Satan Met a Lady *** (1936, Bette Davis, Warren William, Alison Skipworth, Marie Wilson, Arthur Treacher, Winifred Shaw, Porter Hall) – Classic Movie Review 2466

When Warner Bros tried to re-release its pre-Code 1931 film of The Maltese Falcon early in 1936, the Production Code Office was censoring movies and it refused approval due to the film’s supposedly ‘lewd’ content. So, with censorship preventing them re-releasing the old one, Warner Bros simply decided to re-film it.

Warners quickly produced this new version later in 1936, but they changed the story and gave the film a comedic tone. So director William Dieterle’s second movie version of Dashiell Hammett’s great thriller novel is, for better or worse, worse actually, a banteringly humorous reworking of the book, no doubt to get round any further censorship problems.

Warren William stars as private detective Sam Spade, who is now re-named Ted Shayne), the mannish Alison Skipworth appears in the previously male Kasper Gutman role (now as villainess Madame Barabbas) and Spade’s secretary is a fluttery dimwit called Miss Murgatroyd (Marie Wilson). And what Hitchcock called the MacGuffin of Hammett’s Maltese Falcon is now turned into a ram’s horn full of gems. Why make these changes, who knows? Oh, because you can.

Plus there is Bette Davis, who is not really in the main role but top-billed as befits her star status as shady lady Valerie Purvis (in the Mary Astor role from the 1941 version of The Maltese Falcon). Davis fought having to do it, but conceded and regretted it, later considered it to be one of her worst films.

Annoyed at being forced to film such ‘junk’ after making the prestigious The Petrified Forest, she failed to report to the set. ‘I was so distressed by the whole tone of the script and the vapidity of my part that I marched up to Mr [Jack] Warner’s office and demanded that I be given work that was commensurate with my proven ability,’ she recalled. ‘I was promised wonderful things if only I would do this film.’

She was suspended on December 3 and, angry but needing her pay for her mother, sister and herself, she finally reported to work three days late.

[Spoiler alert] Davis’s character Valerie hires William’s private eye Ted and his detective agency partner Ames (Porter Hall) to locate a man called Farrow. When Ames and Farrow are found dead, Shane is suspected of the murders. Ted memorably tells Valerie: ‘After I’ve cleared up a couple murders, you and I could have lots of fun.’

Taking a really charitable view, a jokey take on the dark material just about could have been a workable idea, though certainly never a good one. And it is interesting to compare and contrast this movie with the two other versions. It is essential for buffs and completists – and Davis fans. But it scores fairly low for tautness, thrills and laughs. However, thanks to the stalwart cast, story, direction and fine production, it is still well worth checking out.

As you’d expect, and as the DVD boasts, it is in glorious black and white, with cinematography by Arthur Edeson. Brown Holmes is responsible for the screenplay. And director William Dieterle keeps it moving briskly and smartly along in its brief running time of 74 minutes.

Also in the cast are Arthur Treacher as Anthony Travers, Winifred Shaw as Astrid Ames, Charles C Wilson as Detective Pollock, Olin Howland as Detective Dunhill, Maynard Holmes, Joseph King, Barbara Blane, Stuart Holmes, Billy Bletcher, May Beatty, John Elliott and Edward McWade.

It was first filmed as The Maltese Falcon in 1931 with Ricardo Cortez as Sam Spade and Bebe Daniels and again definitively by John Huston as The Maltese Falcon in 1941 with Humphrey Bogart as Sam Spade and Mary Astor.

© Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 2466

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