Date:1931 Type: Drama / Thriller Rating: 4/5 Colour: Black and White Director:Roy Del Ruth Producer:
Comment/Synopsis
When a beautiful woman walks into the office of private detective Sam Spade, intrigue and bodies start to pile up. This is the first film version of the novel by Dashiell Hammett, and an early example of a sound film. This is a solid interpretation, though the acting is slightly wooden which is typical for early sound films. As a pre-code film there is a level of sexuality in this version that is missing from the more film noir style 1941 version, that comes from three great female leads of the period, Bebe Daniels (as the femme fatale), Una Merkel (as the secretary) and Thelma Todd (as his murdered partner's wife).
4/5 
Bebe Daniels
Ricardo Cortez
Dudley Digges
Una Merkel
Thelma Todd