If you loved
The Long Goodbye
Film · 1973
What hooked you in The Long Goodbye was the way it exposes the moral rot hidden beneath the polished veneer of society.
Start with the source
Books on the same thread
Farewell, My Lovely
Raymond Chandler · Book · 1992
Shares 2 threads with The Long Goodbye: Moral Ambiguity, Cynicism.
Like The Long Goodbye, this novel masters the cynical, hardboiled tone where Marlowe navigates a landscape defined by pervasive corruption and the inescapable weight of moral ambiguity.
The Big Sleep
Raymond Chandler · Book · 2017
Shares 2 threads with The Long Goodbye: Moral ambiguity, Private investigator mystery.
If you appreciated the weary detective archetype in The Long Goodbye, you will find its definitive origin here as Marlowe contends with the suffocating corruption found in high society.
Series on the same thread
Sherlock
Mark Gatiss · Series · 2010
Shares a thread with The Long Goodbye: Neo-Noir.
While updating the setting, this series captures the same central dynamic of a brilliant but socially detached investigator whose friendship provides the only anchor in an increasingly chaotic world.
Longmire
John Coveny · Series · 2012
Explores: Grief and Loss, Small Town Corruption, Redemption.
This neo-Western mirrors the disillusionment found in The Long Goodbye, focusing on a protagonist who must reconcile his personal code of ethics with the reality of small-town corruption.
True Detective
Nic Pizzolatto · Series · 2014
Shares 3 threads with The Long Goodbye: Moral Ambiguity, Cynicism, Neo-Noir.
This series elevates the neo-noir atmosphere of The Long Goodbye, diving deeper into existential dread and the professional trauma that arises when trying to maintain integrity in a broken system.
Columbo
William Link · Series · 1971
Explores: Cat and Mouse, Underestimation, Justice.
Much like the protagonist of The Long Goodbye, this detective uses his disheveled appearance to navigate a world that underestimates him while he quietly uncovers the truth of every case.
Podcasts on the same thread
To Live and Die in LA
Tenderfoot TV & Audacy · Podcast · 2023
This investigative journey echoes the personal risk and Hollywood-centric mystery found in The Long Goodbye, stripping away the glamour to reveal the darker secrets lurking within the city.
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
Exactly Right and iHeartPodcasts · Podcast · 2026
Explores: mental health awareness, female friendship, coping mechanisms.
This podcast mirrors the focus on deep friendship seen in The Long Goodbye, balancing the grim reality of crime with a conversational approach to processing the world around us.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Long Goodbye movie based on a book?
Yes, the 1973 film The Long Goodbye is based on the 1953 novel of the same name. Both works center on the character Philip Marlowe, though the film updates the setting to 1970s Hollywood to reflect the contemporary atmosphere of the era.
What is the plot of The Long Goodbye?
The Long Goodbye follows Detective Philip Marlowe as he attempts to assist a friend who has been accused of murdering his wife. Set in 1970s Hollywood, the story documents Marlowe's navigation of a complex mystery involving his personal loyalties and the investigation into the alleged crime.
Should I read The Long Goodbye book before watching the movie?
Reading the 1953 novel The Long Goodbye before watching the 1973 film is a personal preference. While the film shares the title and central character, it adapts the story to a 1970s Hollywood setting, which differs from the original time period of the source material.
Does The Long Goodbye take place in the 1970s?
The 1973 film adaptation of The Long Goodbye is explicitly set in 1970s Hollywood. This setting serves as the backdrop for Detective Philip Marlowe as he investigates the murder case involving his friend, distinguishing the film's timeline from the original 1953 novel.