The Big Sleep
- Wed, Jan 22
The Frida Cinema's seating is first-come, first-serve. For our Midnight Screenings, please plan on arriving by 11:30pm to ensure ample time for parking, picking up concessions, and securing optimal seats. Screening will begin promptly at midnight.
Director: Howard Hawks Run Time: 114 min. Release Year: 1946
Starring: Elisha Cook Jr., Humphrey Bogart, John Ridgely, Lauren Bacall, Martha Vickers
Our Classic Movie Night series kicks off 2025 with The Big Sleep, Howard Hawks’ noir adaptation of Raymond Chandler’s iconic novel.
Private detective Philip Marlowe, played by Humphrey Bogart, is hired by the wealthy General Sternwood to investigate a blackmail scheme involving his daughter, Carmen. What begins as a straightforward case unravels into a labyrinth of deception, murder, and corruption, as Marlowe discovers connections to gambling dens, organized crime, and a missing person. Along the way, he encounters the General’s other daughter, the sharp-witted and enigmatic Vivian, portrayed by Lauren Bacall, with whom he shares a smoldering chemistry.
Known for its razor-sharp dialogue, moody cinematography, and Bogart and Bacall’s dynamic on-screen pairing, The Big Sleep remains a defining work of the noir genre, celebrated for its stylish complexity and enduring allure.