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• The Maltese Falcon soars

  • Jeff Boston
  • 2/25/12

  The 1941 film version of Dashiell Hammett's novel has dynamic dialogue, perfect pacing, and awesome acting. I watched it for the 5th time this afternoon, with each viewing about 4 years apart - like the Olympics. However, unlike the Olympics, Huston's version of "The Maltese Falcon" demands your attention, and is thoroughly satisfying from beginning to end. Like "the black bird" was for the film's connivers, this movie is "the stuff dreams are made of" for film connoisseurs.

• The Maltese Falcon

  • Dashiell Barnes
  • 11/27/11

  Humphrey Bogart gives a life-changing performance as the famous private eye in this film. Lorre & Greenstreet give the best supporting performances of the early 40's as two of the antagonist's. Huston's adaptation & debut direction are suberb in creating a compelling crime story. An essential & influential film noir more gripping with every decade. I give it a 4/5.

• cool

  • Adam
  • 8/18/11

  Bogart is so cool in this film.

• The Maltese Falcon (1941)

  • Jeff
  • 6/24/11

  Humphrey Bogart and John Huston's path to Hollywood immortality started with a black bird, this title's namesake. This film is about detective Sam Spade (Bogart) and how he must uncover the other detective's murderer, which is linked to the Maltese Falcon, a black bird. George Raft was once considered for the part of Spade. Come to think of it, no one would have done better than Bogart in this role, as in many of his roles. A year later than this, Bogart shot to superstardom when he did a bit of an altered Sam Spade in Casablanca (1942) with Rick Blaine. He at least deserved an Oscar nomination in this, which was wrongfully not granted to him. The supporting actors, Mary Astor, Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre, and Ward Bond, do well however it is Greenstreet and Lorre who excel in this film. Huston, in his 1st directorial effort does such a phenomenal job. The music is also 1st rate as is the cinematography. This is the stuff that dreams are made of.

• The Maltese Falcon

  • Natacha
  • 1/2/11

  One of my favorite movies--early film noir. It has so much to offer, it's hard to know where to start. The cast is outstanding--Bogart, Mary Astor. Peter Lorre, Sydney Greenstreet. Ward Bond and, in a cameo appearance, Walter Huston, John Huston's father, as Jacoby, a ship's captain, who delivers the falcon to detective Sam Spade, mumbles something, then drops dead right in his office. There is the historical interest provided by the story line about the Knights Templar and their tribute to the King of Spain of a golden falcon encrusted with priceless jewels that gets waylaid in a ship wreck--the object around which the plot unfolds,. There is the love interest of Mary Astor's ruthless character whom Spade hands over to the police because she is reponsible for causing his partner's death, even though he didn't like his partner and was having an affair with his wife. Astor shines in her portrayal of the cynical, deceitful Bridget who uses her beauty to manipulate men. You don't know until the very end whether she really loved Sam or whether he really loved her. Sydney Greenstreet and Peter Lorre are outstanding as well in their roles as conniving, greedy men who have traveled the world in their quest to own the golden bird. Bogart does a fine job of portraying the complex Sam Spade, who has an affair with his partner's wife, then dumps her when Archer, his partner, gets killed. He enjoys bullying poor Wilmer, Greenstreet's side-kick who's trying to be a bad-ass, but not succeeding, but has a soft spot for Bridget, even though he knows she's no good. Ward Bond sets up the memorable line from the film--he picks up the heavy statuette and asks Sam what it is, and Sam replies: "That's the stuff that dreams are made of." Very much worth seeing.

• Top Pre-War Film Noir

  • Bruce Reber
  • 12/8/09

  Many of the great Film Noirs were made after WW2, from the mid 1940's to the late 1950's. But there were a few of them made just before and during WW2, and "The Maltese Falcon" to me is by far the best. Humphrey Bogart gives one of his all-time great performances as hard-boiled San Francisco private eye Sam Spade, on the trail of maybe the most recognizable "McGuffin" in film history, the Maltese Falcon, and at the same time dealing with lethal femme fatales and an assortment of seedy characters who are also looking for the bird. It also has a brief appearance by Walter Huston, the director's father, as the dying ship captain who stumbles into Spade's office with the Falcon, which of course later turns out to be bogus. Excellent all around; four stars!!!

• Early film noir

  • Craig R.
  • 6/11/09

  The Maltese Falcon is clearly one of the best movies of any era and,in my opinion,an early example of film noir.Sam Spade is not all good.He obviously conducts some of his life in the 'grey' area.And the evil,cuttthroat woman is nicely played by Mary Astor.The two things I love most about this movie are: 1) The marvelous performances by the superb Peter Lorre,and Sydney Greenstreet.2)I have read Hammett's short story a few times and director John Huston's screenplay adheres to the book almost verbatim ! Thats VERY rare in Hollywood. And last but not least,Bogart gives us a fine characterization of Spade. This film is a wonderful bit of cinema. Truly,they don't make films of this quality anymore.

• The finest detective story ever made

  • debbie51
  • 4/19/09

  This version of The Maltese Falcon is the best. Humphrey Bogart is so perfect for Sam Spade. If anyone else had been Sam Spade the movie would not have been the same. There were two previous versions of this movie one was The Maltese Falcon 1931 with Ricardo Cortez and Bebe Daniels, then it was remade as Satan Met a Lady, but neither measure up to this one.There is always something new and fresh to find with each viewing.

• The Maltese Falcon (1941)

  • Jay
  • 1/18/09

  Certainly one of the greatest films of all time, an ingenious mystery, incredible screenplay and the direction is outstanding. Never a dull moment. A brilliant masterpiece.

• Quintessential film noir

  • Carolyn
  • 9/27/08

  I think I've seen this movie 50 times and it's taken me that long figure out the whole story. I'm still not clear on why, exactly Brigit O'Shaunessy killed Miles Archer, and how we got from her first trip to Sam Spade's office to the whole sordid and intriguing story of the Maltese Falcon. Nonetheless, I love to watch this movie over and over, because it has a great story and fine acting. Every scene is so well played and when you watch any one, you feel as if you aren't watching actors, but glimpsing a piece of real life.

• Humphrey Bogart's Greatest Role

  • Joseph
  • 4/23/08

  Bogart did not receive an Oscar for Sam Spade but this film is to great for the oscar. See it. You'll either Love it or you'll really love it.

• The stuff that dreams are made of.

  • typpytoes
  • 10/31/07

  As good,if not better,than the book: and Hammett is the best.

• Classic Film Noir

  • Wendy Winkler
  • 5/2/06

  This is one of my favorite movies. Sam Spade as played by the great Humphrey Bogart is a complex character. A hero and an anti-hero at the same time. The screenplay is excellent. Who doesn't love the scene when Spade unarms Wilmer Cook? The cast is excellent. Special kudos must go to Sydney Greenstreet.

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