传统好莱坞电影的一大优点应该是浅显易懂(至少从剧情上来说),正是所谓的Closure。而The Big Sleep却是异类中的异类,特别对于一个侦探片来说。至于看不懂的原因,一般来说都是怪在当年的PCA也就是万恶的审查系统头上,还有一点就是为了力捧新星Lauren Bacall,以及利用她和新婚丈夫Humphery Bogart之间的关系炒作。话说回来,如果没有这点,那个经典的赛马对话也永不会出现。
Vivian: Speaking of horses, I like to play them myself. But I like to see them workout a little first, see if they're front runners or comefrom behind, find out what their whole card is, what makes them run. (说到赛马,我也喜欢玩。不过我喜欢先看它们跑一下,看它们是一路当先的还是后来居上的,发现他们的所有的优缺点,什么使他们跑得快)
Marlowe: Find out mine? (发现了我的吗?)
Vivian: I think so. (我想是吧)
Marlowe: Go ahead. (说说看)
Vivian: I'd say you don't like to be rated. You like to get out in front, open up a little lead, take a little breather in the backstretch, and then come home free. (我认为你不喜欢被超过。你喜欢跑在前面,先拉出距离,最后再慢些下来,轻松过关。)
Marlowe: You don't like to be rated yourself. (你也不喜欢被超过)
Vivian: I haven't met anyone yet that can do it. Any suggestions? (我还没遇见过一个能做到的,你有何高见?)
Marlowe: Well, I can't tell till I've seen you over a distance of ground. You've got a touch of class, but I don't know how, how far you can go.(嗯,目前还不知道,路遥知马力。看起来像是名种,不过我不知道,你能跑多远)
Vivian: A lot depends on who's in the saddle. (主要还是看谁在骑)