In this episode, the first of a series,  Knox Bronson, host of "The Secret History of Frisco" podcast, welcomes Rachel Walther, a film noir expert and author, to discuss the genre's connection to San Francisco. Walther, who writes for the Film Noir Foundation's "Noir City" magazine and has a forthcoming book on "Dog Day Afternoon," highlights San Francisco's significant role in film, particularly after World War II, due to its cinematic landscape and the rise of on-location shooting. The conversation then delves into two adaptations of "The Maltese Falcon," the 1931 and 1941 versions. While the 1941 film, directed by John Huston and starring Humphrey Bogart, is widely considered a foundational noir, the 1931 version, starring Ricardo Cortez, is noted for its different interpretation of Sam Spade and its more studio-bound production.

The discussion also explores the historical context of San Francisco in the 1930s and 40s, touching upon the city's organized crime elements and how those were rarely directly depicted in films of the era. Walther explains that '30s films set in San Francisco often harked back to the Barbary Coast lore rather than contemporary issues. She attributes the surge of on-location shooting in San Francisco in the post-war period to lighter camera equipment and filmmakers' desire to move beyond studio sets, inspired by Italian neorealism. The interview concludes with a focus on the Film Noir Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to film restoration, highlighting their magazine and restored films like "Woman on the Run" and "The Man Who Cheated Himself," both shot extensively in San Francisco in the late 1940s and early 1950s—considered the golden era of noir in the city.