The Watch Scott Frank on 'Monsieur Spade' and Lessons Learned From Over 25 Years of Screenwriting
May 2, 2024
Screenwriter Scott Frank discusses making 'Monsieur Spade', his shift from script doctor to showrunner, and his views on changing viewer habits in TV and movies.
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Aging Icons Lose Agency
- Scott Frank intentionally emasculated Sam Spade to explore aging and lost masculinity in the character.
- The ending removes agency from Spade to highlight what time and change take from icons.
How The Collaboration Began
- Frank met Tom Fontana at lunch and pitched the idea, and Fontana immediately agreed when Frank described Spade in southern France.
- They then developed scripts by passing drafts back and forth while balancing their strengths remotely.
Noir Is About Character Moments
- Frank views the pleasure of noir as character-driven scenes rather than neat plotting.
- He used the Maltese Falcon as a model to prioritize conversational set-pieces over puzzle mechanics.