¶ … Spade and Philip Marlowe comparison Sam Spade and Philip Marlowe

Although Sam Spade and Philip Marlowe have been portrayed by Humphrey Bogart in the cinematic versions of The Maltese Falcon and The Big Sleep, respectively, each portrayal is a polar opposite of the other. Raymond Chandler has described Philip Marlowe as "a white knight in a trench coat," whereas Dashiell Hammett described Sam Spade as "a blond Satan" in The Maltese Falcon. In each respective novel and film, Spade and Marlowe embody the character traits that were given to them by Chandler and Hammett.

In The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler, Philip Marlowe is embodies character traits that allow him to act like a "white knight in a trench coat." From the beginning of the novel, Marlowe has qualities that are very similar to that of a knight. For example, Marlowe states, "I was neat, clean, shaved and sober, and I didn't care who knew it. I was everything the well-dressed private detective ought to be" (Chandler). Through this statement, Marlowe contends that the way that he presents himself to others is reflective of the person that he is. Furthermore, Marlowe makes a comment on the stained glass panel that he sees at the Sternwood residence, which further emphasizes his chivalrous nature. In fact, Marlowe appears to relate to the stained glass design that showed "knight in dark armor rescuing a lady who was tied to a tree and didn't have any clothes on but some very long and convenient hair. The knight had pushed the vizor of his helmet back to be sociable, and he was fiddling with the knots on the...

Marlowe's reaction to the image, in which he states that he would "sooner or later have to climb up there and help him," sets him up to fulfill the chivalrous role that Chandler has written for the private investigator.
In addition to this self-reflection, the manner in which Marlowe carries himself is also very chivalrous. Despite the fact that Marlowe is "calling on four million dollars," or the value of the Sternwood estate, he does not take advantage of the family's wealth for his services and charges them his normal rate of "twenty-five a day and expenses" (Chandler). Moreover, Marlowe is discreet in his proceedings with General Sternwood and with his daughter, Mrs. Vivian Regan -- Mrs. Vivian Rutlege in the film version -- on their respective investigations. Marlowe also goes out of his way to look out for Carmen Sternwood, the younger of General Sternwood's daughters, even though he is not being paid to look after her nor is he obligated to do so. For instance, Marlowe makes sure that Carmen gets home safely after finding her in a compromising state at Geiger's home; in the novel, Carmen is found naked and disoriented, however due to Hollywood's Production Codes, in the film Carmen is shown to be dressed in Chinese dress, but is still disoriented (Chandler; The Maltese Falcon). Upon seeing Carmen in this compromising situation, Marlowe dresses her and takes her back to the Sternwood estate, instructing Norris, the family butler, to not let anyone know that he was there and to tell anyone that should ask that…