The Long Goodbye 1973 Review

  It's a masterpiece of the 1970s.   The camera never stops moving in the entire movie,  the same musical theme is played in several ways throughout the film, even as a doorbell chime,  the script, staging, locations, acting and sense of time and place is superb.  It was once upon a time put on video in a pan and scan version that butchered the beautiful visual qualities of the film.   There are t.v. prints that cut the ending!!!  Look for: baseball pitcher Jim Bouton,  Look fast for Governor Arnold as a thug (he has no lines but you can't miss 'em)  look for director Mark Rydell as a vicious Jewish gangster,  and there's Nina and the brilliant Sterling Hayden , the weasely,  Henry Gibson,  the cat loving, private investigator out of his time and place but 'it's okay with him"  Elliot Gould, the naked pot smoking sun worshipers, that incredible Canyon house....  Now it's restored and on DVD.  Not everyone will consider it a great film... but  check it out.

#42  on my list of Greatest films every made

The Long Goodbye  1973,   Directed by Robert Altman