The Maltese Falcon Resources

This is the address billed as both the home of Dashiell Hammett and Sam Spade, and the building is still standing today. Up for a visit?

Did you know that you can visit the actual setting of The Maltese Falcon? In a small alleyway called Burritt Street, there's even a plaque that reads: "On approximately this spot, Miles Archer, partner of Sam Spade, was done in by Brigid O'Shaughnessy." So next time you're in San Francisco, book a tour

This early film adaptation of the novel stars Ricardo Cortez as Sam Spade, and contains certain "pre-code" aspects since it was released before the Hays Code was enforced in 1934. The Hays Code was a set of moral censorship guidelines that the film industry was required to follow, until the code was finally abandoned in 1968.

This second film adaptation of the novel was released during the period of the Hays Code, so it has a much lighter, comedic tone. Sam Spade's name is changed to Ted Shane, who is played by Warren William. And a very young Bette Davis gets her feet wet as the dangerous femme-fatale Valerie Purvis.

Yes, there were three adaptations of Hammett's novel made within the span of ten years, we told you it was a popular book. The 1941 version is by far the most well-known and most successful. Humphrey Bogart's portrayal of Sam Spade is spot-on, and the ground-breaking cinematography of Arthur Edeson makes the film a visual masterpiece. What are you waiting for? Put this one at the top of your Netflix queue STAT.

If you can manage to zoom-in close enough to read, the article, "House Burglary Poor Trade," features an interview with Dashiell Hammett, who talks about sleuthing and the impact it had on his writing.

January Magazine celebrates the 75th anniversary of The Maltese Falcon in this article on Hammett's influence on the genre of hardboiled detective fiction.

The San Francisco Chronicle reflects on Hammett's legacy in this in-depth look into not only his writing, but also his rough, wild, and edgy lifestyle.

Here's some handy dandy background info about Hammett that also serves as the basis for a PBS episodes on Hammett in the "American Masters" series.

"He makes crime a career—and ladies a hobby!" Need we say more?

Check out this film clip from the 1931 version of The Maltese Falcon. The acting might seem a bit outdated, but the dialogue is straight out of the novel itself!

In this adaptation of The Maltese Falcon, the spotlight is on the dangerous femme-fatale played by Bette Davis. Our favorite Bette Davis line: "Would you mind taking off your hat in the presence of a lady… with a gun."

Want to know even more Dashiell Hammett and The Maltese Falcon? Well, look no further than this audio guide which features interviews with really cool people, like Joe Gores, a former San Francisco private investigator, and Julie Rivett, the granddaughter of Hammett himself.

Tune in to Old Radio World's series of shows based on Sam Spade.

Listen in as NPR discusses the impact that The Maltese Falcon still has 75 years after its publication.

Check out this rather risqué (at last for back then) poster of the 1931 adaptation feature a scantily-clad Brigid in bed pointing a gun right at Sam Spade.

We can't tell who has the upper hand in this 1931 poster… Brigid or Sam?

Check out the cool contrasting colors in these two movie posters of Satan Met A Lady. Here's the first one.

And here's the second.

Okay, last one, we promise. For this 1941 movie poster, Brigid is wearing a sexy red dress that would make every head in the room turn.