Over the past couple of days I've been reading
The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett. It's pretty rare for me to read a book after seeing the film, and I have to admit it's a strange feeling. As I'm reading I can picture and hear Humphrey Bogart as clear as day. It's quite disconcerting. I can't help wondering whether if I'd read the book first, whether Humphrey Bogart would have fitted my mental image of Sam Spade? Usually this is one of things I find most jarring about seeing a TV or movie version of a book - the character's aren't portrayed as I've come to think of them. Regardless, I'm enjoying the book immensely, even though the book has look and sound of the movie.
Over the past couple of days I've been reading The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett. It's pretty rare for me to read a book after seeing the film, and I have to admit it's a strange feeling. As I'm reading I can picture and hear Humphrey Bogart as clear as day. It's quite disconcerting. I can't help wondering whether if I'd read the book first, whether Humphrey Bogart would have fitted my mental image of Sam Spade? Usually this is one of things I find most jarring about seeing a TV or movie version of a book - the character's aren't portrayed as I've come to think of them. Regardless, I'm enjoying the book immensely, even though the book has look and sound of the movie.
Rob, Be happy you saw the 1941 version with Bogart. You could have Ricardo Cortez in your mind. The 1931 version is interesting since it was pre-Hayes code and has a lot more sexual innuendo. In a couple of places it is closer to the book.
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