Monsieur Spade is the latest in a long line of works that feature the iconic film noir detective Samuel Spade. Like all great works of mystery fiction, the writings that feature Spade use many of the noir genre film tropes, but they were the projects originating these tropes that are now well-known. Unsurprisingly, it didn’t take long for movies to adapt the stories of Sam Spade, bringing them to audiences everywhere. While many actors have taken on the role, only a few have defined it, and their legacies have been intertwined with that of Spade himself.
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Dashiell Hammett’s 1930 novel, The Maltese Falcon, is the source material that inspired the many iterations of Samuel Spade and was one of the few stories that Hammett wrote about the character. However, this doesn’t change how influential he is or how instrumental Spade’s archetype has become within the film noir genre. Some of the best film noir movies of all time are adaptations of The Maltese Falcon, and many of the hard-boiled detectives who feature prominently in these narratives have elements of Spade in their descriptions and development. Without Sam Spade, the noir genre wouldn’t be the same.
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Only one year after the publication of
The Maltese Falcon
, Hollywood brought it to life on the silver screen.
Only one year after the publication of The Maltese Falcon, Hollywood brought it to life on the silver screen. However, Samuel Spade has returned to the limelight thanks to the popularity of Monsieur Spade, but this is a Spade that audiences have never seen before. Monsieur Spade takes place after The Maltese Falcon and incorporates neo-noir elements into the story to keep the audience engaged. Thanks to the enduring interest in detective narratives, it’s unlikely that Sam Spade will ever fade from the cultural memory. Even if it’s only through influence and references, The Maltese Falcon and Spade remain important.
6 Mike O’Malley – The Strange Case Of The End Of Civilisation As We Know It (1977)
A lesser-known British parody that uses Spade as a small character
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Mike O’Malley’s Sam Spade isn’t a crucial part of the satirical take on the detective genre, The Strange Case of the End of Civilisation as We Know It. John Cleese, known for his work in films like Monty Python and the Holy Grail, stars in The Strange Case as Arthur Sherlock Holmes, a parody of the British private eye. Though the narrative doesn’t center on him, Sam Spade and other over-the-top iterations of famous fictional detectives, like Hercule Poirot, make appearances throughout the movie. With a runtime of just under an hour, the movie has largely been forgotten about.
There’s little nuance and stylization in O’Malley’s take on Spade, as the character isn’t onscreen very long, and the actor is primarily paying homage to Humphrey Bogart’s performance as Spade. Cleese’s comedic timing and the throwaway jokes and references throughout the script are the best parts of The Strange Case of the End of Civilisation as We Know It. As it was made for television, there wasn’t a wide release of the film, and the budget was low. Despite this, there are funny moments, and the legacy of Spade is a fun part of the story.
The Strange Case of the End of Civilization as We Know It (1977) 0
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Director Joseph McGrath Release Date September 18, 1977 Writers Joseph McGrath , John Cleese , Jack Hobbs , Arthur Conan Doyle Cast John Cleese , Arthur Lowe , Joss Ackland , Ron Moody , Connie Booth , Christopher Malcolm , Holly Palance , Val Pringle , Dudley Jones , Luie Caballero , Kenneth Benda , Burt Kwouk , Gyearbuor Asante , Denholm Elliott , Nick Tate , Josephine Tewson , Stratford Johns , Bill Mitchell Character(s) Sherlock Holmes , Dr. John H. Watson , President , Dr. Henry Gropinger (Kissinger) , Mrs. Hudson / Francine Moriarty , The Other CIA Man , Air Hostess , Black CIA Man , Hercule Poirot , Columbo , M , Chinese General , African Delegate , English Delegate , 1st Australian , Miss Hoskins , Chinese Delegate , Chief Commisioner Blocker , Klein Runtime 56 Minutes Main Genre Comedy Expand
5 Peter Falk – Murder By Death (1976)
Though he’s best known for playing Columbo, Peter Falk once played Samuel Spade
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It’s hard to determine which detective played by Peter Falk is the most famous, as Columbo and Samuel Spade left their mark on the detective genre for different reasons. Falk played Spade amid Columbo‘s thirty-five-year run, and this is likely why he was tapped for the role of Spade. Though Columbo had comedic moments, Murder by Death was a pure comedy. It was a send-up of works of fiction by authors like Agatha Christie or Hammett. Styled after the whodunit, Murder by Death sees each of its actors take on the role of a famous literary or film detective.
Unsurprisingly, Falk also attempts to emulate Bogart through his speech and mannerisms.
There were many famous guest stars of Columbo, but Murder by Death features an equally star-studded cast with Dame Maggie Smith, Truman Capote, and Peter Sellers. It’s easy to see how Murder by Death influenced the 1985 movie Clue, and Spade being featured in Murder by Death shows how instrumental the character has been within the mystery genre. When watching Falk, it’s difficult to separate him and his portrayal of Spade from his work as Columbo, but the stellar actor makes it work the best he can. Unsurprisingly, Falk also attempts to emulate Bogart through his speech and mannerisms.
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Murder by Death is a satirical mystery film directed by Robert Moore. The film features an ensemble cast including Peter Falk, Alec Guinness, and Peter Sellers, who portray famous fictional detectives invited to a mansion for a dinner party. Hosted by a mysterious millionaire, they are challenged to solve a murder that will occur at midnight. The film is a comedic homage to the classic whodunit genre.
Director Robert Moore Release Date June 23, 1976 Studio(s) Rastar Productions Writers Neil Simon Cast Truman Capote , Alec Guinness , Peter Sellers , David Niven , Maggie Smith Runtime 94 Minutes Expand
4 Clive Owen – Monsieur Spade (2024)
The new AMC miniseries tries to expand on Spade’s later years
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While other iterations of Spade came before or were parodies, Clive Owen has the impossible task of trying to live up to the legacy of Humphrey Bogart while breaking new ground on the character. Years after the events of The Maltese Falcon, Monsieur Spade catches up with the private eye retired in the south of France. However, his peaceful existence is upended by a rash of murders. From there, Owen’s Spade must brush up on his detective work and explore the darker side of the idyllic countryside he’s been inhabiting. He unearths secrets and intrigue that keep the audience guessing.
Related Is Monsieur Spade A Sequel To Humphrey Bogart’s Maltese Falcon Movie?
With its arrival on Netflix, AMC’s Monsieur Spade has viewers wondering if the series is a sequel to Humphrey Bogart’s 1941 Maltese Falcon movie.
Fortunately, since so much time has passed, Owen gets to put his spin on Spade. However, the ghost of Bogart is everywhere in Monsieur Spade. This isn’t Owen’s fault, as the British actor has his own legacy, but it’s impossible not to think of the older movie when watching the series. Of course, Monsieur Spade knows this and does its best to pay tribute to the character’s history. The series is set in the future and focuses on a new type of murder plot, which works, but this also shakes the foundation of how audiences have come to recognize Spade.
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Based on the works of Dashiell Hammet, Monsieur Spade is a mystery crime-drama series created for AMC by Scott Frank and Tom Fontana. The series follows Detective Sam Spade years into retirement, now living in France. His peaceful era is interrupted by a former foe who begins a string of murders, forcing Sam to return and uncover the truth about the town he now inhabits.
Cast Clive Owen , Cara Bossom , Denis Menochet , Louise Bourgoin , Chiara Mastroianni , Stanley Weber Release Date January 14, 2024 Seasons 1 Network AMC Writers Scott Frank , Tom Fontana Showrunner Scott Frank , Tom Fontana Creator(s) Scott Frank , Tom Fontana , Dashiell Hammett Expand
3 Warren William – Satan Met A Lady (1936)
Bette Davis and Warren William star in this loose adaptation of The Maltese Falcon
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A few years after the first version of The Maltese Falcon, the book was readapted once more for less than favorable results. Bette Davis and Warren William play the detective and his femme fatale companion, but their characters’ names were changed to Valerie Purvis and Ted Shane. While Ted Shane might have a different moniker than Samuel Spade, he’s very much the same character, and the story of The Maltese Falcon is only slightly altered to become Satan Met A Lady. Unfortunately, the response to the film was that it didn’t do the narrative justice.
Davis is young in Satan Met A Lady, and though it doesn’t feature her most iconic role, she would still go on to become an even bigger star than William. Though she didn’t typically work within the film noir genre, the actress’s characteristic wit and talent are easy to see, even in the weaker script of Satan Met A Lady. One of the best aspects of the film and William’s performance is that it’s much more witty and light than other versions, which makes sense for the period of the mid-1930s.
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Director William Dieterle Release Date July 22, 1936 Cast Bette Davis , Warren William , Alison Skipworth , Arthur Treacher , Marie Wilson , Wini Shaw Runtime 76 minutes
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Related 12 Best Film Noir Actors You Need To Know
The film noir genre is full of complex and morally gray characters, with the great actors actors who portrayed them being just as iconic.
2 Ricardo Cortez – The Maltese Falcon (1931)
Cortez was the first actor to bring Samuel Spade to life
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Director Roy Del Ruth Release Date May 23, 1931 Writers Dashiell Hammett , Brown Holmes , Maude Fulton Cast Ricardo Cortez , Bebe Daniels , Dudley Digges , Una Merkel , Robert Elliott , Thelma Todd , Otto Matieson , Walter Long , Dwight Frye , J. Farrell MacDonald , Agostino Borgato , Morgan Wallace , Lucille Ward Character(s) Sam Spade , Ruth Wonderly , Casper Gutman , Effie Perrine , Police Lt. Dundy , Iva Archer , Dr. Joel Cairo , Miles Archer , Wilmer Cook , Det. Sgt. Tom Polhaus , Capt. John Jacobi , District Attorney , Sarah the Prison Matron Runtime 80 Minutes Main Genre Mystery Expand
It shows how popular Hammett’s book was that it only took a year to be adapted for the screen, and during this time, there was no better actor than Ricardo Cortez to play Samuel Spade. Bebe Daniels stars alongside him as Ruth Wonderly, the femme fatale who lures Spade deeper into the plot surrounding the mystery of the falcon statue. The 1931 iteration of The Maltese Falcon isn’t better remembered because it was made before the enforcement of the Hays Code became more invasive (via BFI). This meant in the years following its release, the film faced significant censorship.
While Cortez has the charm and chemistry with Daniels, easily carrying the role, he still doesn’t quite live up to the later performance of Bogart.
Much of the plot of The Maltese Falcon revolves around extra-marital affairs, sexuality, and violence, which were all aspects of storytelling restricted by Hollywood for many years. Thankfully, the 1931 version can be watched today and is a time capsule of a period of change and evolution in cinema. While Cortez has the charm and chemistry with Daniels, easily carrying the role, he still doesn’t quite live up to the later performance of Bogart. However, Cortez’s portrayal remains influential, as he was the first to take on Spade and was the measure by which Bogart was first compared.
1 Humphrey Bogart – The Maltese Falcon (1941)
The great Humphrey Bogart might be the best incarnation of Spade
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Humphrey Bogart starred in 20 film noir movies, where he brought to life equally compelling characters as one of the greatest actors in film history. The 1941 remake of The Maltese Falcon is one of his most famous, and though he wasn’t the first to play him, Bogart’s take on Sam Spade is the definitive version. Quiet yet commanding, forceful yet comedically gifted, it’s hard to find anything to take issue with when watching Bogart work onscreen. His costar, Mary Astor, wasn’t his most famous partner throughout his career, but he has no trouble creating excellent chemistry with her.
Every iteration of Spade after this would become a pale imitation of Bogart’s work, but it’s thanks to him that the story and character keep being brought back in film and television. Without Bogart’s iconic performance, Monsieur Spade likely would never have been made. It’s unlikely that The Maltese Falcon will ever be remade, as there would be no point without Bogart. It’s not just the character of Samuel Spade who made the hard-boiled detective famous, but actors like Bogart who embodied them perfectly and inspired audiences everywhere.
Bogart also plays the famous fictional detective Philip Marlowe in
The Big Sleep
(1946).
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The Maltese Falcon is a 1941 film noir directed by John Huston, based on Dashiell Hammett’s novel. Starring Humphrey Bogart as private detective Sam Spade, the film follows Spade’s investigation into the mysterious murder of his partner, leading him into a web of intrigue involving a valuable statuette. Mary Astor, Peter Lorre, and Sydney Greenstreet also feature in this classic tale of deception and greed.
Director John Huston Release Date October 18, 1941 Writers Dashiell Hammett , John Huston Cast Humphrey Bogart , Mary Astor , Gladys George , Peter Lorre , Barton MacLane , Lee Patrick Runtime 100 Minutes
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