Fred’s Fuze: The Maltese Falcon

Title: The Maltese Falcon
Author: Dashielle Hammett (Adapted)
Producer: Hollywood Theater of the Ear
Type: Audio Drama
Genre: Adaptation of a Novel
Availability: Paid Release

My Two Cents: Yuri Rasovsky is one of the finest audio dramatists alive, and in my humblest of opinions, this is the finest work he’s produced to date. A true love of hard boiled fiction is apparent from the first hammering piano notes that introduce this tale of betrayal heaped on betrayal with a good bit of greed, murder and a priceless statue thrown in.

The blend of sizzling performances, sordid sound effects and a haunting score is as fine as a single malt scotch paired with a Cuban cigar. The cast is all star. Michael Madsen’s Sam Spade is as grizzled as they come, eclipsing the old time radio star, and accompanied by seductive Sandra Oh as femme fatale Brigid O’Shaughnessy. You’ll not find a single soft moment in the entire story. It comes on strong, hits hard, and will have you breathless until the shockingly perfect conclusion.

Man, oh man this is good. Wait, you tell me there was a movie? Forget about the movie, listen to this instead.

Check this out on Blackstone Audiobooks