Thur Mat

 

“The work of Raymond Chandler experienced a resurgence in the 1970s, thanks to Robert Altman’s ‘The Long Goodbye (1973)’ and Roman Polanski’s very Chandler-ish ‘Chinatown (1974).’ The waning career of Robert Mitchum was also revived by two Chandler adaptations, ‘Farewell, My Lovely (1975)’ {previously filmed by Edward Dmytryk as ‘Murder, My Sweet (1944)’} and ‘The Big Sleep (1978) {previously filmed by Howard Hawks}. Though outside the traditionally-accepted film noir period (approx. 1940-1958), the 1970s provided an ideal climate for a resurgence of the style.

The demise of the Production Code in the 1960s had allowed filmmakers the freedom to explore more explicit themes, usually implying an increase in language, violence and nudity. Chandler’s novels – which typically dabbled in themes of prostitution, homosexuality and pornography – could now be adapted faithfully without the threat of censorship, though fortunately, in the case of this particular film, director Dick Richards doesn’t overdo the sleaze. The source material is one of the few Marlowe novels I haven’t read, but ‘Farewell, My Lovely’ nevertheless seems a loyal interpretation of the author’s style.

Philip Marlowe is the sort of role that Robert Mitchum would have nailed in the 1950s, when he always seemed to feel old and weary without actually looking it. Nevertheless – though he lacks the cocky vigour of Dick Powell, or the invincibility of Humphrey Bogart – the aging Mitchum does communicate what is perhaps Marlowe’s most defining characteristic: that of a disillusioned, world-weary private dick looking for something in this world, anything, worth fighting for. In his latest case, Marlowe is hired by fearless lug Moose Malloy (Jack O’Halloran) to find his girlfriend Velma, who vanished while Malloy was serving a prison sentence.

As always, what had initially seemed a straightforward assignment soon gets Marlowe embroiled in a complex patchwork of deceits, murders and double-crossings. Crucial to the mystery is Charlotte Rampling (emulating Lauren Bacall) as the adulterous wife of an old millionaire, and Oscar-nominated Sylvia Myles as an alcoholic performance artist. Also look out for small roles from Harry Dean Stanton as Det. Rolfe, and Sylvester Stallone as a lustful thug.

‘Farewell, My Lovely’ does a fine job of translating Chandler’s pessimistic vision of urban decay and human depravity. The 1940s adaptations are, of course, superbly entertaining, but most of them – particularly ‘The Big Sleep (1946)’ and ‘Lady in the Lake (1947)’ – are clearly filmed on a pristine studio set, somewhat offsetting the grittiness of Chandler’s characters and plot. Richards’ film, to his credit, is incredibly ugly. Aside from Helen Grayle, whose sprawling mansion suffers next to Buckingham Palace, most of Marlowe’s witnesses live in appalling squalor; even his own office is drab and bathed in shadow.

Yet, despite the unpolished milieu, ‘Farewell, My Lovely’ most assuredly has a heart. Marlowe’s wordless interactions with the son of a penniless musician help us see beneath the detective’s front of indifference, hinting at his admiration for the honest working-class, and his fervent distaste towards the decadence of the wealthy. When offered his own wealth, Marlowe unthinkingly surrenders it to someone he deems more worthy, a touching but cheerless ending to a film steeped in the unpleasantness of human existence.”

Thursday [12 and 13]

(1115) Elevenses, chaps and chapesses, having a break. (1219)

 

13. This is for an X post but applies here too

There are all sorts of copyright infringement on images, inc. hotlinking … some illegal, mostly naughty, against netiquette. There is a fair way to do it … ask the poster or at least attribute. I saw one guy post one of @bo66ie29’s pics but he attributed below. Look @visitnorthyork to see how.

Very old pics are tricky … sometimes can be attributed, sometimes not. Often a pic is from a site who got it from a site who got it from a site. Sometimes, it’s just impossible, even with TinEye. Safest way is Wikipedia but say so. At my site, if it’s not mentioned, it will be Wiki (stated blog policy).

Then there is a knowingly naughty person. For example, one who posts pics saw one of an old car, waited a week or two and posted it as if it were his. Very naughty. I’m not overly fussed chasing people, too busy … juss sayin’ like.

Piece of unwanted advice to us guys … let the ladies post any of little girls … we should not go near them. If it’s an ancient pic, group, posted by a lady … hmmmm, well ok, occasionally, attributed … but generally it’s best avoided if male. Again juss sayin’ like.

12. IYE

a. Aunty Beeb Cult. The Symbolism of BBC Television Centre

HERE and hopefully expanded at 1264 across the way.

b. Tax year starts on 5 April because……

Why the UK Tax Year Ends on 5 April

Thursday [11]

(0949) The morning is getting away, up after another near three hour sleep, real winter hibernation mode. Welcome IYE, am chasing a story he might be interested in.

 

How to get a highly dangerous story out

… when very powerful forces do not wish for that. There are many topics on sleaze like that but this one we have before us now. I wrote a “quote” above it:


… and this is it:

https://twitter.com/MaggieOliverUK/status/2011684685563203872?s=20

In case the above disappears, this is a sshot of FG’s post:


Right, that’s as far as we can go here on a little blog but X is another matter as you know. Hence the real concern of the Beloved Leader beyond Steve’s and my conclusions about why Eva Vlaar is banned.

Probably best that I stop here for now.

Thursday [6 to 10]

(0545)(0619)

 

10. Moosh corner … more trolleybus trams


9. Yes and no

… he does seem to be evacuating vulnerable spaces first …


8. Nothing spontaneous and committed about it

Screenshot, not footage

7. Trump is a terrible judge of character



6. Just a thought

Thursday [1 to 5]

(0407) Morning, chaps and chapesses. (0428)

 

5. Amazing place, old Iran/Persia

Screenshot, not footage

4. DAD at 1263

a) Portugal chose not to accept the 420 asylum seekers allocated to it under the European Pact on Asylum and Migration. In accordance with the mechanism established by this agreement, Lisbon paid €8.4 million in ‘compensation’ to the European Union.

b) How Brussels Is using Ukraine and Greenland. Behind the language of solidarity, new EU loans are reshaping defence spending, debt, and decision-making—often without much public scrutiny.

c) The German foreign ministry has deleted a poem published in its internal magazine ‘InternAA’ because of its satirical content. The poem alludes to topics such as the Greens fight against gas and oil-fired heating systems….

d) Austria pushes To ban Sharia Law after Court shock. A Vienna arbitration case has forced the government to decide whether religious law can ever be enforced by the state.

e) US Threatens Sanctions Over UK Plan to Block X. Washington’s warning has turned Starmer’s hardline internet policy into a diplomatic reckoning over the limits of state power online.

3. The way woke language is creepingly framed, adopted

… then universally weaponised:


2. Steve both here and at 1263

Steve commented on Eva Vlaar … here is the comment which had her banned:


Plus what Steve said. And Viktor Orban’s reaction:


Meanwhile, over at 1263:

  • Medicaid Funnelled to Illegal Aliens Now Tops $1.8 Billion Across 8 States — CMS Withholds $300M From California, the Worst Offender
  • Supreme Court Greenlights Lawsuits Against Late Mail-In Ballots — Opens Door to Nationwide Challenges to Democrat Schemes
  • Another Victory for Tom Fitton and Judicial Watch – Oregon Agrees to Clean 800,000 Names of Inactive Voters from Voter Rolls
  • Musk Stands Up Against the Ayatollahs, as Iranian Regime Cracks Down on Starlink Terminals, Deploys Military-Grade Jammers Against Sole Internet Option for Protesters
  • Social Media Erupts After Hearing Justice Brown Jackson Invent This Wacky New Word to Describe Actual Girls
  • EU looks for Putin negotiator. Witkoff to Moscow? Rubio, non-kinetic options. Greenland big problem
  • Bombshell study exposes DNA contamination in COVID-19 shots, demands immediate market withdrawal
  • UN uses “children’s rights” to bypass parents and target children
  • UK proposal to decriminalize abortion at any stage of pregnancy sparks fears of sex-selective Infanticide
  • Von der Leyen: Free speech is a virus; we need a vaccine
  • Much more.

1. Over at OoL

https://orphansofliberty.blogspot.com/2026/01/creeping-cog-by-cog-ratcheted-marxism.html

Wednesday [16 till close of play]

(1638) Lost most of the afternoon to not being well, coming out of it a bit now, shall proceed inexorably, like a communist playbook ratcheting bit by bit. Going to include this as a “pinned quote”:

 

23. Second of two quickies … Iran

Troops are leaving Qatar bases … possibly strikes are on the way.

22. First of two quickies … Scott Adams RIP

Some folks have reminded me. Yes.

21. Toodles on chemtrails

James, your chem trail discussion reminded me of two different shots I took. This one was from Sunday – it seems to have chemtrails which mar the sky quite a bit.


JH: The second shot, if Toods allows, I’ll run in the sidebar tomorrow … not so delineated, the chemtrails … lovely view though.

20. On the sleight of hand over digID


19. Moosh corner


18. Now for that creature on SCOTUS


Plus this (think it may have been Steve’s):


17. Steve at 1263

  • Bannon: These Young Girls Work Tirelessly At Club Sports To Get A Chance At College, And You’re Going To Let A Man Compete With These Girls? Are You Kidding Me? It’s Revolting!
  • Naomi Wolf: Across The Country Girls Are Begging Adults To Not Allow Boys In Their Changing Rooms. There Have Been Instances Of Boys Saying, “Oh Yeah, I’m A Girl; I’ll Just Go Watch Them Get Undressed.”
  • Terry Schilling: Two Laws Are In Question Today About Banning Men From Women’s Sports. It Is A Complete Waste Of Time For The Supreme Court To Even Spend A Second On This Issue
  • Eddie Hobbs: The Irish Media Is The North Korea Of Europe, But That Creates An Enormous Opportunity For Us To Disrupt The Space And Spread The Truth!
  • Rep. Keith Self: Sharia Law Is Fundamentally Opposed To The US Constitution And Our Ideas Of Individual Rights
  • Dusty Deevers: Islam Is Not Merely A Religion Like So Many People Say. It’s A Military Conquest And Terrorism Driven Civilization That Is Particularly At War With Christian Civilization

16. First place I looked was DMs

… because the ticker said there was a message. This was it:


I replied at 1615:

“They’re ratcheting up the control … yes.”

It dawned on the addled brain (mine) that Kass would send that … fellow Dutch lady as well as one of our circle. Stumbled over to X. Uh huh:


Can’t remember where Eveliba’s from … Scandinavia anyway. Why choose Eva? Soft target, long time nuisance to the evil muvvers but they can’t just shoot her or hang her, as in Iran. But worse … blonde, married, new baby, she’s much loved by so many online … perfect target to get max outrage from us.

What sort of excuse for human beings are these fiends? The word, by the way, is “conducive” … so much for education in England.