Sam Spade

Joel Cairo

A tense, adversarial relationship where Cairo tries to outwit Spade in the hunt for the falcon, marked by mutual distrust and occasional grudging respect.

Effie Perine

Loyal and efficient secretary who admires Spade and supports him unconditionally, though she is often troubled by his methods.

Casper Gutman

A cunning, manipulative adversary who treats Spade as a dangerous obstacle in his quest for the Maltese Falcon, with a veneer of politeness.

Wilmer Cook

A contemptuous and violent dynamic, with Spade mocking and physically dominating the young gunman, who resents him deeply.

Tom Polhaus

A friendly but professional rapport, with Polhaus as a decent cop who respects Spade's skills while trying to keep him on the right side of the law.

Floyd Thursby

An off-screen antagonistic connection, as Thursby is a rival operative and suspect in Miles Archer's murder, leading to Spade's investigation.

Sid Wise

A pragmatic lawyer-client relationship, with Wise providing legal counsel to Spade while maintaining a wary respect for his detective work.

Iva Archer

A sordid, one-sided affair where Iva is infatuated with Spade, who uses her for information while feeling little genuine affection.

Miles Archer

A business partnership tinged with rivalry and mutual dislike, as Archer was Spade's partner but also a philanderer and a poor detective.

Joel Cairo

A tense, adversarial relationship where Cairo tries to outwit Spade in the hunt for the falcon, marked by mutual distrust and occasional grudging respect.

Floyd Thursby

An off-screen antagonistic connection, as Thursby is a rival operative and suspect in Miles Archer's murder, leading to Spade's investigation.

Effie Perine

Loyal and efficient secretary who admires Spade and supports him unconditionally, though she is often troubled by his methods.

The Maltese Falcon

The central protagonist, a hard-boiled private detective who investigates the murder of his partner and the hunt for the Maltese Falcon.

Spade & Archer

Introduced as a blond satan with a v-shaped face; he takes the lead in interviewing Miss Wonderly and accepts the case.

Death in the Fog

Interrogated by police about Thursby's murder; remains calm and evasive, asserting his right to keep client information confidential.

III: Three Women

Spade deals with Iva's accusations, learns of police suspicion, and investigates Brigid's disappearance.

The Black Bird

Visits Brigid at her apartment, agrees to help her, then consults his lawyer Sid Wise about legal protection before returning to his office to meet Joel Cairo.

V: The Levantine

Spade disarms Cairo after being threatened with a pistol, searches his belongings, and accepts a $200 retainer.

VI: The Undersized Shadow

Spade is followed by a young man, shakes his tail, and visits Brigid. He sees through her act and discusses Cairo's offer.

VII: G in the Air

Tells the Flitcraft story to Brigid, orchestrates the meeting with Cairo, and handles the police intrusion.

Horse Feathers

Remains calm and detached, observing the scene. He defuses the situation by claiming Brigid is his operative and that Cairo's visit was about Thursby, ultimately avoiding arrest.

IX: Brigid

Returns to the living-room, curses Dundy, then calmly questions Brigid about the falcon and Cairo.

X: The Belvedere Divan

Searches Brigid's apartment, returns with breakfast, confronts the youth at the Belvedere, and meets Cairo.

The Fat Man

Receives a call from Gutman, deals with Iva Archer's visit, and meets Gutman at the Alexandria Hotel to negotiate about the falcon.

XII: Merry-Go-Round

Searches Brigid's apartment, disarms Wilmer, meets with Sid Wise, and learns Brigid is missing.

XIII: The Emperor's Gift

Visits Gutman, returns Wilmer's pistols, and listens to the falcon's history while withholding the exact location of the bird.

XIV: La Paloma

Returns to his office at dawn, dictates the falcon's history to Effie, searches for Brigid and Gutman, and discovers the La Paloma clue in Cairo's room.

XV: Every Crackpot

Spade is interrogated by the District Attorney and later meets with Polhaus. He remains defiant, refusing to disclose his client's identity or speculate on the murders.

XVI: The Third Murder

Receives the dying Jacobi, unwraps the falcon, and decides to go to Brigid's aid despite his resentment.

XVII: Saturday Night

Spade checks the falcon, revives Rhea Gutman, and is ambushed at his apartment.

The Fall-Guy

Proposes framing Wilmer as the fall guy, physically subdues him, and pressures Gutman into accepting the plan.

XIX: The Russian's Hand

Takes charge of the situation, interrogates Gutman, and arranges the falcon exchange.

XX: If They Hang You

Confronts Brigid, explains his moral and professional code, and turns her over to the police.