Sam Spade is a fictional private detective created by author Dashiell Hammett in his 1930 novel, The Maltese Falcon. He is the protagonist of the novel and is known for his hard-boiled attitude and cynical outlook. Sam Spade is also the name of the character portrayed by Humphrey Bogart in the 1941 film adaptation of the novel. Sam Spade is a classic example of a hard-boiled detective, and his name has become synonymous with the genre.