It's a Noir World / Why Bogart made "The Maltese Falcon" what it is

I can never watch "The Maltese Falcon" without acknowledging the invaluable contribution George Raft made to its creation -- by turning down the role of Sam Spade.

See also:

Dashiell Hammett's legacy lies not only in his writing, but in his living -- rough, wild and on the edge.

And: Watching the Detective
The Falcon's cynical influence on a young reader.