The neon-drenched, smoke-filled LA of 1941 forms the background for this acclaimed adaptation of Raymond Chandler's novel. Philips Marlowe (Robert Mitchum) has two cases on his books - and they may not be as unconnected as they seem. Giant-sized Moose Malloy is straight out of jail and looking for Velma, his chorus-line girlfriend. Marlowe takes sympathy on him and agrees to track her down but all he finds is a dead-end. Meanwhile, smooth gigolo Lindsay Marriott is eager to buy back a rare jade necklace from thieves and hires Marlowe as protection during the transaction. Before he knows it, Marlowe finds himself surrounded by murder, intrigue and a secret but deadly connection...