The Big Sleep (1978)

The Big Sleep Country United Kingdom Directed by Michael Winner Release Date 1978 Studio ITC Entertainment Distributor United Artists Main Cast Character Actor Philip Marlowe Robert Mitchum Charlotte Sternwood Regan Sarah Miles Lash Canino Richard Boone Camilla Sternwood Candy Clark Agnes Lozelle Joan Collins General Sternwood Jimmy Stewart Inspector Carson John Mills Eddie Mars Oliver Reed

The Big Sleep is a 1978 adaptation of Raymond Chandler's classic 1939 pulp thriller, which had been previously adapted into film in 1946, starring Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. This later adaptation retains much of the original source material although it updates the setting from 1940s Los Angeles to 1970s England. Robert Mitchum, who had played the detective three years earlier in Farewell, My Lovely, reprises his role as cynical private eye Philip Marlowe.

The following weapons were used in the film The Big Sleep:

WARNING! THIS PAGE CONTAINS SPOILERS!

Walther PPK

Sinister gambler and gangster Eddie Mars (Oliver Reed) carries a nickel Walther PPK in his waistband, which he draws upon first meeting Philip Marlowe in Arthur Geiger's house. The slide appears to be locked back when he draws it. Mars' henchman Lanny (Dudley Sutton) also carries a blued PPK, which Marlowe (Robert Mitchum) takes from him outside the club.

Walther PPK - 7.65x17mm Browning aka .32 ACP

Eddie Mars draws his Walther PPK on Marlowe. The slide appears to be locked back.

Marlowe aims Lanny's own PPK at him while standing with Charlotte outside the club.

Colt Official Police

Both Joe Brody (Edward Fox) and Karl Lundgren (Simon Fisher-Turner) carry Colt Official Police revolvers with half-moon front sights, wooden grips, and four-inch barrels. Philip Marlowe (Robert Mitchum) takes Karl's Official Police away from him after a brief pursuit.

Colt Official Police - 4" Barrel - .38 Special

Joe Brody draws his Colt Official Police on Marlowe.

Brody tells Agnes to "shut up!" while talking to Marlowe.

Karl fires his Colt revolver at Marlowe.

Marlowe spots Karl's reflection in a car mirror.

Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless

When Joe Brody (Edward Fox) hears a knock at his door, he frantically takes a blued Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless from the top of his desk and hands it to Agnes Lozelle (Joan Collins). Agnes, in turn, loses it in a scuffle with Philip Marlowe (Robert Mitchum).

Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless - .32 ACP

Agnes holds the Colt pistol on Marlowe. Note the ivory grips.

Walther PP

The Colt pistol handled by Agnes Lozelle (Joan Collins) is briefly replaced by a Walther PP during her fight with Marlowe (Robert Mitchum), evidently a continuity error.

Walther PP

Marlowe holds Agnes' pistol, which is now a Walther PP due to a continuity error.

Beretta Minx

Camilla Sternwood (Candy Clark) carries a stainless Beretta Minx with ivory grips throughout the film. The Minx is a longer-barreled .22 Short version of the Beretta 950 Jetfire. It is handled by Philip Marlowe (Robert Mitchum) through a good portion of the film, and Karl Lundgren (Simon Fisher-Turner) gets his hands on it at one point as well.

Beretta Minx - .22 Short

Joe Brody ducks out of the way of Camilla's Beretta.

Marlowe lets Camilla's Beretta drop to the ground during a confrontation with Karl Lundgren.

Camilla excitedly holds her Beretta Minx before a round of "target shooting."

Camilla looks down the barrel of her Beretta Minx.

Camilla prepares to fire her Beretta.

Smith & Wesson Model 66 Snub Nose

A flashback shows the Sternwood family chauffeur Owen Taylor (Martin Potter) committing a murder with a snub nose Smith & Wesson Model 66 revolver.

Smith & Wesson Model 66 Snub Nose with 2.5" barrel - .357 Magnum

Owen Taylor fires his Model 66.

Owen prepares to fire his final shot.

Browning Hi-Power

Feared mob hitman Lash Canino (Richard Boone) is seen holding a pistol on Harry Jones (Colin Blakely). The silhouette appears to be of a Browning Hi-Power or one of its variants.

Browning Hi-Power "Type 73" - 9x19mm. These Hi-Powers feature elongated bushings different from Hi-Powers Made before 1973 and after the MK II Series.

Lash Canino holds his pistol on Harry Jones.

Luger P08

A Luger P08 is one of two handguns that Philip Marlowe (Robert Mitchum) keeps in a hidden compartment under the dash in his Mercedes-Benz convertible. He briefly sticks the Luger in his waistband when approaching Hunt's Garage.

Luger P08 - 9x19mm

Marlowe takes his Luger from his car's dash compartment.

Smith & Wesson Model 19 Snub Nose

After his Luger is evidently taken by Lash Canino, Philip Marlowe (Robert Mitchum) returns to his car to retrieve his second handgun, a blued Smith & Wesson Model 19 Snub Nose snub nose revolver, that he uses for the film's climax.

Smith & Wesson Model 19 Snub Nose - .357 Magnum.

Marlowe leaves his Smith & Wesson Model 19 in the car after pulling out his Luger.

Marlowe waits for Lash Canino to emerge.

Marlowe prepares to fire his Model 19.

Marlowe holds his Model 19 as Mona (Diana Quick) unlocks his handcuffs.

Double-Barreled Shotgun

The crooked garage owner Lou (Don Henderson) holds a hammerless double-barreled shotgun on Marlowe when he first arrives at Hunt's Garage.

L.C. Smith case-hardened hammerless side by side field shotgun - 12 gauge

Lou greets Marlowe with his double-barreled shotgun.

MAC-10

Lash Canino (Richard Boone) loads and uses a MAC-10, evidently modified to fire fully automatic, when he faces off against Marlowe for the climax.

Ingram MAC-10 open bolt submachine gun - 9x19mm

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Canino loads a magazine into his MAC-10.

Canino fires his MAC-10 at Marlowe.

Marlowe's Guns

Philip Marlowe (Robert Mitchum) has four guns mounted on the wall in his apartment: a Walther P38, a Kentucky Flintlock Rifle, a M1911A1, and a Colt 1860 Army fitted to a wooden stock.

Marlowe's weapons are spotted on his wall behind him as he takes a morning phone call.

Marlowe pours a drink in front of his wall of weapons.