Mikes Film Talk

The latest offering from AMC, Monsieur Spade appears to be all about grapes and wrath. The grapes lead us to the vineyards that Spade inherits from Gabrielle. The wrath carries over from the war and its survivors. Although, it seems everyone is angry in this new setting.

This Sam Spade is far removed from his familiar stomping ground. Flashbacks feature heavily in this version of the gumshoe made famous in The Maltese Falcon. Clive Owen takes over the fedora and ever present cigarette from a host of other actors.

The list of stars who have played Spade run the gambit from Humphrey Bogart to Robert Mitchum. Recently Liam Neeson donned the trenchcoat to give us another British actor playing the quintessential American detective. 

Of course Owens’ cigarette and fedora disappear after the first episode. Emphysema takes care of the smokes and the missing hat is never alluded to.

The PLot So Far

Spade shows up in France circa 1963. He too is in his 60s. Older and not much wiser. He falls for the grape producing widow and incurs the wrath of almost everyone. We learn that Spade is to drop off Teresa daughter of Brigid O’Shaughnessy and Philippe Saint Andre.

He meets the local police chief, a former patriot who fought in the war. Denis Ménochet plays Patrice Michaud as a man who manages to hide his innate violence well. He is cynical and like many others harbours some resentment towards Spade.

Flashbacks do play an integral part of this “updating” of Dashiell Hammett’s stoic hero. Events of the past permeate first two episodes of Monsieur Spade. These are not, however, a distraction. Not even the memories that Spade has of Gabrielle. The moments are not all brief. Each one, however, is important to the current events as they play out.

Murder most Foul

The first episode, while being a tale of just how Sam came to be in France, is also about death in the land of grapes and wrath. A small group of nuns are murdered. The small convent where Teresa spends most of her time has been depleted of staff in a single incident.

Michaud is determined to investigate the death of an old friend. Someone shoots at Spade and Teresa. Meanwhile Philippe, her father, stays out of reach. Jean-Pierre Devereaux, played by Stanley Weber, is jealous of Sam’s ownership of the late Gabrielle’s vineyard. He is also mistrustful of Spade’s relationship with his wife Marguerite. Jean Pierre also has flashbacks. It looks as though more bodies may soon build up as a hostile monk searches for a small boy.

At this point we suspect almost everyone of being up to no good. Spade’s new neighbour, an English painter and even his newly arrived mother, Cynthia fall under suspicion here. Secrets are rife in the village of Bozouls.

Languid at best

The show offers pacing that is slow. This is down to its attempts to capture the noir feel of the original Sam Spade features. This is nothing new. Other updated versions of the detective, featuring Mitchum, moved at a snails space. If you have any doubt, check out Farewell My Lovely. This 1975 offering, with Jack O’Halloran as the lovestruck Moose Malloy, moves like molasses on a cold day.

This show does not move at breakneck speed. It cannot. The intrigue and mysteries unearthed from events from the war are too many to rush. Slow and steady will win this “race.”

Monsieur Spade with its land of grapes and wrath, and murder, airs Sundays on AMC. Check out the trailer below.