Comments on: Proto-Noir and Incomplete Character in the Maltese Falcon? http://ardfilmjournal.wordpress.com/2008/09/01/proto-noir-and-incomplete-character-in-the-maltese-falcon/ A Film, Art, Aesthetics, Critical and Cultural Theory Journal Sun, 18 Oct 2009 22:49:15 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: streetwear http://ardfilmjournal.wordpress.com/2008/09/01/proto-noir-and-incomplete-character-in-the-maltese-falcon/#comment-2972 streetwear Sun, 11 Oct 2009 01:48:19 +0000 http://ardfilmjournal.wordpress.com/?p=200#comment-2972 Your site is the best one! Your site is the best one!

]]> By: street wear http://ardfilmjournal.wordpress.com/2008/09/01/proto-noir-and-incomplete-character-in-the-maltese-falcon/#comment-2831 street wear Mon, 28 Sep 2009 20:57:48 +0000 http://ardfilmjournal.wordpress.com/?p=200#comment-2831 Hello its a very nice site! Hello its a very nice site!

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]]> By: Nonito Donaire Jr http://ardfilmjournal.wordpress.com/2008/09/01/proto-noir-and-incomplete-character-in-the-maltese-falcon/#comment-1476 Nonito Donaire Jr Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:35:06 +0000 http://ardfilmjournal.wordpress.com/?p=200#comment-1476 Hello there,very nice place Hello there,very nice place

]]> By: Thought Process « The Motley View http://ardfilmjournal.wordpress.com/2008/09/01/proto-noir-and-incomplete-character-in-the-maltese-falcon/#comment-51 Thought Process « The Motley View Wed, 10 Sep 2008 15:08:35 +0000 http://ardfilmjournal.wordpress.com/?p=200#comment-51 [...] Jump to Comments Yesterday i was thinking about a past post concerning film noir while i was watching Akira Kurosawa’s Stray Dog (1949). In it i explored the nature of [...] [...] Jump to Comments Yesterday i was thinking about a past post concerning film noir while i was watching Akira Kurosawa’s Stray Dog (1949). In it i explored the nature of [...]

]]> By: Tony D'Ambra http://ardfilmjournal.wordpress.com/2008/09/01/proto-noir-and-incomplete-character-in-the-maltese-falcon/#comment-46 Tony D'Ambra Wed, 10 Sep 2008 09:43:15 +0000 http://ardfilmjournal.wordpress.com/?p=200#comment-46 An original and provocative critique. I would make these observations: 1. The story follows very closely Hammett's pre-noir novel, and the murder of Archer is the catalyst for the ensuing action, so I can't agree that the early dispatch of Archer can be put down to the "structural affect of the Hollywood system". 2. Spade does have a doomed relationship with Brigid, but she is not fully a femme-fatale. Archer is killed because his weakness for attractive women overcame the necessary caution he should have shown on the job. There is no relationship of any meaning between Archer and Brigid. 3. Spade is the full noir PI. As I have said elsewhere: "Spade is the quintessential noir protagonist: a loner on the edge of polite society, sorely tempted to transgress but declines and is neither saved nor redeemed. [Sam and Brigid are lovers.] Sam was not seduced. Brigid is not a femme-fatale: she manipulates Sam, but never seeks to have him act as her surrogate. Together they discover the desperate emptiness of their lives. She true to her nature can’t comprehend how he can send her down if he loves her. He can’t fathom her lying while knowing she loves him. The famous ad-lib by Bogart on the leaden black bird at the end says it all … the stuff that dreams are made of." An original and provocative critique.

I would make these observations:

1. The story follows very closely Hammett’s pre-noir novel, and the murder of Archer is the catalyst for the ensuing action, so I can’t agree that the early dispatch of Archer can be put down to the “structural affect of the Hollywood system”.

2. Spade does have a doomed relationship with Brigid, but she is not fully a femme-fatale. Archer is killed because his weakness for attractive women overcame the necessary caution he should have shown on the job. There is no relationship of any meaning between Archer and Brigid.

3. Spade is the full noir PI. As I have said elsewhere:

“Spade is the quintessential noir protagonist: a loner on the edge of polite society, sorely tempted to transgress but declines and is neither saved nor redeemed. [Sam and Brigid are lovers.] Sam was not seduced. Brigid is not a femme-fatale: she manipulates Sam, but never seeks to have him act as her surrogate. Together they discover the desperate emptiness of their lives. She true to her nature can’t comprehend how he can send her down if he loves her. He can’t fathom her lying while knowing she loves him. The famous ad-lib by Bogart on the leaden black bird at the end says it all … the stuff that dreams are made of.”

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