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The Maltese Falcon (Original screenplay for the 1941 film noir)
by Dashiell Hammett (novel); Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor, Gladys George, Peter Lorre, Sydney Greenstreet (starring); John Huston (director, screenwriter)
- Used
- Condition
- See description
- Seller
-
Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
Burbank, CA: Warner Brothers, 1941. Final Draft script for the 1941 film, dated May 26, 1941. Warner Brothers Story Department copy, carbon typescript, with stamps on the front wrapper stating same.
Shooting began on June 1, 1941, making this Final Draft in effect the shooting script for the film. OCLC locates only one institutional holding of a production script worldwide.
In his 1990 book on the making of the film, Rudy Behlmer notes that Huston, under pressure with a small budget and low expectations from the studio, planned each second of the film to the last detail, tailoring the screenplay with instructions to himself for a shot-by-shot setup, with storyboards for every scene, so filming could proceed fluently and professionally.
In the end, virtually none of the script was altered during production, and the production finished on time and under budget.
A groundbreaking film noir cornerstone, signaling the beginning of what is today known as the classic film noir era, based on Dashiell Hammett's classic 1930 hardboiled novel.
To keep the unique effect of gumshoe Sam Spade's experience, Huston employed a then-radical adaptation technique, wherein the film's perspective never departs Spade's point of view-the audience knows and sees only what he sees.
Nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Screenplay.
Set in San Francisco.
Blue titled wrappers, undated, with Warner Bros. Story and Stenographic Depts. stamps and a FINAL stamp on the front wrapper. Title page present, dated 5/26/41, with credits for screenwriter John Huston and novelist Dashiell Hammett. 148 leaves, with last page of text numbered 147. Carbon typescript on onionskin stock, with blue revision pages throughout, dated variously between 6/2/41 and 9/9/41. Pages Near Fine, wrapper Very Good plus, slightly yapped at the edges, bound with two gold brads.
National Film Registry. Ebert I. Grant US. Penzler 101. Rosenbaum 1000. Selby US Masterwork. Spicer US. Silver and Ward Classic Noir.
Shooting began on June 1, 1941, making this Final Draft in effect the shooting script for the film. OCLC locates only one institutional holding of a production script worldwide.
In his 1990 book on the making of the film, Rudy Behlmer notes that Huston, under pressure with a small budget and low expectations from the studio, planned each second of the film to the last detail, tailoring the screenplay with instructions to himself for a shot-by-shot setup, with storyboards for every scene, so filming could proceed fluently and professionally.
In the end, virtually none of the script was altered during production, and the production finished on time and under budget.
A groundbreaking film noir cornerstone, signaling the beginning of what is today known as the classic film noir era, based on Dashiell Hammett's classic 1930 hardboiled novel.
To keep the unique effect of gumshoe Sam Spade's experience, Huston employed a then-radical adaptation technique, wherein the film's perspective never departs Spade's point of view-the audience knows and sees only what he sees.
Nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Screenplay.
Set in San Francisco.
Blue titled wrappers, undated, with Warner Bros. Story and Stenographic Depts. stamps and a FINAL stamp on the front wrapper. Title page present, dated 5/26/41, with credits for screenwriter John Huston and novelist Dashiell Hammett. 148 leaves, with last page of text numbered 147. Carbon typescript on onionskin stock, with blue revision pages throughout, dated variously between 6/2/41 and 9/9/41. Pages Near Fine, wrapper Very Good plus, slightly yapped at the edges, bound with two gold brads.
National Film Registry. Ebert I. Grant US. Penzler 101. Rosenbaum 1000. Selby US Masterwork. Spicer US. Silver and Ward Classic Noir.
Synopsis
The Maltese Falcon , author Dashiell Hammett’s third novel, set the standard by which all subsequent detective fiction would be judged. Set in San Francisco in the late 1920s, the novel introduces us to private detective Sam Spade, who characterizes the archetype of the hard-boiled detective in his dead-pan pursuit of the recovery of a black figurine. Having worked for a time for the Pinkerton Detective Agency in San Francisco, Hammett reportedly drew upon his years as a detective in creating Spade and many of the other characters for The Maltese Falcon . The Maltese Falcon was originally serialized in HL Mencken’s “pulp” magazine, Black Mask, beginning with the September 1929 issue. For publication of the book form, editor Blanche Knopf tried to tone down the overt sexuality of the magazine version, fearing the references would alienate readers, but Hammett prevailed. However, the 1941 film adaptation starring Humphrey Bogart and Mary Astor (the best known of the novel’s three film versions) excised the homosexual subtext of the novel due to Production Code restraints. Today, the movie is considered a film noir classic and the novel is ranked 56th on Modern Library’s “100 Best” English-language novels of the 20th century as well as 54th on The Guardian’s list of the 100 best novels. -
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Details
- Seller
- Royal Books, Inc.
(US)
- Seller's Inventory #
- 161204
- Title
- The Maltese Falcon (Original screenplay for the 1941 film noir)
- Author
- Dashiell Hammett (novel); Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor, Gladys George, Peter Lorre, Sydney Greenstreet (starring); John Huston (director, screenwriter)
- Book Condition
- Used
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Publisher
- Warner Brothers
- Place of Publication
- Burbank, CA
- Date Published
- 1941
- Keywords
- Film Scripts | 1940s Cinema | San Francisco | Mystery and Crime | Film Noir | Films with Literary Sources | Heist Film | National Film Registry
- Bookseller catalogs
- Film Scripts; Film Noir; Films with Literary Sources; National Film Registry; Mystery and Crime;
Terms of Sale
Royal Books, Inc.
If you have questions about a book, feel free to call us anytime at 410-366-7329. Mailing address: Royal Books / 32 West 25th Street / Baltimore, MD / 21218. We accept VISA/MC/AMEX/DISCOVER, check or money order, and PayPal (ID is mail@royalbooks.com).
All books noted as First Editions are also First Printings unless indicated otherwise. All books are guaranteed to be as described, and may be returned at any time for any reason for a full refund, including return postage. Libraries, institutions, and accredited dealers can be sent books with invoice.About the Seller
Royal Books, Inc.
Biblio member since 2007
Baltimore, Maryland
About Royal Books, Inc.
We are members of ABAA and ILAB, and specialize in First Editions of Modern Literature, Crime Fiction, Science Fiction, Music, Photography, Art, and Cinema. You may search our entire stock, get directions, or view our newest arrivals by catalog or category by going to our easy-to-use catalog homepage:
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We are an open shop located in the midtown section of Baltimore. Check our website for directions if you are coming through the Baltimore area. We are open 10AM-6PM EST, Monday through Friday. You may email an order at any time, 24 hours a day.
www.royalbooks.com
We are an open shop located in the midtown section of Baltimore. Check our website for directions if you are coming through the Baltimore area. We are open 10AM-6PM EST, Monday through Friday. You may email an order at any time, 24 hours a day.
Glossary
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- Edges
- The collective of the top, fore and bottom edges of the text block of the book, being that part of the edges of the pages of a...
- Wrappers
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- Leaves
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- Title Page
- A page at the front of a book which may contain the title of the book, any subtitles, the authors, contributors, editors, the...
- Fine
- A book in fine condition exhibits no flaws. A fine condition book closely approaches As New condition, but may lack the...
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