The Maltese Falcon is one of the noir books that defined the genre. But the first try at making this spare, grim book about a fancy bird into a novel didn’t take. Nor did the second. The third is the one we all recall, with Humphrey Bogart and Mary Astor. And even it’s a bit weird. In this episode, we bring in ringers Dylan Meconis, whose grew up with a Bogart shrine in her home, and Brock Winstead, a Falcon fan.

Maltese Falcon

Glenn Fleishman with Brock Winstead, Dylan Meconis and James Callan

Show Notes & Links

You can watch the full versions online:

• The somewhat flat 1931 version
• The semi-goofy 1936 adaptation called Satan Met a Lady.

Show links:

• The book, The Maltese Falcon, available in an enormous number of editions
• The 1941 script
• Lux Radio Theater with Edward G. Robinson (1943)
• The Academy Award Theater radio show with Bogart and Astor (1946)