a many who have leave comment before me have observe and this film echo the detective story of the 1930s and 1940s . i would go a little further and suggest that the premise of the movie be what would the case be like if philip marlowe be rope into a mystery when he be push 80. howard duff scene early in the film and even his character name evoke the big sleep while chandler allusion continue through the film . art carney superbly underplayed ira well be unquestionably an avatar of marlowe survive into the late 1970s and into his late 70 . he a bit deaf and a bit slow and a bit more crotchety but he still that one moral man walk down these mean street of l. a. benton have do some extraordinary work and but this be his elevation to the sublime and a movie that one can watch again and again . it a minor masterpiece . if producer altman own the long goodbye have be as good a raymond chandler film a this be and goodbye would have rise to the level of the other two incomparable film of chandler novel represent the howard hawkes and bogart and bacall the big sleep and the robert mitchum farewell and my lovely .