Bogart's harshness made him the best Spade and his insolence, in The Big Sleep, the most iconic Marlowe, though Lauren Bacall as Vivienne, the oldest and haughtiest of the idle - rich Sternwood sisters, and his accomplice in double - entendre wisecracking, was wiped off the screen by Martha Vickers as the thumb -
chewing nympho Carmen (no matter that her lethalness was downplayed).