How long after The Maltese Falcon does Monsieur Spade take place?

Mr Spade follows the later years of Sam Spade, one of Humphrey Bogart’s most memorable characters and the hero of The Maltese Falcon. Sam Spade, created by Dashiel Hammett in the 1930 novel of the same name, is one of the most notable examples of the “hard-boiled private detective” Archetype from the pop culture of the 1930s and 1940s. Over the years, the character has been portrayed several times, with Humphrey Bogart’s appearance in the 1941 adaptation of The Maltese Falcon obviously the best known interpretation.

Although the series is not marketed as an official sequel to the 1941 film, it is clear which version of the story Mr Spade is most closely associated with. It is generally considered one of Humphrey Bogart’s best films, The Maltese Falcon leaves an indistinguishable impression in the show, which is reflected in the treatment of the main character in Mr Spades Cast. Clive Owen’s interpretation of Sam Spade is easily recognizable as an older version of the Bogart character, who has obviously been through a lot since The Maltese Falcon finished.

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“Monsieur Spade” takes place over 20 years after “The Maltese Falcon”

While the Maltese Falcon was raging, the Second World War

Mr Spade takes place in 1963, about 20 years after The Maltese Falcon. John Huston’s film never set a specific date for the story’s time frame, but it was obviously filmed to fit the modern day, around 1940 or 1941. This is in contrast to the book, which is set in 1928. As for the TV series, it seems to follow a timeline that matches the film rather than the novel, and is based on Sam Spade’s age. Clive Owen is 59, so it’s unlikely that 35 years have passed since the Mystery of the Maltese Falcon.

What Sam Spade has done since the end of The Maltese Falcon

Sam Spade got married (but not Brigid)

At this point in Sam Spade’s life, the events and characters in The Maltese Falcon have been behind him for years. However, they are mentioned frequently in the series premiere, which offers the opportunity to explain how Spade’s life has evolved after he solves the mystery of the film’s titular bird mystery. Apparently Spade stayed true to his word in the first film and waited for Brigid O’Shaughnessy to get out of prisonShe only served two years in prison and was able to get back together with Spade after lying and getting released early.

However, their rekindled romance did not last long. Brigid broke her parole and started a new life in Istanbul, while Spade eventually moved away from San Francisco and settled in the South of France where he married a local named Gabrielle. She died some time later and Spade became a widower. After that, he stayed in the area and enjoyed his retirement and quiet life in a rural town. But of course, it doesn’t take Sam Spade’s character as a former private investigator to put him in danger again. Mr Spade.

Mr Spade

Based on the works of Dashiell Hammet, Monsieur Spade is a crime mystery series developed by Scott Frank and Tom Fontana for AMC. The series follows Detective Sam Spade after years of retirement, now living in France. His peaceful time is interrupted by a former enemy who starts a series of murders, forcing Sam to return and uncover the truth about the town he now lives in.

Pour

Clive Owen, Cara Bossom, Denis Menochet, Louise Bourgoin, Chiara Mastroianni, Stanley Weber

Release date

14 January 2024

Seasons

1

Streaming service(s)

AMC+

Authors

Scott Frank, Tom Fontana

Showrunner

Scott Frank, Tom Fontana

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