He keeps things simple, but occasionally slips in clever little phrases, such as: Hammett writes well – narration is largely just descriptions. If you don't think it's culturally relevant, just know that the prop statue from the 1941 film sold for $4 Million in 2013! I really enjoyed the read, as it’s as pure a ‘film-noir’ hard-boiled detective story as you get - brimmed hats, cigarettes, guns, and even opening with a femme fatale walking into the detective agency as the opening scene. I had seen the film long ago and I remember enjoying it, but to be honest, I couldn’t remember the plot. Humphrey Bogart played Sam Spade in the most famous adaptation of The Maltese Falcon in 1941.
Dashiell Hammett was a major influence on the establishment of ‘hard-boiled’ detective fiction and through film adaptations of his stories – film-noir. It was eventually published as a novel in 1930. Dashiell Hammett wrote this story originally as a serial in the magazine Black Mask. I found an interesting old hardbound version of this novel at a used bookstore and I couldn’t resist it. The Vintage paperback that gave many of us our first Maltese Falcon experience, and which taught us the true power of good bone structure.Sam Spade doesn’t need to go looking for trouble, trouble finds him. The brain waves connecting the characters to the falcon is a nice touch, especially since this seems to be part of a “Vampire Collection.”ġ1. An imperialist aesthetic seems to be at play here. Is it me, or did they make Bogie’s mouth extra sly?ġ5.
McKnight Kauffer’s design for the 1934 Modern Library edition.ġ7. One of the very best representation of Brigid O’Shaughnessy.Ģ2. A little more Archies than pulp crime, but still memorable.Ģ3. A color palate straight out of the Swedish après-ski scene circa 1986.Ģ6. It kind of singes itself onto your brain, doesn’t it?Ģ8. And for more expert takes on rare books and cover art, refer to the work of CrimeReads contributors Rebecca Romney and J. (There are no doubt mistakes below, especially on foreign editions. No regrets, until you’re alone in your apartment / office with a glass of something smoky and a memory that refuses to die… In Hammett-world, quick decisive action is key. To commemorate Hammett’s birth, we’ve gathered up and (very, very scientifically) ranked the top 42 covers of The Maltese Falcon from around the world. Nothing quite compares to the man’s words, but that doesn’t mean we can’t take a few minutes to appreciate the effort.Ĭome with us, won’t you, on a journey around the world in tattered, well-read copies of The Maltese Falcon. Many a filmmaker, illustrator, and book designer have taken their shot at capturing that Maltese feeling. Just the title conjures up a stylized world of sharp dealers, San Francisco hills, double crossers and double-breasted suits.
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