The Maltese Falcon

• Wilmer, the “gunsel”
• Spade’s character
• The principle

Wilmer, the “gunsel”

He carries a couple of pistols so he can feel powerful. The script refers to him as “the boy.” Spade refers to him as “the punk” and says he’s made for the part to be the fall-guy.

Spade’s character

Spade is mean, tough, detached, determined, and observant. He’s experienced and smart. He completely lacks sentimentality. He might love Brigid O’Shaughnessy but other things are more important. He tells Brigid not to be too sure that he’s as crooked as he’s supposed to be. Bogart in the role became the archetype of the private detective in film noir.

The principle

Nobody kills a man’s partner and gets away with it. As the woman who murdered him, the woman who says she loves Spade, Spade said he’d have some rotten nights but that would pass.