Maltese Falcon Essay

Karina Garcia November 19, 2015 1301 Bouillon Understanding Film Noir Film Noir is a movie of which, at no point in time, will lead to a happy or perfect ending. The corrupt social criticism, American isolation, greed and last but, not least, the young and beautiful femme fatal, all create the Film Noir. Often filmed in black and white, Film Noir is about the “dark side” and alienation in the modern American city manifested in psychosis, criminality, and paranoia. The American society created a

Mysterious Motives: How Lying and Deceit Shape Detective Stories The Hound of the Baskervilles, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and The Maltese Falcon, by Dashiell Hammett both exemplify classic detective stories. With secrets and red herrings behind every corner, Sam Spade and Sherlock Holmes try to pinpoint a culprit and solve a case. However, their stories become more complicated when their own secrets are thrown into the mix. When it comes murder, everyone has something to hide, and anyone could

character) as seen in the 1940 and 1950’s movies such as the Maltese Falcon. My imagination as I was reading it was

Compared to other males in the novel, Cairo is presented as more or less an effeminate homosexual. The way in which Cairo speaks, the way he smells, and even the way he dresses are all counter-culture to the typical masculine male portrayed in the Maltese Falcon. Why then does Hammett develop this character? It can be argued that Cairo is placed into the story as a direct contrast to the main character, allowing readers to gain a deeper understanding of what masculinity is, or ought to

Between the two books, Farewell, My Lovely and The Maltese Falcon, we find many similarities from the purpose of the plot to the characters within. Both books are a fan of the hardboiled detective and are set within the state of California. The main characters of both books share many different traits that define them as hardboiled detectives. To be a hardboiled detective one must have the utmost attention to detail, be independent of personal ties, must live within the hustle and bustle of city

The Hays Code in Film Noir The Motion Picture Production Code, commonly known as the Hays Code, was adopted in March 1930, though it was not truly enforced until four years later in 1934. This set of rules had tremendously influenced the way Hollywood movies were made for a number of years. This code was based on the ethics and norms if that time. There were three main principals of the Hays Code. The first was no picture shall be produced that will lower the moral standard of those who see it

Black Mask. His primary novel, the Red Harvest, along with his following, The Dain Curse, both drew attention to his writing but never completely took people in until after he gained fame from his third novel, The Maltese Falcon, which was his most renowned composition. The Maltese Falcon became the book by which all other American mysteries were judged. His two principal series were known as the Continental Op series, which was published between 1923 and 1926, the Sam Spade series was published between

The ambiguity of Miles’ marital situation that is created by the lack of a stream of consciousness displaying his guilt while he is flirting with Brigid or a narrator announcing, “Little did she know, Miles’ was a married man,” allows the audience to engage in an, as Christianson describes, “unconventional characterization” (519). The way of which this truth is unraveled due to the ambiguity created by Huston’s point of view allows the audience to discover Miles’ unfaithfulness on their own, giving

so close to Sam Spade it’s as if we’re peering over the detective’s shoulder from first to last page. 2. The City – The buildings and streets in San Francisco have such a tangible presence, even today, after nearly 100 years, they still give Maltese Falcon tours. 3. Femme Fatale – Brigid O’Shaughnessy is the femme fatale. Her looks, her way of speaking, her cunning, her charms, her allurement– legions of writers of detective fiction have changed her name, her home town, color of her hair and eyes

world of cheap dives, shadowy doorways, and mysterious settings.” This describes how manipulative and ruthless femme fatales are and would do anything in order to possess great wealth. The characteristics of the “innocent” femme fatale in “The Maltese Falcon” (1941) is recognized when Bridget begs Spade to help her. The appeal to his manhood, the projection of innocence and her feminine wiles: “Be generous, Mr. Spade. You're brave. You're strong. You can spare me some of that courage and strength