NOTES FROM THE MOVIE ROOM June 10, 2026

 

🎬 I achieved a cinematic milestone of sorts this evening while watching the 1969 film MARLOWE, starring James Garner as the venerable detective. I was browsing through my local Barnes & Noble and saw the Arrow Video Blu-ray release of the film, which I had never seen. As much as I keep trying to avoid blind buys, I couldn't help myself with this one. It's always fun to discover a film from the 60s and get the chance to immerse myself in the atmosphere of that sacred decade. Garner's supporting cast included Gayle Hunnicut, Rita Moreno, Sharon Farrell, Carroll O'Conner and Kenneth Tobey. Not a bad film, even though I had a hard time following the plot. It was based on the Raymond Chandler novel The Little Sister, which I had read a few years ago, but that didn't help me very much. Still, it was quite colorful and enjoyable. And the film provided an especially great showcase for the gorgeous Miss Moreno, playing a burlesque dancer and seriously getting into her role, skimpy costumes, sexy dance moves, and all.

So, what was the cinematic milestone, you may well ask? This was the first time I ever saw the legendary Bruce Lee in a movie. OK, I know...I know. Blasphemy, right? Hey listen, I've been totally honest about being cinematically challenged. I just never got around to seeing this man in any of his films or TV shows that he made during his short life. Or if I did see him at one time or another, I've completely forgotten. He made quite an impression in MARLOWE as a character named Winslowe Wong, who entered the private detective's life for nefarious reasons and proceeded to kick and chop his way through a series of walls, doors, windows and basically destroying every set he walked into. In the film's most memorable scene, he has Marlowe cornered on the ledge of a high-rise office building. When it looks like Marlowe is done for, Mr. Wong gets somewhat over excited with one of his strenuous kicks and ends up flying right off of the building. What an exit! A star was born!!

I didn't know much about Bruce Lee, so I looked him up on Wikipedia. His filmography goes all the way back to 1941. MARLOWE was his first Hollywood film appearance, and he served as the action director as well. He previously served as action director on THE WRECKING CREW. Martial arts flicks aren't my thing, but he added something really special to this movie. 

He almost steals the film from Rita Moreno. Almost.