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John Huston's The Maltese Falcon (1941) is often cited as a key text in the genre of movies known as film noir. Yet while the film certainly influenced many of the film noirs that followed, it does not fit comfortably within the parameters that defined that cinematic movement. One of three film adaptations of Dashiell Hammett's 1930 novel of the same name, The Maltese Falcon might be best considered as a precursor to film noir rather than an archetype, an important distinction that impacts on the reading of the film. A key component of the noir film is a failure of masculinity, particularly in relation to a dominating femme fatale. James F. Maxfield notes that film noirs often express a fear 'that men can be led by female seduction to act so contrary to their self interests that they allow themselves to be destroyed'.1 Yet the lead character of The Maltese Falcon, Sam Spade (Humphrey Bogart), is seldom in any true danger, successfully negotiating all the obstacles and hidden dangers presented by his nemeses. Spade is one of the most significant characters of classical Hollywood cinema, his tough image enduring as a paradigm of masculinity. Unlike the doomed heroes of film noir, Spade repeatedly finds the upper hand, survives his ordeal and trumps all who challenge his authority.
Film noir is defined by themes of cynicism and disillusionment complemented by a series of expressionistic visual compositions often documenting low-life characters engaged in nefarious activities. Films exhibiting these elements began to appear in Hollywood in the very late 1930s and became more frequent through the 1940s. The noir movement was closely associated with the cultural shifts that came about in America due to the Second World War. A crisis in masculinity stemming from the move of women into the workforce found representation in many noir films. While American soldiers were being dispatched to foreign shores, women were being elevated to positions of authority in various industries. Gender relations were therefore shifting as traditional roles (and preconceptions) were transforming. Film noir eschewed representations of strong and assertive male heroes, focusing instead on men who felt trapped by their social and economic situations. Furthermore, the horrors of war contributed to a mood of psychological introspection, giving rise...