Interview with Raymond Chandler [1 of 4]

In 1958, Ian Fleming interviewed Raymond Chandler for the BBC in London. Part 1.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• raymond
• chandler
• philip
• marlowe
• los
• angeles
• ian
• fleming
• james
• bond
• hard
• boiled
• pulp
• usa
• fiction
• crime
• detective
• mistery
• bbc
• london

[robertlaberge]

Actual interview starts at 5:45

[gtrrs71]

Fantastic! Chandler sounds exactly like I thought he would: a brilliant, cranky, smartass. Two towering giants just shooting the breeze. Sincerely...THANK YOU for posting this. It's like Spanish gold from a deep sea wreck. Cheers!

[ManilaSyndicate]

@JubalCalif Thanks too for the nice discussion. :-)

[JubalCalif]

@ManilaSyndicate

You make some VERY interesting points! I suppose every audience member can't be satisfied with an actor's portryal! Philip Marlowe is brought to life so vividly on the printed page by Chandler that one could find fault in one way or another with any screen portrayal. Many thanks for your thoughtful comments! :-)

[ManilaSyndicate]

@JubalCalif I'm afraid I haven't seen most of the Marlowe films although I should. I've seen a few of Bogies and the one of James Garner and they are fine but not totally convincing. It seems it's difficult to get Marlowe off the printed page because Chandler made him so memorable that it's difficult to portray him on film.

[JubalCalif]

@ManilaSyndicate

Thanks for the "heads up" in regards to "The Long Goodbye"! I have seen much of the Robert Altman 70's film version, but wasn't impressed. His movies seemed more concerned with their eccentric characters than storylines...and it's difficult if not impossible to believe Elliott Gould as Philip Marlow! I love Bogie as Marlow in "The Big Sleep". Dick Powell wasn't bad in "Murder My Sweet" but thought Bob Mitchum was PERFECT as Philip in "Farewell My Lovely".

[ManilaSyndicate]

@JubalCalif Thanks :-). You'll most likely be in for an unforgettable treat: "The Long Goodbye" is considered his masterpiece.

[JubalCalif]

@Ferrari312pb

I certainly second that emotion ! I love Mr Chandler's work; both his books & his screenplays. And what a fascinating life he led! 

[JubalCalif]

@ManilaSyndicate

Well said & well put! I just finished reading his "The High Window" & a short bio in it mentioned he died in '59. So the poor chap was only a year or so from his death when he was interviewed in this clip. Love his work! Read "The Big Sleep", "Farewell My Lovely", "The Little Sister" , "The Lady in the Lake" & "Playback" years ago; next I'm going to read "The Long Goodbye". Thanks for your articulate & intelligent comment!

[TheSunmanho]

Is his name really pronounced "Charndlar"...I always thought it was pronounced "Chentler"?!

[ManilaSyndicate]

Chandler obviously sounded ill by then. The interview shows the contrast between the British and American personalities: Fleming, self-conscious and boring; Chandler, direct and compelling.

[ManilaSyndicate]

@gtrrs71 Well stated. Too bad a film, even a short one, of the great author wasn't taken or doesn't survive.