Farewell, My Lovely (1975) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Lindsay Marriott was killed because Velma (who was hiding under the alias Mrs. Grayle) orchestrated his murder. Velma viewed Marriott as a liability who could expose her past identity, so she arranged for him to be killed during the ransom exchange. Marlowe was set up to be at the canyon as a witness and potential victim, but he was struck from behind before Marriott was murdered.

Foreshadowing: Marriott's involvement with the stolen necklace and his connection to Mrs. Florian through a trust deed hinted at his darker role as a blackmailer.

• lindsay marriott
• velma
• murder
• motive
• blackmail

Mrs. Lewin Lockridge Grayle is actually Velma Valento, Moose Malloy's former lover whom he has been searching for throughout the film. She married her wealthy husband in Europe under an alias to conceal her true identity. When her past began to threaten her present life, she orchestrated criminal schemes to protect herself.

Foreshadowing: Anne Riordan mentions that Mrs. Grayle's past is shrouded in secrecy and that she married using an alias, hinting at her hidden identity.

• mrs grayle
• velma valento
• identity
• alias
• moose malloy

Moose Malloy kills the owner of Florian's nightclub because he is desperately searching for his ex-girlfriend Velma and believes someone at the club should know her whereabouts. When the owner claims not to know anything about Velma, Moose flies into a rage and kills him before escaping.

Foreshadowing: The earlier scene establishes Moose as a volatile, dangerous criminal whose temper and desperation make him capable of violence.

• moose malloy
• florian's
• murder
• velma

Marlowe is framed for Marriott's murder because the conspirators, including Jules Amthor, Dr. Sonderborg, and corrupt Bay City police, need to silence him. Marlowe is getting too close to discovering the connection between Marriott, the blackmail scheme, and Velma's true identity. They use the murder of Marriott to pin the crime on him and have him arrested and drugged to keep him out of the way.

Foreshadowing: After Marlowe visits Amthor and begins connecting the dots, Amthor immediately arranges for him to be arrested on false charges.

• marlowe
• framed
• murder
• amthor
• conspiracy

Velma remains at large after killing Moose in Marlowe's apartment. She is eventually tracked down in Baltimore, where she kills a detective who recognizes her. When cornered by police, she takes her own life rather than being captured, bringing the cycle of violence to a tragic conclusion.

Foreshadowing: The film establishes Velma as a ruthless manipulator who will eliminate anyone who threatens her new life, foreshadowing her violent end.

• velma
• death
• suicide
• baltimore
• ending

Velma kills Moose because he has found her at Marlowe's apartment and she cannot allow him to expose her true identity. After Marlowe reveals her real identity as Velma to Moose, she shoots him to keep him silent. She views Moose as a threat to the new life she has built as Mrs. Grayle, just as she viewed Marriott as a liability.

Foreshadowing: Moose's relentless search for Velma throughout the film builds toward this tragic confrontation where his devotion leads to his death.

• velma
• moose malloy
• kill
• death
• confrontation

Marriott had a trust deed on Mrs. Florian's property because she once worked as a servant in his family and he used this leverage to blackmail her. When Marlowe investigates, he discovers that Marriott was blackmailing wealthy women in cahoots with Jules Amthor, and Mrs. Florian was one of his targets.

Foreshadowing: Marlowe's discovery of the trust deed during his investigation reveals Marriott's role as a blackmailer and connects Mrs. Florian to the criminal conspiracy.

• mrs florian
• marriott
• trust deed
• blackmail

Jules Amthor is a psychic who is actually involved in a criminal conspiracy with corrupt Bay City police and Dr. Sonderborg. He works with Marriott to blackmail wealthy women, and when Marlowe gets too close to the truth, Amthor arranges for him to be falsely arrested and drugged. He represents the criminal network exploiting the wealthy victims of the stolen necklace scheme.

Foreshadowing: The card found on Marriott's body pointing to Amthor establishes early on that he is connected to the criminal underworld.

• jules amthor
• psychic
• conspiracy
• blackmail
• corruption

Anne Riordan helps Marlowe because she is the daughter of a policeman who was dishonorably discharged by corrupt Bay City officers. She has a personal interest in seeing the corruption exposed and admires Marlowe's determination to pursue the truth. Her background gives her insight into the criminal elements at work in Bay City.

Foreshadowing: Anne's introduction establishes her as someone with personal stakes in the case and knowledge of the local crime scene.

• anne riordan
• help
• corruption
• bay city

Moose Malloy is desperate to find Velma Valento because she is the love of his life and he has just been released from prison after serving time for her. Despite her involvement in criminal activities and her decision to abandon him, Moose remains devoted to her and cannot accept that she has moved on with a new identity.

Foreshadowing: Moose's violent entrance at Florian's, where he kills the owner while searching for her, establishes the depth of his obsession.

• moose malloy
• velma
• love
• desperate search