Lot 137
137
CHANDLER, RAYMOND. Printed and typed contract signed ("Raymond Chandler"), an agreement between Chandler and Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc., in which the movie studio buys the rights to The Big Sleep, Los Angeles, 27 October 1944. 7 pages, folio, including inserted typed portions and 3 typed pages, also initialed in 12 places by Chandler, a punch hole in upper left corner of each sheet. The movie "The Big Sleep," based on Chandler's first novel (1939), was released in 1946. It starred Humphrey Bogart and was directed by Howard Hawks; the screenplay was by William Faulkner and Leigh Brackett. Chandler was invited to the Warner Brothers lot during filming and suggested a final scene for the movie, but it was not used. "Chandler was pleased by the final film, especially Bogart's portrayal of Marlowe. 'As we say here, [Chandler wrote to his English publisher] Bogart can be tough without a gun. Also he has a sense of humor that contains that grating undertone of contempt'...Chandler also admired Hawks's direction...he recognized that Hawks had 'the gift of atmosphere and the requisite touch of hidden sadism'" -- Frank MacShane, The Life of Raymond Chandler (1987), pp. 125-126.

Details
CHANDLER, RAYMOND. Printed and typed contract signed ("Raymond Chandler"), an agreement between Chandler and Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc., in which the movie studio buys the rights to The Big Sleep, Los Angeles, 27 October 1944. 7 pages, folio, including inserted typed portions and 3 typed pages, also initialed in 12 places by Chandler, a punch hole in upper left corner of each sheet. The movie "The Big Sleep," based on Chandler's first novel (1939), was released in 1946. It starred Humphrey Bogart and was directed by Howard Hawks; the screenplay was by William Faulkner and Leigh Brackett. Chandler was invited to the Warner Brothers lot during filming and suggested a final scene for the movie, but it was not used. "Chandler was pleased by the final film, especially Bogart's portrayal of Marlowe. 'As we say here, [Chandler wrote to his English publisher] Bogart can be tough without a gun. Also he has a sense of humor that contains that grating undertone of contempt'...Chandler also admired Hawks's direction...he recognized that Hawks had 'the gift of atmosphere and the requisite touch of hidden sadism'" -- Frank MacShane, The Life of Raymond Chandler (1987), pp. 125-126.