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Movie Info & Details
Release Year1982
Runtime1h 00m
LanguageEnglish
CertificationNR
GenresDocumentary
Votes2
DirectorStephen Talbot
WritersStephen Talbot
TypeFeature Film
Rating6.5 out of 10
Cast4 credited
Also Known AsThe Case of Dashiell Hammett
About The Case of Dashiell Hammett
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.
Directed by Stephen Talbot, The Case of Dashiell Hammett leans on a strong ensemble — Paul Frees, Lyle Talbot, Dashiell Hammett — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.
The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about documentary titles of 1982.
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