History Main / HardboiledDetective

Originating in the early part of the 20th century, hardboiled detective stories put an American spin on the detective story. Unlike British detective stories, which were set in elegant country estates filled with servants, hardboiled fiction is set in an urban locale, amidst cheap hotels and bars, echoing the realism of Ernest Hemingway. As well, it has more sensationalist
violence and sex. The hardboiled style quickly became a major subgenre of MysteryFiction. Later, they became strongly associated with FilmNoir. Creator/RaymondChandler is considered the master of the genre, but it was Creator/HumphreyBogart's depiction of detective Sam Spade in the 1941 film, ''Film/{{The Maltese Falcon|1941}}'' (based on a novel by Creator/DashiellHammett), that became the TropeCodifier.

Originating in the early part of the 20th century, hardboiled detective stories quickly became a major subgenre of MysteryFiction. Later, they became strongly associated with FilmNoir. Creator/RaymondChandler is considered the master of the genre, but it was Creator/HumphreyBogart's depiction of detective Sam Spade in the 1941 film, ''Film/{{The Maltese Falcon|1941}}'' (based on a novel by Creator/DashiellHammett), that became the TropeCodifier.

By the [[TheSixties 1960s]], the hardboiled detective had nearly become a DeadHorseTrope, but continuing interest in FilmNoir kept it from the brink of extinction. Today it is most often seen in parodies and [[FantasticNoir genre crossovers]] (the Hardboiled Detective [[RecycledINSPACE In SPACE!!]]), but can still be played straight in Noir revival or homage. The style, language, and fashion of the hard-boiled detective tend to remain solidly anchored in the [[TheThirties 1930s]] and [[TheForties 1940s]], though, no matter where he appears. Expect him to call his gun a "gat", to refer to women as "dames" and their [[ShesGotLegs legs]] as "gams".

See also: PrivateDetective, AmateurSleuth, FilmNoir and FantasticNoir. Contrast with GreatDetective, KidDetective, and LittleOldLadyInvestigates. Compare DefectiveDetective. If the character simply provides first-person narration the way detectives in FilmNoir often do, that's PrivateEyeMonologue. This character type easily falls into the Stale Beer Flavour of SpyFiction.

Anything but {{clueless|detective}}, the hardboiled detective is generally a KnightInSourArmor or even an AntiHero who lives in a world of BlackAndGrayMorality. He's a PrivateDetective or AmateurSleuth -- usually the former. His services are required because the police are [[PoliceAreUseless useless]], [[DirtyCop corrupt]] or [[BadCopIncompetentCop both]], so he'll never be a cop, though he may be a [[RetiredBadass retired]] one. Expect him to keep a [[INeedAFreakingDrink bottle of scotch]] in his desk, which is probably located in an office in the [[TheCityNarrows low rent district]]. Recent depictions typically include the trademark [[BadassLongcoat trenchcoat]] and [[NiceHat fedora]] over a rumpled suit, made popular by Creator/HumphreyBogart.

* ''VideoGame/Fallout4'' gives us Nick Valentine, a private detective working out of Diamond City with a trenchcoat, fedora and Boston accent to fit the bill. Who also happens to be an android.

* Nightbeat from ''ComicBook/TheTransformers'', ''Franchise/TransformersClassics'', and IDW's "-ations" is a HumongousMecha homage to the genre, up to and including sporting a [[http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Image:MarvelUK-230.jpg fedora and trenchcoat]] and [[http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Bird_of_Prey! "Bird of Prey!"]] in particular being almost a retelling of ''Film/{{The Maltese Falcon|1941}}''. Whether he's an AmateurSleuth, a "consulting detective" for the Autobots, or a PrivateDetective varies depending on the continuity, but he always has the same general hardboiled, noir-ish personality.

* ''Literature/GarrettPI'' is the Hardboiled Detective recyclediIn a StandardFantasySetting.

* ''Literature/GarrettPI'' is the Hardboiled Detective RecycledIn a StandardFantasySetting.

* The ''Literature/MarcusDidiusFalco'' series starts out as the hardboiled detective RecycledIn AncientRome (though he mellows as the series goes on). Living centuries before Noir was invented makes him amusingly GenreBlind.

* Rosie Lavine from Creator/MelisaMichaels' ''Cold Iron'' and ''Sister to the Rain'' is a Chandleresque hardboiled detective RecycledIn UrbanFantasy. (Though she prefers gin to scotch.)

* Series/JessicaJones2015 is a crass, hard-drinking, and cynical private investigator who is very good at her job.

[[folder:Pinballs]]
* Nick Spade from ''[[Pinball/WHODunnit WHO dunnit]]'', complete with fedora and trenchcoat.

* The 1971 film ''Gumshoe'', starring Albert Finney, features a London man who decides to adopt a Sam Spade-like persona to escape his boring life, and quickly becomes embroiled in a plot involving drugs, gun smuggling, and gangsters.

* Parodied in "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS5E16RarityInvestigates Rarity Investigates!]]", an episode of ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic''. The episode sees Rainbow Dash accused of a crime and Rarity gets to the bottom of it the old fashioned way: looking for clues, interrogations and muted trumpet music.

* In the ''Literature/KovacAndLiska'' series, Sam Kovac is a gruff police investigator, although he does have some soft spots.

* Samantha Spade from ''[[Manga/StrikeWitches Noble Witches]]'' is a Distaff Counterpart homage to Sam Spade from the American film ''Film/TheMalteseFalcon''.

* In ''ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes'', Calvin's imaginary alter-ego, Tracer Bullet, is a pure parody of the hardboiled detective.

* ''VisualNovel/JakeHunter'' 's titualr character is the splitting image of this trope. He left the police to become a private eye (While still having friends in Aspicio police force such as his best friend Scott Kingsley, Samantha Martin and Detective Luis) he lives on scoth and cigarettes, can take a beating as well as dish one out. He isn't good at comforting people or kids, but he has a soft spot yet full of regret at the same time.

* Though not a private investigator, the self-described "salvage consultant" Travis [=McGee=] from John D. [=MacDonald=]'s mystery novels is a detective as dogged, streetsmart, and heavy-drinking as the best of them.

[[folder:Podcasts]]
* Varyingly PlayedForDrama and {{Deconstructed}} by Juno Steele of Podcast/ThePenumbraPodcast. His typically hard-boiled mannerisms - depressive tendencies, cynicism, perpetual defense mode, loneliness, a DarkAndTroubledPast - are seen less as genre conventions and more as signs he needs professional help.
* Podcast Rex Rivetter: Private Eye also qualifies. Part homage/part tongue-in-cheek send up of the old radio shows, he utters lines like "If I get out of this alive, remind me to have a talk with the voice in my head", and "I may not be able to bring light to man, but I can take away some of the darkness" in his PrivateEyeMonologue. He has a sarcastic wit, and ability to take and dish out a punch or two.
[[/folder]]

* Also parodied in "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS5E16RarityInvestigates Rarity Investigates!]]", an episode of ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic''. The episode sees Rainbow Dash accused of a crime and Rarity gets to the bottom of it the old fashioned way: looking for clues, interrogations and muted trumpet music.

* Podcast/ThePenumbraPodcast has Juno Steel, who certainly qualifies.