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Spade and Archer by Joe Gores (view source)
Revision as of 17:56, 28 October 2009
, 17:56, 28 October 2009no edit summary
Straight away, it's evident that Sam is a man of few words. He has the mannerisms of a cat - stealthy, quick on his feet. He's also a compulsive chain-smoker, but then again, most people were. In that era, holding a cigarette was an elegant, almost essential accessory. How times have changed.
Sam is very much his own man and he certainly is not cowed by authority. He quickly builds up a steady client base with the energetic help of his young and loyal secretary, Effie. Assignments can be a mixed bag (he doesn't do domestics). Some are basic, bread-and-butter cases, while others are altogether more dangerous. Sam is not afraid of danger. He faces it head on. Also, where the local Police Department seem to have a line of thinking where its 'big and complicated' Sam's philosophy is 'to think small and simple.' It works and his agency achieves results. As a backstory for ''The Maltese Falcon'' it fits perfectly.
Sam also has charisma oozing out from every pore. His laid-back style and snazzy dressing is a big hit with the ladies - or dames as he would say. We have lots of fiery eye moments in the books, lots of clamped mouths, repressed emotions. But he also has a softer side as displayed by his attitude to Effie - he treats her like a little princess. His humour is as dry as a good dry martini. For example, when Sam's in conversation with the local Police Department, he reminds a sergeant that 'on this side of the bay you don't have the authority to arrest a dog for lifting its leg.' There are other elegant lines such as 'she hooked a hip over the corner of his desk' and also ' a secretary ... was banging on a typewriter as if it were a faithless lover'.