Hammett""s murder mystery novel had previously been filmed twice:The Maltese Falcon (1931), a low-budget, pre-Code film (directed by Roy Del Ruth)-renamed for TV asDangerous Female- with Ricardo Cortez as the gumshoe opposite femme fatale Bebe Daniels; it was faithful to Hammett""s novel, although its pre-censorship status allowed for steamier scenes (a nude bathtub shot, a portrayal of Spade as a womanizing Latin lover, and a clearly homosexual relationship between Casper "Fat Man" Gutman (Dudley Digges) and ""fall guy"" Wilmer (Dwight Frye))Satan Met a Lady (1936), a remake directed by William Dieterle) with Warren William and rising star Bette Davis as the femme fatale, but without the ""black bird"" (a ram""s horn was substituted)Huston was convinced that he could remake the film with a more precise screenplay and better acting than the other two adaptations.However, Dmytryk and Scott both found themselves testifying for the House Un-American Activities Committee for their alleged membership in the Communist Party, and by refusing to testify became part of the blacklisted Hollywood 10.Forgetting her own mynah bird order, she orders a pair of lovebirds that Mitch wanted to buy - and leaves.At the Boy""s Department Store Job:The bookish-looking Boy eventually found work, toiling as a low-paid, menial salesman in the De Vore Department Store at the ladies"" fabric cloth counter (on the first floor - literally and figuratively).