Continuity mistake: In the Hollywood Public Library Marlowe writes "Chevalier Audubon" on the top of a piece of paper and starts writing something else on the second line. In the next shot he's writing on the top of the piece of paper again. (00:13:15)
Continuity mistake: In the Hollywood Public Library Marlowe Looks in the book "Famous First Editions" and has it opened to chapter XIV. In the next shot the book is opened to a different page. (00:13:20)
Continuity mistake: As Marlowe goes up to the front desk the librarian asks him, "Did you find what you wanted?" and another librarian is helping someone else. In the next shot that other librarian is not helping anyone and has her back towards the camera. (00:13:30)
Continuity mistake: As Marlowe walks into Geiger's bookstore his handkerchief is sticking out of his jacket pocket. He never touches it again but the next time we see it it's neatly tucked into the pocket of his jacket. (00:13:50)
Continuity mistake: As Marlowe leaves Geiger's bookstore a policeman is walking by outside. In the next shot the policeman is gone. (00:14:55)
Continuity mistake: After Marlowe leaves Geiger's bookstore he walks across the street to the Acme Book Shop and a man is walking in just before him. In the next shot two women are walking out. (00:15:20)
Continuity mistake: As she speaks to Marlowe, Dorothy Malone Asks, "Is there something I can do for you?" and she reverses the pencil she's holding between shots. This happens again about a minute later. (00:15:35 - 00:16:05)
Continuity mistake: In the Acme Book Shop, Marlowe says to Dorothy Malone, "I got my carÂ…" and her hands go from being at her sides to out in front of her playing with the pencil between shots. (00:17:10)
Continuity mistake: Marlowe says to Dorothy Malone in the Acme Book Shop, " I was just wondering if you have to?" and she puts the paper cup in her right hand down twice. (00:17:50)
Continuity mistake: To get his car, Marlowe walks back to Arthur Gwynn Geiger's house after bringing Carmen Sternwood home. No one has touched it but his car has moved closer to the for sale sign on the house across the street from Geiger's, where he parked it before. (00:19:35 - 00:27:20)
Continuity mistake: Marlowe tails Arthur Gwynn Geiger up to his house and we see the passenger seat and nothing is on it. In the next close-up shot Marlowe's coat is draped over the seat. (00:19:35)
Continuity mistake: No one touches his legs but Arthur Gwynn Geiger's dead body is not in the same position on the floor the second time we see it. The first time both of his legs are on the floor but the second time his left leg is over his right. (00:22:00 - 00:24:55)
Continuity mistake: At Arthur Gwynn Geiger's house, Marlowe finds the camera hidden in a hollow sculpture and in the close up it's in direct light. In the next shot it's covered by Marlowe's shadow. (00:22:45)
Continuity mistake: In Geiger's house when Marlowe finds the hidden camera, we see a vase on the left of the fireplace and it's shadow falls directly behind it. Marlowe doesn't touch any light switches but later in the scene the lighting has changed and the shadow of the vase is now falling to the right of it. (00:22:45 - 00:23:35)
Continuity mistake: Before Marlowe throws Carmen Sternwood onto Arthur Gwynn Geiger's sofa we see a close-up of his coat which is wet from the rain. Two shots later he takes out the camera hidden in the hollow sculpture and his coat is dry. (00:23:15)
Continuity mistake: As Marlowe prepares to leave Geiger's house the Buddha statue along with three other articles on the table in front of the fireplace move further apart throughout the scene even though no one goes near them. (00:23:25 - 00:24:45)
Continuity mistake: The shades on the window that Marlowe kicks open to enter Geiger's house are a little less than one foot apart as he puts Carmen Sternwood onto the sofa. The next time we see them they're wide open even though no one has gone near them. (00:23:40)
Continuity mistake: As Marlowe puts Carmen Sternwood onto Geiger's sofa there's a coat on the left arm rest. When he came into the room it wasn't there. (00:23:45)
Continuity mistake: The mat on Arthur Gwynn Geiger's desk is flush with the edge of the desk when Marlowe snoops around in it. As he thumbs threw the codebook he doesn't go near the mat but in the next shot it's slid over the side of the desk. (00:24:10)
Continuity mistake: Marlowe looks at Arthur Gwynn Geiger's diary and his right thumb is covering the page he's reading. In the next shot his hand is moved to the right and not covering the page anymore. (00:24:15)
