Other than THE BIG SLEEP, I (like Bill) probably do not know
any other novel as well as THE MALTESE FALCON.
When I have students read the novel, they are always
bewildered by the descriptions of cigarette rolling. Some
students have noted that Chandler does the same thing with
Marlowe's coffee making.... I actually get to teach these
novels, introducing them to a new generation of readers. Do I
have the coolest job in the world or what? By and large,
students love the novel.
I think that there are some pretty significant differences
between the novel and the 1941 film, presumably largely
caused by adherence to the Hays Code. I am most disturbed by
Spade's strip-search of Brigid O'Shaunessy.
I served as a consultant for a recent stage adaptation of the
novel (at a community theatre in Monticello, Florida). I
fought like mad to get the person adapting the novel to leave
in the Flitcraft parable, but to no avail. The play was
running long as it was, and there was just no way. Sigh. He
also modeled the ending after the film, but only after trying
the novel's ending on a few friends and finding that they
prefered the film.
By the way, Bill correctly observes that this is not the
FIRST hard-boiled novel.... What novels would you all put
forth as the first?
~Marc
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