It's Raining Men

Joel Cairo doesn't need any more clues to appear as a dandy, a fop, or an offensive parody of a gay man…but in case you missed the curly hair, the gardenia-scented calling card, or Cairo briefly touching Spade's rear end when he frisks him, Cairo also has his umbrella.

When we first meet Joel Cairo, he makes himself at home in Spade's office, and he appears to use the cane handle of his umbrella to flirt with Spade, or to feel out what the other man's sexuality might be. Cairo fiddles with the handle, strokes it, and even holds it up to his lips in a way we're surprised made it by the censors. (At least the umbrella doesn't spring open suggestively?)

By the time Cairo is done with it, both Spade and the movie viewers know exactly who Cairo is supposed to be, and which side he is on. Oh, and they also know he has a super, super stylish umbrella.