[GA Russell]

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

The reason the movie didn't mention Spade's sleeping with Brigid is because it was filmed post-code. For the same reason, the bathroom strip-search was omitted. There's an earlier film version, 1931 I believe, that is much more explicit. It was critically acclaimed and popular at the box office, but it was banned after the code came in. While I liked the Bogart movie, I felt that he and Astor had zero chemistry, and yes, her declaration of love and his response made little sense in that context.

I really enjoyed the book, and I wish Hammett had written more Sam Spade adventures. He was an interesting character.

Originally Posted by GA Russell

Tom, I've always wanted to see that first movie. All references to it that I've seen have been dismissive. I had no idea that it disappeared from sight because of the code.

Did you know that Hammett wrote four Sam Spade short stories? They are collected together with other Hammett works in a book entitled The Adventures of Sam Spade.

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

I also want to see it. The dismissive reviews I've seen refer not to it, but to Satan Met a Lady (1936), which was a comedic adaptation of the book. The 1931 film is still available, but I can't find it on line for free or for rent, and I haven't had much luck with ordering DVDs through the mail. A couple of times I did order DVDs and never got the goods. I think there must be some movie buffs working at the Post Office.



No I didn't, although I knew others had written Sam Spade stories. Thanks for that. I'll have to check it out.

Originally Posted by Ralph Sir Edward

I hae and have watched the 1931 movie version. I was not overly impressed. The characters were not true to the book. Imagine Sam Spade leering (and I do mean leering) at every girl that walks by...

To understand the Wilmer character, look up the yiddish term gonsel (slipped into the 41 movie as gunsel).

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

Was there nudity in that version? Does it make clear O'Shaughnessy and Spade were sleeping together? I know the strip search scene was suppose to be in that one, but I don't know how much was actually shown onscreen. "Lewdness" is what earned the movie its ban after the code came in.

Originally Posted by Ralph Sir Edward

I only watched it once, I'll have to rewatch it tonight. Certainly no nude scenes stuck out in my memory.

I have found the 1931 Maltese Falcon film at Amazon. It comes with its remake, Satan Met a Lady.

A few weeks ago they had a new copy for $25, but I see today that their best offer is a used copy for $32.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1