The Big Sleep on the other hand is I believe a reference to all things dark and most importantly, death. In the movie there are multiple deaths which are very hard to keep track of and so the main character Marlowe is constantly surrounded by it. As a result of this dark undertone, the characteristics of film noire are fitting. The scene’s are darkly shot, the setting is often at night or in the rain which reinforce the feeling of death that is constant throughout the movie. Marlowe is followed by death wherever he goes, although he starts off by trying to solve one, it’s as if everywhere he goes someone else gets killed. This is then tied to the femme fatale’s - Vivian and Carmen - who introduce more and more death into the life of Marlowe because of their involvements with the wrong people. All of this is translated into the way the movie is filmed where shadows creep out from all angles and the rain creates a sense of unease as well as a feeling of paranoia. This fits with the feeling of death and what I believe is the meaning behind the title as it encircles their whole lives.