Satan Met a Lady"Satan Met a Lady" is a 1936 crime comedy secret film directed and produced by William Dieterle. The film stars Bette Davis, Warren William and Alison Skipworth, and it's a cinematic adaptation of Dashiell Hammett's 1930 unique "The Maltese Falcon".
PlotThe movie's story is a far cry from the initial book, making it less of a gritty investigator noir and more of a light-hearted, amusing film that involves a fair amount of slapstick humor.
The plot revolves around detectives Ted Shane (Warren William) and Ames (Porter Hall), who run an investigator firm. A mystical and very wealthy woman, Valerie Purvis (Bette Davis), enters their workplace one day with an apparently easy job - she wants to find a man called Farrow.
When Farrow ends up dead, and their secretary is also killed, Ames thinks Ted is implicated in the murder. Ted, nevertheless, is hesitant of Valerie's story and believes her of some concealed intents.
DisputeThe chain of occasions results in Ames and Ted breaking their collaboration. Ted continues to dive much deeper into the secret surrounding Valerie and the murder of Farrow, and he ultimately comes across a still bigger intrigue - an invaluable, ancient horn filled with jewels, called the 'Horn of Roland.' Valerie, a fortune hunter, and her eccentric accomplice, Madame Barabbas (Alison Skipworth), are trying to get their hands on this treasure.
ResolutionAfter plenty of weaves, double-crosses, and incorrect identities, Ted handles to outwit Valerie and Madame Barabbas. In the end, the fabled 'Horn of Roland' is hilariously revealed to be absolutely nothing more than rocks and sand. The movie concludes with Ted getting the agency back, as he clears his name from any misdeeds, and ends up with his faithful secretary, Miss Murgatroyd (Marie Wilson).
Total Review"Satan Met a Lady" is typically overshadowed due to the comparison with its follower timeless 'The Maltese Falcon'( 1941 ), which remained more true to the source product. Bette Davis herself voiced her annoyance about her role, adding to the film's rather disputed reputation.
However, the movie displays an especially elegant early noir environment integrated with screwball funny. The performances, particularly those of Bette Davis and Warren William, are rather appealing and they effectively bring the movie through its occasionally awkward storytelling. It especially stands out for its sense of humor and wittiness, which can make it a pleasurable watch for audiences who appreciate light-hearted classic crime funnies.
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