Poodle Springs
Encyclopedia
Poodle Springs is the eighth Philip Marlowe
novel. It was started in 1958 by Raymond Chandler
, who left it unfinished at his death in 1959. The four chapters he had completed, which bore the working title
"The Poodle Springs Story", were subsequently published in Raymond Chandler Speaking
(1962), a collection of letter excerpts and miscellaneous unpublished writings. On the occasion of the centenary of Chandler's birth, crime writer Robert B. Parker
was asked by the Estate of Raymond Chandler to complete the novel.
The result was adapted into a mystery film
by the premium cable channel HBO in 1998, starring James Caan as Marlowe, and a radio adaptation for BBC Radio 4
in October 2011, starring Toby Stephens
as Marlowe.
and begun a romance at the end of Playback
. From the beginning there are tensions, however, as Linda wants Marlowe to quit his job and get a decent position at one of her father's plants, which Marlowe refuses. The couple relocate to Poodle Springs (a mocking reference to Palm Springs
), where they move into a grand mansion and Linda starts organising cocktail parties
. Marlowe literally bumps into a local criminal named Lipschultz, who requests his services before Marlowe has even found office space in Poodle Springs.
Lipschultz operates an illegal gambling house
just outside Poodle Springs jurisdiction in Riverside
. He has taken an IOU
for $100,000 from one of his customers, a Poodle Springs photographer
called Les Valentine. Lipshultz' boss, a local tycoon, has found out that the sum is missing from the books and has issued a 30-day ultimatum to retrieve the money or else. Lipshultz asks Marlowe to retrieve Valentine, who is unreachable. Marlowe accepts the job, asserting that all he can do is locate Valentine, not shake him down. Marlowe leaves and questions Valentine's wife, Muffy Blackstone, a rich socialite and acquaintance of his own wife, who tells him Valentine is out on a photo shoot.
When Marlowe calls on Lipshultz again, he finds him killed in his casino office. From there, the trail leads to a double identity and a mastermind behind the scenes that is too close to home to be comfortable.
is described, the large bungalow
they live in and Marlowe's insistence on independence. The principal characters of Philip Marlowe, Linda Loring and Manny Lipshultz, as well as several supporting characters, are introduced.
Parker has written the other chapters. In 1991 Parker followed this up with a further novel featuring Marlowe; this novel - Perchance to Dream
- was written as a sequel to Chandler's The Long Goodbye
.
Philip Marlowe
Philip Marlowe is a fictional character created by Raymond Chandler in a series of novels including The Big Sleep and The Long Goodbye. Marlowe first appeared under that name in The Big Sleep published in 1939...
novel. It was started in 1958 by Raymond Chandler
Raymond Chandler
Raymond Thornton Chandler was an American novelist and screenwriter.In 1932, at age forty-five, Raymond Chandler decided to become a detective fiction writer after losing his job as an oil company executive during the Depression. His first short story, "Blackmailers Don't Shoot", was published in...
, who left it unfinished at his death in 1959. The four chapters he had completed, which bore the working title
Working title
A working title, sometimes called a production title, is the temporary name of a product or project used during its development, usually used in filmmaking, television production, novel, video game, or music album.-Purpose:...
"The Poodle Springs Story", were subsequently published in Raymond Chandler Speaking
Raymond Chandler Speaking
Raymond Chandler Speaking is a collection of letter excerpts, various notes, essays and an unfinished novel. It was compiled in 1962 by Dorothy Gardiner and Kathrine Sorley Walker.-Contents:...
(1962), a collection of letter excerpts and miscellaneous unpublished writings. On the occasion of the centenary of Chandler's birth, crime writer Robert B. Parker
Robert B. Parker
Robert Brown Parker was an American crime writer. His most famous works were the novels about the private detective Spenser. ABC television network developed the television series Spenser: For Hire based on the character in the late 1980s; a series of TV movies based on the character were also...
was asked by the Estate of Raymond Chandler to complete the novel.
The result was adapted into a mystery film
Mystery film
Mystery film is a sub-genre of the more general category of crime film and at times the thriller genre. It focuses on the efforts of the detective, private investigator or amateur sleuth to solve the mysterious circumstances of a crime by means of clues, investigation, and clever deduction.The...
by the premium cable channel HBO in 1998, starring James Caan as Marlowe, and a radio adaptation for BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
in October 2011, starring Toby Stephens
Toby Stephens
Toby Stephens is an English stage, television and film actor who has appeared in films in both Hollywood and Bollywood. He is best known for playing megavillain Gustav Graves in the James Bond film Die Another Day , Edward Fairfax Rochester in the BBC television adaptation of Jane Eyre and Philip...
as Marlowe.
Plot summary
The start of the book finds Marlowe married to Linda Loring, the rich daughter of local tycoon Harlan Potter. Loring and Marlowe had met in The Long GoodbyeThe Long Goodbye (novel)
The Long Goodbye is a 1953 novel by Raymond Chandler, centered on his famous detective Philip Marlowe. While some critics consider it inferior to The Big Sleep or Farewell, My Lovely, others rank it as the best of his work...
and begun a romance at the end of Playback
Playback (novel)
Playback is the final complete novel by Raymond Chandler, which features his iconic creation Philip Marlowe. It was published in 1958, the year before his death.-Plot summary:This novel puts Marlowe in the position of turning against his client...
. From the beginning there are tensions, however, as Linda wants Marlowe to quit his job and get a decent position at one of her father's plants, which Marlowe refuses. The couple relocate to Poodle Springs (a mocking reference to Palm Springs
Palm Springs, California
Palm Springs is a desert city in Riverside County, California, within the Coachella Valley. It is located approximately 37 miles east of San Bernardino, 111 miles east of Los Angeles and 136 miles northeast of San Diego...
), where they move into a grand mansion and Linda starts organising cocktail parties
Cocktail party
A cocktail party is a party where cocktails are served. Women may choose to wear what has become known as a cocktail dress.Although many believe the inventor of the cocktail party to be Alec Waugh of London, who in 1924 found a need for this pleasant interlude before a dinner party, an article in...
. Marlowe literally bumps into a local criminal named Lipschultz, who requests his services before Marlowe has even found office space in Poodle Springs.
Lipschultz operates an illegal gambling house
Casino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
just outside Poodle Springs jurisdiction in Riverside
Riverside County, California
Riverside County is a county in the U.S. state of California. One of 58 California counties, it covers in the southern part of the state, and stretches from Orange County to the Colorado River, which forms the state border with Arizona. The county derives its name from the city of Riverside,...
. He has taken an IOU
IOU (debt)
An IOU is usually an informal document acknowledging debt. An IOU differs from a promissory note in that an IOU is not a negotiable instrument and does not specify repayment terms such as the time of repayment. IOUs usually specify the debtor, the amount owed, and sometimes the creditor...
for $100,000 from one of his customers, a Poodle Springs photographer
Portrait photography
Portrait photography or portraiture is the capture by means of photography of the likeness of a person or a small group of people , in which the face and expression is predominant. The objective is to display the likeness, personality, and even the mood of the subject...
called Les Valentine. Lipshultz' boss, a local tycoon, has found out that the sum is missing from the books and has issued a 30-day ultimatum to retrieve the money or else. Lipshultz asks Marlowe to retrieve Valentine, who is unreachable. Marlowe accepts the job, asserting that all he can do is locate Valentine, not shake him down. Marlowe leaves and questions Valentine's wife, Muffy Blackstone, a rich socialite and acquaintance of his own wife, who tells him Valentine is out on a photo shoot.
When Marlowe calls on Lipshultz again, he finds him killed in his casino office. From there, the trail leads to a double identity and a mastermind behind the scenes that is too close to home to be comfortable.
Contributions
Chandler's first four chapters of the story are used complete and unabridged for this edition. In these opening chapters, the Marlowes' arrival in Poodle Springs fresh from their honeymoonHoneymoon
-History:One early reference to a honeymoon is in Deuteronomy 24:5 “When a man is newly wed, he need not go out on a military expedition, nor shall any public duty be imposed on him...
is described, the large bungalow
Bungalow
A bungalow is a type of house, with varying meanings across the world. Common features to many of these definitions include being detached, low-rise , and the use of verandahs...
they live in and Marlowe's insistence on independence. The principal characters of Philip Marlowe, Linda Loring and Manny Lipshultz, as well as several supporting characters, are introduced.
Parker has written the other chapters. In 1991 Parker followed this up with a further novel featuring Marlowe; this novel - Perchance to Dream
Perchance to Dream (novel)
Perchance to Dream is a detective crime novel by Robert B. Parker, written as an authorized sequel to The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler. Following his post-mortem collaboration with Chandler on Poodle Springs, this 1991 release is the second and final Philip Marlowe novel written by...
- was written as a sequel to Chandler's The Long Goodbye
The Long Goodbye (novel)
The Long Goodbye is a 1953 novel by Raymond Chandler, centered on his famous detective Philip Marlowe. While some critics consider it inferior to The Big Sleep or Farewell, My Lovely, others rank it as the best of his work...
.