The Big Sleep Blu-ray Review

Warner Archive's Blu-ray release of "The Big Sleep" boasts a remarkably polished 1080p, AVC-encoded presentation, scanned at 2K from a preservation fine-grain master positive derived from the original nitrate negative. As with other significant titles in Warner's library, substantial frame-by-frame restoration was needed to address the wear and tear evident on the original materials. The meticulous restoration has succeeded in bringing the image quality remarkably close to its original form, drawing the viewer into the film's dark and atmospheric world. The average bitrate of 29.94 Mbps ensures that even the densest scenes encode seamlessly, maintaining an excellent balance across various lighting conditions.

Deep blacks and richly varied shadow delineation are standout features of this transfer, essential for a film that predominantly occurs in nocturnal or dimly lit settings. The presentation excels in preserving detailed gradations within these shadows, unveiling subtle details such as the intricate weave of Bogart’s suit and enhancing the texture of smoky or hazy sequences without losing clarity. Fine detail remains crisp in key scenes, such as in General Sternwood's greenhouse or the Acme Bookstore, providing a robust sense of depth and realism enhanced by evident film grain handled with remarkable clarity and respect.

Patterns maintain a rock-solid stability, and close-ups are remarkably sharp, highlighting not just the rugged nuances of Bogart’s features but also the glamour of Bacall, Martha Vickers, and Dorothy Malone. The gray scale variance further intensifies the film's visual depth, ensuring that even in low-light scenarios, crush issues are minimal. Overall, the Blu-ray video presentation of "The Big Sleep" is nothing short of a masterpiece, offering fans of classic film noir a meticulously restored and visually engaging experience.

The audio presentation of "The Big Sleep" on Blu-ray boasts a meticulously restored mono soundtrack, which is encoded in lossless DTS-HD MA 2.0 with identical left and right channels. The restoration process has effectively eliminated any clicks, pops, or other sonic intrusions, providing a clean and immersive auditory experience. The dialogue, written by acclaimed writers Leigh Brackett, Jules Furthman, and William Faulkner, is rendered with remarkable clarity, ensuring that viewers can fully appreciate the film's sharp and sophisticated script. Max Steiner’s score significantly enhances the film's rich noir atmosphere, further drawing the audience into its gripping narrative.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono track excels in delivering well-balanced sound with no detectable hiss, pops, crackles, or distortion. Subtle ambient effects like rain and chirping birds are seamlessly integrated, adding depth to each scene without overwhelming the dialogue or score. Sonic details such as gunfire and fisticuffs are crisp and impactful, breaking through the mix with startling precision. The dynamic range is notably expansive, accommodating the full spectrum of Max Steiner's lush music score and preserving the integrity of both high and low frequencies. This mono track defies expectations by presenting a vibrant, engaging audio experience that serves as a perfect complement to the film's atmospheric narrative.

The Blu-ray release of "The Big Sleep" includes a variety of fascinating extras that enhance the viewing experience for fans and scholars alike. The disc features the 1945 Pre-release Version of the film, which provides an intriguing alternative to the more widely known 1946 release, with key scenes and a notable extended plot explanation. Additionally, the documentary comparison between the 1945 and 1946 versions has been restored to its full original length, offering an in-depth examination of the film’s evolution. Despite the absence of an audio commentary or a retrospective featurette, the included materials are notably enriching.

Extras included in this disc:

• 1945 Alternate Version Introduction: Archivist Robert Gitt discusses the discovery of the Pre-release version.
• 1945 Alternate Version: Extended scenes and original edits provide fresh insights.
• 1945/1946 Comparisons: Detailed analysis of differences between film versions.
• Theatrical Trailer: A nostalgic look at the original promotion of the film.

"The Big Sleep," directed by Howard Hawks, is widely regarded as the quintessential detective film. Sharing the narrative's murky, labyrinthine complexity, the movie features Philip Marlowe, played masterfully by Humphrey Bogart, unraveling a cauldron of intrigue centering around the Sternwood family. With a plot so dense and multi-layered that even the original creator Raymond Chandler could not keep track of all the details, the film immerses viewers in a seedy atmosphere teeming with double-crosses, blackmail, and murder. The undeniable chemistry between Bogart and Lauren Bacall, enhanced by the biting and often suggestive dialogue, grounds the narrative amid a storm of misdirection and shadowy figures.

The enduring allure of "The Big Sleep" lies in its exceptional cast and sharp screenplay, highlighted by the potent dynamic between Bogart's jaded P.I. and Bacall's enigmatic heiress. Tasked by the ailing General Sternwood to resolve his daughter's gambling debts and her associated scandals, Marlowe navigates through a web of deceit that implicates various dubious characters. From the orchid nursery where the frail General first meets Marlowe to the numerous gritty locations peppered with unsavory figures like blackmailers Joe Brody and Eddie Mars, every scene brims with suspense and tension.

In this meticulously restored Blu-ray edition, "The Big Sleep" is presented in its 1946 theatrical release format with its notorious complexity intact. The extras include a standard-definition copy of the film's Pre-release Version and an encompassing comparative analysis by film archivist Robert Gitt. By illuminating the detailed alternations made before its release, this package offers an unparalleled insight into one of noir cinema's most convoluted plots. Detective aficionados and cinephiles alike will appreciate the exhaustive restoration work that highlights both the intricate screenplay co-written by William Faulkner and Hawks' deft direction in rendering this noir masterpiece.

Warner Archive's Blu-ray release of "The Big Sleep" is a testament to the film's enduring appeal and significance in the noir genre. The Blu-ray offers superior video and audio transfers that showcase the meticulous art of Howard Hawks' direction, as well as the mesmerizing performances of Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. The transfer captures the film's original textures and shadows, enhancing its intricate and dark aesthetic. The 1945 pre-release version, included as a special feature, provides a fascinating glimpse into the film's initial structure and narrative, enhanced by Robert Gitt's informative featurette that delves into the changes and reshoots undertaken for the final 1946 release.

"The Big Sleep" is renowned for its complex and labyrinthine plot, which demands viewer engagement and attention. This intricacy only adds to the film's allure, making it a compelling watch from start to finish. Bogart and Bacall’s undeniable chemistry and dynamic dialogue further strengthen the film's status as a classic. Their on-screen synergy is electric, offering memorable scenes that have captivated audiences for decades. Howard Hawks’ adaptation of Raymond Chandler's novel brings to life a world brimming with tension, mystery, and elegance, ensuring its place in cinematic history.

While some collectors may miss a high-definition presentation of the pre-release version, its inclusion as an extra feature, along with detailed discussions on its differences from the final cut, provides invaluable insights into the filmmaking process. The original 1946 version remains a definitive piece of work, and Warner Archive’s Blu-ray presentation does impeccable justice to this classic. Overall, Warner Archive's release is highly recommended for both dedicated fans and newcomers to this noir masterpiece alike. The Blu-ray serves not just as a preservation effort but also a celebration of one of Hollywood’s finest detective films.

While some collectors will be disappointed that WAC's Blu-ray does not contain a hi-def presentation of the Pre-release Version, it's a minor quibble with a Blu-ray that so capably reproduces the only version that was ever publicly released and that stood alone for fifty years before anyone learned about reshoots. Maybe The Big Sleep would have become a classic without any tinkering, but no true fan would want to lose such scenes as the famous banter between Bogart and Bacall about who's in the saddle. That the earlier cut survived in any form is a small miracle, in an era decades before home video made the preservation of alternate versions and deleted scenes a common practice. Its inclusion in the extras, along with Robert Gitt's informative discussion, provides a rare look at a bygone era of studio filmmaking, but The Big Sleep was revered long before the reshoots became common knowledge—and justly so. Highly recommended.