Clive Owen Takes on Dashiell Hammett's Most Famous Detective in 'Monsieur Spade'
Monsieur Spade
Who doesn't love a good mystery? There are plenty of crime and mystery movies and series to watch with new ones debuting all the time, but we love returning to our old favorite private eyes. Do we ever get tired of watching a show with Sherlock Holmes, Nancy Drew, Miss Marple, or even Jessica Fletcher or Veronica Mars?
One of the most famous fictional detectives and probably the namesake of the "hard-boiled" detective, Sam Spade has a long fan following. Created by author Dashiell Hammett, the character appears in several short stories from Hammett but only one novel—The Maltese Falcon.
In Monsieur Spade, a new series coming to AMC, Spade is now retired and living in the south of France, but a local mystery pulls him back into his detective duties as he tries to solve a heinous crime. The series was produced in conjunction with the Dashiell Hammett estate.
Here's everything we know about Monsieur Spade.
What is Monsieur Spade about?
In this six-episode limited series, legendary Detective Sam Spade (Clive Owen) is enjoying his retirement in the South of France. By contrast to his days as a private eye in San Francisco, Spade's life in Bozouls is peaceful and quiet. But the rumored return of his old adversary will change everything. Six beloved nuns have been brutally murdered at the local convent. As the town grieves, secrets emerge and new leads are established. Spade learns that the murders are somehow connected to a mysterious child who is believed to possess great powers.
Related: The 101 Best Mystery Books of All Time
Is Monsieur Spade based on other material?
Yes. The character of Sam Spade is based on the detective featured in Dashiell Hammett's famous 1930 crime mystery novel, The Maltese Falcon. Spade also appears in several other lesser known Hammett writings.
Have other actors played Sam Spade?
Yes, several actors have portrayed Sam Spade on screen and stage including parody versions of the hard-boiled detective. The most famous portrayal of Sam Spade is from Humphrey Bogart, who played the detective in 1941 film, The Maltese Falcon, directed by John Huston.
Related: The 15 Best Murder Mysteries of All Time
Who are the creators behind Monsieur Spade?
Monsieur Spade is co-created by Scott Frank and Tom Fontana. Frank also serves as writer, director and executive producer and is best known for The Queen's Gambit and Minority Report. Fontana is best known for his work on Homicide: Life on the Streets, Copper and Oz, which he also created.
Where was Monsieur Spade filmed?
Monsieur Spade was filmed in France.
Meet the cast of Monsieur Spade
Clive Owen (Sam Spade)
Clive Owen has been working on stage and film for over 35 years and is most recognized for his roles in King Arthur and Children of Men on film and The Knick and Chancer on television. He also played President Bill Clinton in the third season of American Crime Story.
Cara Bossom (Teresa)
Denis Ménochet (Chief of Police Patrice Michaud)
Louise Bourgoin (Marguerite Devereaux)
Chiara Mastroianni (Gabrielle)
Stanley Weber (Jean-Pierre Devereaux)
Matthew Beard (George Fitzsimmons)
Jonathan Zaccaï (Philippe Saint Andre)
Rebecca Root (Cynthia Fitzsimmons)
When does Monsieur Spade premiere?
Monsieur Spade will premiere on Sunday, Jan. 14 at 9 p.m. ET on AMC. It will also be available to stream on AMC+ and Acorn TV.
How many episodes are there of Monsieur Spade?
There are six episodes in this initial season of Monsieur Spade.
Will there be a Season 2 of Monsieur Spade?
It's unlikely the six-episode limited series will have a second season, but never say never! Check back here for updates.
How to watch and stream Monsieur Spade
Monsieur Spade will air on AMC and stream on AMC+.
Is there a trailer for Monsieur Spade?
Yes. Check out the official trailer for Monsieur Spade below.
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