Though it's not named, a war is referred to throughout Sam Spade's story in Monsieur Spade. Here's which real-life conflict they're talking about.
Summary
- "Monsieur Spade" takes Sam Spade, made famous by Humphrey Bogart in "The Maltese Falcon," into 1963 southern France, referencing real-life events like JFK's presidency and the Algerian War.
- The Algerian War, fought between France and Algeria from 1954 to 1962, plays a central role in "Monsieur Spade" and marks a significant conflict for Algerian independence.
- The effects of the Algerian War and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are depicted in "Monsieur Spade," illustrating how the war took a personal toll on characters like Jean-Pierre, leading to destructive behavior.
A war is mentioned - but not named directly - in Monsieur Spade's first two episodes. Centering on Sam Spade, the private detective famously played by Hollywood icon Humphrey Bogart in The Maltese Falcon, AMC's new show serves as a period piece blended with elements of the mystery and film noir genre. But in spite of its connection to the 1941 Hollywood classic and the 1930 Dashiel Hammett book it's based on, it's far removed from the era previously associated with Sam Spade.
Both the original Maltese Falcon book and its first two movie adaptations weren't period pieces, as their settings simply coincided with their releases. But since then, Sam Spade has become a character ingrained in the past. That remains the case with Monsieur Spade, though it admittedly does move the story forward by decades. The six-episode series takes Sam Spade out of San Francisco and propels him into 1963 southern France. It reminds viewers of its corner of the world through references to real-life events, like John F. Kennedy's presidency and the United States' efforts to reach the moon. There's also various references to a war.
Monsieur Spade's War Is The Algerian War
As opposed to the 1941 film where it was World War II that permeated through Sam Spade's story, it's a different conflict that casts a shadow on Monsieur Spade. After all, World War II had been over for almost 20 years by that point. The context of the references implies that the fighting occurred much more recently in Monsieur Spade's timeline. The war referenced in Monsieur Spade is the Algerian War, a conflict that started in 1954 and lasted until 1962. Fought between France and Algeria, the conflict took place largely in the latter region, but fighting did occur in France as well.
Why The French-Algerian War Was Fought (& Why It Mattered)
The conflict that defines nearly every character's backstory in Monsieur Spade was a war for Algeria's independence. Then known as the Algerian National Liberation Front, the North African country had been occupied by France since 1830. France began colonizing the area in the 19th century and developed a strong presence in the territory. However, many people in Algeria resisted French influence for decades, as cultural and religious issues put a considerable strain on Algeria's relations with the French government. Things only worsened in 1945 with the Sétif, Guelma and Kherrata massacres, which were mass killings perpetrated by the French to quell civilian riots.
In 1952, the deepening tensions kickstarted the Algerian War, which saw the people of the territory organize to fight for their independence against France. What followed were acts of torture and other war crimes that made the Algerian War a notorious period in French history. However, in the face of the thousands of casualties Algeria suffered, the Algerian militia managed to use guerrilla tactics and attacks against civilians to score victories and also a historic win in the Battle of Algiers. Doing so, though, resulted in Algeria committing a multitude of war crimes of its own.
This aspect of the Algerian War and its consequences were acknowledged by Gabrielle, who noted how both sides being "locked in some sick competition, committing one atrocity after another" made the "recent conflict" different from World War II. Gabrielle contrasted the two by reflecting on how in World War II, everyone could agree that "stopping Hitler was worth whatever the cost." The methods used by Algeria aside, their actions culminated in the two sides making peace. France relented and the Evian Accords were signed, granting Algeria the independence it had sought for years and officially ending the war on July 5, 1962.
How Monsieur Spade Tackles PTSD Of Decades Past
Though the Algerian War has been over for approximately a year in Monsieur Spade, it's still integral to the fabric of the series. Much of what makes it so important is the personal toll it's taken on the people involved. Those effects come in the form of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It's a life-altering challenge that haunts multiple Monsieur Spade characters. Spade himself avoided warfare due to labeling himself a "conscientious objector," but others had their lives dictated by it, specifically Jean-Pierre.
It's made apparent that living with what happened in the war is the reason why Jean-Pierre is depicted as such a despicable character. As Sam Spade points out, Jean-Pierre wasn't a "bad egg" before developing a drinking problem. Presumably, heavy alcohol consumption is how Jean-Pierre processed whatever trauma he endured during the Algerian War. In the first episode, Sam inadvertently provoked an attack by Jean-Pierre by likening him to "one of those guys late at night in the bar who plays the same sad song over and over." The analogy reveals the hard truth of how PTSD has ruined Jean-Pierre's life in Monsieur Spade.
Monsieur Spade releases new episodes on Sundays on AMC.
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