Even as the novel was appearing at the start of 1934, MGM paid Hammett $21,000 (£13,100) for the movie rights.
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.