Intelligent, hard-hitting crime writer whose highly cinematic novels had a direct influence on the emergence of film noir. Though often written in collaboration, Chandler's screenplays bear all the trademarks of his books, from lightning-quick dialogue to labyrinthine plots. "The Big Sleep" was published in 1939, and "Farewell, My Lovely" (published 1940), was filmed as "The Falcon Takes Over" (1942) and "Murder My Sweet" (1944) before being brought to the screen in 1975 with its title intact. Chandler's private eye Philip Marlowe has been portrayed on the screen by actors as diverse as Robert
