The Maltese Falcon (Collection of 20 original photographs from the 1931 pre-Code film) by Hammett, Dashiell (novel); Roy Del Ruth (director); Bebe Daniels, Ricardo Cortez (starring) - 1931

Burbank, CA: Warner Brothers, 1931. Collection of 20 vintage studio still photographs from the 1931 pre-Code film, and the first adaptation of Dashiell Hammett's classic hard boiled novel. All but two images with the Warner Brothers / Vitaphone logo at the bottom margin. This first adaptation, made well prior to the establishment of the Hayes Code, carries a set of characters whose common quality is one of general immorality. John Huston's better known 1941 version would translate that quality into a dialogue-intensive, hard boiled (if much warmer) style. The principal image, of Ricardo Cortez as Sam Spade with the shadow of the falcon looming behind him, has the original snipe from the film, a "Received" stamp dated May 20, 1931 (eight days prior to the film's release date), and another date stamp of May 27, 1931. Other photos with various stamps relating to the studio or to the collection of Carlos Clarens. 8 x 10 inches. Three images faded to sepia, overall clean and Very Good to Near Fine. Complete collation details available on request.