solid film in so many different ways. Robert Altman is a superb director. Elliot Gould plays a truly excellent detective who was betrayed by a 'friend' who has ruthlessly murdered a woman. He can't believe that the man he knew was capable of this crime. How did he become the hood that works for Marty Augustine? In the final scene he is chided by the Terry, "Who cares!" Marlowe remarks, "I care", and kills him with a bullet. Was it his disgust with him? Or a sense of betrayal?
Mrs. Wade draws the wrong conclusions about Marlowe after he sits in jail for three days. Early in the film Marlowe tells Mrs. Wade that he doesn't do divorce work but her husband departed before she could separate or divorce from him. So she hires Marlowe to find him and bring him home. When Roger Wade returns home with Marlowe he must be wondering is there a chance to save the marriage? It's those first minutes with his wife that tell him nothing has changed. Like Terry Lennox, Roger Wade has changed. He's no longer the man that his wife married and wants.
He complains to Mrs. Lennox who is determined to put a stop to matters and killed by her own husband when she threatens to go to the police. At the police station Lt. Farmer asked Marlowe how come he knows so little about his friends? He places his trust in them but loyalty carries a price. Was it merely co-incidence? Marlowe receives five thousand bills from Marty Augustine and Terry Lennox for 'his troubles'. Didn't it simply confirm the doubts that had been growing in his mind about a good friend and the crime that he had committed?

Not for Marlowe fans or kids. They'll be disappointed.

Typical Hollywood Slop
If you are looking to watch a movie that is true to the Raymond Chandler novel "The Long Goodbye", DO NOT BUY THIS MOVIE!!!

As usual, Hollywood has taken a great book and twisted it around to fit their needs.

A couple of previous reviewers have mentioned that the movie is ethical to presenting the Marlowe character true to form. That can be said throughout most of the movie, but the ending blows this attempt out of the water. Without giving the ending away, the movie has Marlowe doing something so out of character and, in all reality, something that Marlowe never did in any of the novels or short stories.

This movie very loosely follows the storyline from the book. Aside from this loose following, the movie has nothing to do with the Chandler story.

Why call the movie "The Long Goodbye" when it doesn't stick to the book? Hmmmm, maybe to sucker people into watching it!!!

Do NOT buy this movie if you are expecting a true adaptation to the book!!!The Long Goodbye