Dick Powell's version is softer than Booth's.
As I see it, the end of the Falcon is Spade's "exorcism."
He's breaking
the spell brought on by the femme fatale's "be-witching."
Remember, if
not for Archer's insistence, Spade would have walked down the
alley with
Miss O'Shaunesy; he was as be-witched as Archer. (Yes, i
cannot spell
today.) His break needed to be formal, public, unambiguous,
and complete.
He is face to face with her and rejecting both her and Death
itself (which
is her true "spouse.")
Speaking of wondeful new hard-boiled writers, I truly like
Richard Barre.
I've read all three of his books (The Innocents, Bearing
Secrets and his
new one The Ghosts of Morning) and give him my highest
recommendation. In
fact, the three finest writers to my mind today are Walter
Moseley, Jim
Sallis and Richard Barre. (Sallis has a new book out from
Walker,
but--ARRGHH!!--I don't remember its name this morning.) All
three share a
love for language, and each one is a master at it. And I'll
walk down any
mean street with any of their PIs.
Now to go out and locate the June GQ with Rafferty's article
about
hard-boiled detectives. Thanks for the tip!
Frederick Zackel
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