In fact, there were *two* previous movie adaptations of "The Maltese Falcon." The 1931 version starred Ricardo Cortez (a "Latin from Staten," to quote the phrase from a Fats Waller song; he was born Jacob Krantz in NYC) as Sam Spade and Bebe Daniels (better known for her role in "42nd Street" the next year) as Brigid O'Shaughnessy. Being pre-Code, it's a little rougher than the 1941 version, but notwithstanding that, it's one of the worst movies I've ever watched, and that's on its own "merits," not in comparison with the John Huston version. A version was made in 1936 called "Satan Met A Lady," with Warren William and Bette Davis in the leading roles. It's said to be "loosely based" on Hammett's novel. I've never seen it, so I can't say how loose it it was.
In fact, there were *two* previous movie adaptations of "The Maltese Falcon." The 1931 version starred Ricardo Cortez (a "Latin from Staten," to quote the phrase from a Fats Waller song; he was born Jacob Krantz in NYC) as Sam Spade and Bebe Daniels (better known for her role in "42nd Street" the next year) as Brigid O'Shaughnessy. Being pre-Code, it's a little rougher than the 1941 version, but notwithstanding that, it's one of the worst movies I've ever watched, and that's on its own "merits," not in comparison with the John Huston version. A version was made in 1936 called "Satan Met A Lady," with Warren William and Bette Davis in the leading roles. It's said to be "loosely based" on Hammett's novel. I've never seen it, so I can't say how loose it it was.