Join Russ Gifford as we look at the development of the uniquely American Private Detective novel. Along the way, we will use these books to view America at a moment in time when everything seems to be changing fast – the 1920s.
From 1920-1940, Dashiell Hammett starts with the characters Continental Op and Sam Spade, and don’t forget the Thin Man. We'll see how Raymond Chandler followed in his footsteps with Philip Marlowe. These stories set readers on the edge of their seats in the 1920s, and both authors would soon do the same with movies. The Maltese Falcon would be filmed three times before they find the right person to play Sam Spade. Bogart would put his stamp on Spade, but then go on to play the ultra-cool Philip Marlowe in Chandler’s “The Big Sleep.”
But how do the books compare to the movies? And what influence do the books, the characters, the authors, and the stories have in our time? Ah, that is the mystery we will pursue. Enjoy this glimpse into the novels, the books, the cities, and the times of Hammett, Chandler, Spade, and Marlowe.