Series of events honoring ‘Maltese Falcon’ book, film slated for January, February

By Keri Luiz
Assistant Editor

A private detective, a beautiful liar and a quest for a priceless statuette. These were the elements of a great detective story that became one of the greatest films of all time.

In January and February, more than 80 years after the novel “The Maltese Falcon” was published, Benicia Public Library plans to borrow a little of author Dashiell Hammett’s storytelling magic for a series of events centered around the detective classic — culminating in the library’s annual Trivia Bee, its biggest fundraiser of the year.

Of course any discussion of “The Maltese Falcon” begins with the book itself. For “Benicia Reads,” many of the library’s book clubs will read and discuss Hammett’s 1930 tale, with copies of the book and the 1941 Humphrey Bogart classic film version available for the community to check out.
Helaine Bowles, outreach and volunteer coordinator for the library, recalled how the library used to have an annual event called “One Book, One Community,” which was discontinued for budget reasons.

Now, with “The Maltese Falcon,” the library is hoping to rekindle the kind of communitywide discussion that used to arise during “One Book, One Community,” she said.

“One Book, One Community was really nice, because a lot of people read the same book, they were talking about the book, and we had the different events,” said Bowles, who organized the month of “Falcon” events with Allison Angell, children’s librarian, and Brandi Bette Smeade, teen librarian.

Bowles said aside from the books for various book clubs, the library has about 30 copies of “The Maltese Falcon” that can be checked out.

The events, which can be found at the library’s website, include:

• The Benicia High School Improv Team will perform a film noir-themed show Jan. 17.

• A showing of the 1941 film starring Bogart and Mary Astor, and directed by John Huston, Jan. 24.

• A discussion of “The Maltese Falcon” novel with local experts Mark Coggins and Dr. Richard Hutson, Feb. 5.

• A fashion show, organized by Christina Strawbridge of Christina S Fashion Destination, 370 First St., Feb. 7.

• The library’s annual 48-hour Film Contest will also center around “The Maltese Falcon,” with people interested in participating visiting the library’s website Feb. 14 to learn the parameters of the contest.

“We’re going to do a short. It has to take place at a certain place, and something has to be in it … like maybe there has to be a bird in it,” Bowles said. “There’s three or four elements that have to be included in the film … and they have 48 hours to do it.” Entries from the contest will be viewed Feb. 19.

• Finally, the annual Trivia Bee, set for Feb. 22, will be Maltese Falcon-themed as well, Bowles said. “There’s only about seven or eight questions that have to do with the theme, the rest have to do with history, geography, and entertainment,” Bowles said. “But people dress to the theme.”

All events, with the exception of the Trivia Bee, will take place in the Doña Benicia Room of the Benicia Public Library, 150 East L St. For times and more information, visit www.benicialibrary.org/calendar.

And for those who are interested in purchasing their own copy of “The Maltese Falcon,” Bookshop Benicia, 636 First St., is the place to go, Bowles said.

“In fact we purchased all our books through Bookshop Benicia,” she said.