The Case of Dashiell Hammett (TV 1982)

A one-hour public television (PBS) biography of Dashiell Hammett, creator of the "hardboiled" modern detective novel and author of "The Maltese Falcon" and "The Thin Man." It follows ... See full summary »

Director:

Stephen Talbot

Writer:

Stephen Talbot

Stars:

Paul Frees, Lyle Talbot

2 wins.

Cast

Credited cast:
Paul Frees	...	Narrator (voice)
Lyle Talbot	...	Dashiell Hammett

Storyline

A one-hour public television (PBS) biography of Dashiell Hammett, creator of the "hardboiled" modern detective novel and author of "The Maltese Falcon" and "The Thin Man." It follows Hammett's life from Pinkerton detective in San Francisco to his career as fiction and screen writer, companion of playwright Lillian Hellman, and leftwing political activist. The biography investigates why Hammett stopped writing at the height of his fame.

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Genres:

Documentary

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

October 1982 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

KQED

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film includes film clips from many Hollywood movies based on Hammett's work, and scenes from the Wim Wenders's film, Hammett, which was released at the same time in the early 1980s. The "voice" of Dashiell Hammett in the documentary is actor Lyle Talbot, father of the producer and writer 'Stephen Talbot'.

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