It’s clear confirmation that doing something nice can backfire! "Marlowe" (Elliott Gould) is disturbed in the night by his friend ("Lennox"), who insists on being driven to Tijuana. He agrees, but upon returning, he's met by police. Apparently, Lennox's wife has been murdered. Though initially suspected of involvement, Marlowe is freed when news arrives suggesting the main person responsible took their own life. The situation becomes more tangled when a criminal named "Augustine" (Mark Rydell) appears, attempting to locate money that “Lennox” was supposed to transport, and then “Eileen” (Nina van Pallandt) asks him to find her alcoholic husband (Sterling Hayden), who has disappeared. Upon locating the latter man, Marlowe starts to believe all three events are related—and that he’s being manipulated! He must now rely on his deductive abilities to figure out what's happening while attempting to survive. Gould delivers a strong performance in this fast-moving and faithful adaptation of the Raymond Chandler novel. The exchanges between characters are frequently amusingly sharp, and he comfortably embodies the persona of this clever and tough private investigator. The plot is full of unexpected developments, the minor players are engaging rather than simply disposable, and the way the investigation unfolds keeps the audience searching for answers alongside him! I've never been particularly fond of Gould’s work, but he shines in this film, which is definitely worth seeing.

Source on TMDB