One may not know this, but shortly prior to hosting Moviedrome from 1988 to 1994, filmmaker Alex Cox guest introduced two films for another BBC Two series entitled The Film Club (1986-1991) on March 5, 1988 (read here). The two films were 1967’s Point Blank (directed by John Boorman) and 1973’s The Long Goodbye (directed by Robert Altman). The latter cleverly updated novelist Raymond Chandler’s iconic Philip Marlowe detective character to a 1970’s setting. Anyway, I was able to find a youtube video link of Cox introducing The Long Goodbye, I unfortunately could not find the one for Point Blank. In case any of you missed it the first time, If any of you readers are interested in reading my list of my favorite Robert Altman films, read here.
Here is a youtube video link of Alex Cox introducing The Long Goodbye on The Film Club.
Here is a youtube video link to the film’s original theatrical trailer
cinematiccoffee 
This post is a pleasant surprise, at first glance I thought it was Moviedrome wednesday. Great find on the Alex Cox video John, I don’t recollect ever seeing it before. It would be nice to come across his intro to Point Blank too, I love that film, it was the perfect vehicle for the one, and only, Lee Marvin.
You are quite welcome 🙂 Rumor has it that it was these two intros that got him the Moviedrome job, but that is just speculation, so do not quote me on this. Nevertheless, it would be interesting to discover how he got the job 🙂 Anyway, thanks for dropping by 🙂
I could never warm to Elliot Gould in any role. Sadly, that included this version of The Long Goodbye.
Best wishes, Pete.
Sorry for the late response – I had been busy prepping for Easter 🙂 As for your thoughts on this film, you are perfectly entitled 🙂 Anyway, thanks for dropping by and I hope you had a Happy Easter 🙂
Hi John. Hope you had a good Easter. Your not going to believe this, about two weeks ago I rewatched The Long Goodbye. I was determined to at least make it through the whole film as I had attempted to watch it twice but bailed out. Though I had somehow missed your post on The Long Goodbye, I thought of you as I watched it, knowing you admire the film and Altman. Well, this time a light bulb went on in my head. Not only did I get through the film, I loved it. It all came together and I finally got it.
So anyway, The Long Goodbye has certainly been an acquired taste, but it has moved into one of my favorite films now. So I’m rethinking by assessment of Altman, somewhat. Ha!
Glad to hear that you love The Long Goodbye now 🙂 I consider it to be my fourth favorite Robert Altman film after Nashville, McCabe & Mrs. Miller and Short Cuts, but you probably knew that already 🙂 I think by updated the setting to the 1970’s and depicting Philip Marlowe as 20 years behind the times was a stroke of genius 🙂 One would never know that by his physical appearance though 🙂 Speaking of which, I left a reply under your review of The Long Goodbye on your site 🙂 Anyway, thanks for dropping by 🙂