ˈiːvən æz ðə nˈɑːvəl wʌz ɐpˈɪɹɪŋ æt ðə stˈɑːɹt ʌv nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd θˈɜːɾi fˈoːɹ, ˌɛmdʒˌiːˈɛm pˈeɪd hˈæmɪt dˈɑːlɚ twˈɛnti wˈʌn,zˈiəɹoʊzˈiəɹoʊ zˈiəɹoʊ pˈaʊnd θˈɜːtiːn,wˈʌnhˈʌndɹɪd fɚðə mˈuːvi ɹˈaɪts.
Even as the novel was appearing at the start of 1934, MGM paid Hammett $21,000 (£13,100) for the movie rights.