Big Sleep (Radio Collection) [Audiobook] [Audio CD]

Raymond Chandler (Author)

Book Description

Series: Radio Collection | Publication Date: June 4, 2001

Two BBC radio dramatisations of Raymond Chandler novels featuring the cynical, world-weary detective - Philip Marlowe.

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: BBC Audiobooks (June 4, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0563478306
• ISBN-13: 978-0563478300
• Product Dimensions: 5.7 x 4.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #794,135 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #6 in Books > Books on CD > Authors, A-Z > ( C ) > Chandler, Raymond

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite of the Dramatized Philip Marlowes, March 11, 2005

By 

A. McCusker "Ed fan" (from Baltimore) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Big Sleep (Radio Collection) (Audio CD)

I purchased these audiobooks within a week of purchasing "Farewell my Lovely". The Big Sleep" and "The High Window" are my favorites. I love the plot, the wit (beautifully excecuted by Ed Bishop) The stories are really interesting and fun. It is unique to rely on your audiotory sense in a world usually focusing on the visual. These are a must to own for the Raymond Chandler, Philip Marlowe or Mystery theme fan. Personally my primary reason was for my favorite actor Ed Bishop being the star!! His voice and the delivery of each line with pinpoint precision is music to the ears :0)

4.0 out of 5 stars Quite well done, October 5, 2011

By 

M. Bulger (Boston MA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Big Sleep (Radio Collection) (Audio CD)

The BBC did six Philip Marlowe stories from 1977 to 1988. They are all very well done, and every time I hear the opening theme music, I feel like I'm being delivered straight to early-mid-20th Century California, land of noir corruption. Chandler's dialogue is often used in these productions, so the style of the books carries over very well to audio drama. Even if you already know the stories from the books or movies, you should be able to enjoy this medium equally well.

My reason for taking one star off my rating is the choice of Ed Bishop to play Marlowe. My understanding is that Bishop was an American actor who lived and worked in the UK. As such, he was probably chosen more for his availability then his suitability to play Marlowe in audio format. We all have expectations for who should play a well-defined role like Marlowe, particularly when they have been played successfully in the past. In this case, I'm thinking not just of the actors who have played Marlowe on the screen, but Gerald Mohr, who was Marlowe in the post-war radio series over many episodes. I try to put aside the familiar actor when I experience a new version of an old favorite, but I'm afraid that Bishop just doesn't ring true in this role. He's obviously a competent actor, but somehow his voice just doesn't match up well with Chandler's dialogue and narration, particularly when wisecracking or cynicism is called for. When I hear Bishop, I think more of the old Hollywood newspaper reporter of the 1930s-40s than a private eye. There's just not enough man's man in his voice to carry off the role seamlessly.

That being said, I still gave these recording four stars, and I still recommend them. I've listened to all the stories twice now, and when I've let them rest long enough, I'll go back to them again.