Satan Met a Lady (1936)

Director:

William Dieterle

Writers:

Brown Holmes (screenplay)
Dashiell Hammett (novel)

Release Date:

22 July 1936 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Mystery

Plot:

Sardonic detective Shane, thrown out of one town for bringing trouble, heads for home and his ex-partner's detective agency...

Plot Keywords:

Horn | Train | Shot To Death | Widow | Spoof

Cast

Bette Davis	...	Valerie Purvis
Warren William	...	Ted Shane
Alison Skipworth	...	Madame Barabbas
Arthur Treacher	...	Anthony Travers
Marie Wilson	...	Miss Murgatroyd
Wini Shaw	...	Astrid Ames (as Winifred Shaw)
Porter Hall	...	Milton Ames
Olin Howland	...	Detective Dunhill
Charles C. Wilson	...	Detective Pollock (as Charles Wilson)

Also Known As:

The Man in the Black Hat (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

74 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Approved (certificate #1869)

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

The second of three film adaptations of Dashiell Hammett's "The Maltese Falcon," this film has notable connections to both other versions. First, this film's screenwriter, Brown Holmes, was also credited as a screenwriter on the 1931 version, directed by Roy Del Ruth. Second, this film's cinematographer, Arthur Edeson, was also the director of photography for John Huston's version in 1941. Third, Warren William, who plays the Sam Spade character (Ted Shane) in this film, also played Perry Mason in a series of films beginning in 1934, but was replaced in 1936 by Ricardo Cortez - who had played Sam Spade in the 1931 "Maltese Falcon". Finally, Bette Davis filled in for Raymond Burr when he had to have surgery in "The Case of the Constant Doyle".

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): In his discussion with Madame Barabbas, Shane tells her the item she seeks is so valuable that it is worth her paying him plenty to find it. But actor Warren William muffs the line, saying "It's worth playing me plenty."

Quotes:

Ted Shayne: Find anything in the divan?
Anthony Travers: Only a few hairpins and some loose change.
Ted Shayne: [holding out hat] Come across!

Movie Connections:

References King Kong (1933)

Soundtrack:

Sweet Georgia Brown

A Little Hammett - A Lot Of Ham

A cynical private eye becomes entangled with a gang of dangerous criminals trying to find a fabled ram's horn.

SATAN MET A LADY is an alternate movie version of Dashiell Hammett's ‘Maltese Falcon' and has received much criticism because it isn't closer to the Bogart model. This is unfortunate, as the film has much going for it and should not be placed into unfair comparison with the more famous film. Here is a lighthearted, comedic take on the story, full of snappy dialogue and a few good laughs. It is quite able to stand on its own.

Although she receives top billing, Bette Davis is rather overshadowed by the over-the-top acting of her costars. Her mystery woman character gets to act suitably dangerous, but her talent is seldom really engaged. Indeed, this would be one of the films which would soon put Davis into rebellion against Warner Bros. in her demand for better roles.

Warren William plays detective Ted Shayne (no Sam Spade here) in a wonderfully sardonic manner, always ready to puncture the balloons of pomposity around him, whether they be from client, criminal or cop; here he even turns a graveyard murder site into the location for a few deadpan utterances. With his patrician profile and glib delivery, William was always enjoyable to watch; it is a shame this very fine actor is so obscure today.

British character actress Alison Skipworth steals her few scenes as the elderly Madame Barabbas, the grandmotherly criminal mastermind with the looks of a sweet old lady and the instincts of a born killer. Arthur Treacher is marvelously droll as an English gentleman crook, apologetic & polite, seeking the ram's horn.

Pert & pretty, Marie Wilson scores in her role as William's ditzy secretary. Winifred Shaw plays the glamorous widow of William's late partner. An uncredited Maynard Holmes appears as Miss Skipworth's gunsel nephew.