Montauk Noir

Montauk Library’s “Fridays at Five” classic film series presents a month of film noir in April with screenings every Friday at 5 p.m. The schedule includes: “The Maltese Falcon,” directed by John Huston, on April 14, “Murder My Sweet,” directed by Edward Dmytryk, on April 21, and “The Big Sleep,” directed by Howard Hawks, on April 28. All films are free and open to the public.

In addition, on Friday, April 14, at 4 p.m., best-selling author Casey Sherman will take part in a talk and book signing at the library prior to the screening of “The Maltese Falcon.” In his talk, titled “From Page to Screen,” Sherman will discuss the film and TV adaptations of his bestselling books “Helltown,” “Patriots Day” and “The Finest Hours, as well as his passion for director Alfred Hitchcock and author Dashiell Hammett who wrote the book on which “The Maltese Falcon” was based.

“The Maltese Falcon” was the first film directed by John Huston. It stars Humphrey Bogart as private investigator Sam Spade and Mary Astor as his femme fatale client. Gladys George, Peter Lorre and Sydney Greenstreet co-star. The story follows San Francisco private detective Sam Spade and his dealings with three unscrupulous adventurers, all of whom are competing to obtain a jewel-encrusted falcon statuette. “The Maltese Falcon” is one of the most influential noirs — as well as a showcase for Humphrey Bogart at his finest.

Sherman is a renowned investigative journalist and New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author of 17 acclaimed books. He is the recipient of the Edward R. Murrow Award for Journalistic Excellence and the prestigious Cold Case Investigative Research Institute’s Truth & Justice Award.

Sherman is also the True Crime Chair for the Hamptons Whodunit Festival which will take place in East Hampton Village from April 13 to 16 and will feature various exciting events and discussions with fiction writers, true crime experts, filmmakers and podcasters. For more information, visit hamptonswhodunit.com.

Montauk Library is located at 871 Montauk Highway, Montauk. Register at 631-668-3377 or montauklibrary.org/calendar.