Mystery, Suspense, Smoldering Women, and the Detective in the tilted hat

Sam Spade, the quintessential image of the ultimate detective, crafted into being by mystery writer Dashiel Hammett began a whole new approach to ideal of the detective.  The character of Sam Spade quickly jumped from the pages of a novel to radio theater, his own comic book series, and ultimately to the big screen.  What makes this character so iconic is the presence that Spade embodies.  He has a swagger and a cool demeanor that Humphrey Bogart pulls off with style in this week's film, The Maltese Falcon.  The trench coat, the cigarette always lit, the carefully tipped hat shadowing the eyes and giving an air of mystery, and yes, that deep Bogart voice.  The story starts with Spade's partner in their private detective agency getting killed.  Enter in the sexy leading lady, A.K.A. the client whom Spade's partner was working for when he was murdered, with her innocent face and a puzzle locked behind her facade. She's alluring but her secrets are so hidden, Spade has a hard time telling whose side she is on.  And thus we have the hard-nosed detective and the femme fatale.

More notable in this film than the characters who have been modeled in countless films, television shows, and pop culture images since is the style that it launched into popularity, Film Noir.  While The Maltese Falcon isn't the first film produced in noir style, its embodiment of the antihero, the incredible use of darkness and shadows to tell the story, and the dark realism in the film make it a model of this style.
Interested yet?  If you've not see The Maltese Falcon, we highly recommend it.  The popcorn is nice and fresh, the company is good, and the price couldn't be better.  We'll see you on Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. in the TVCC Science Building.