Movie 188: The Maltese Falcon

The Maltese Falcon (1941) by John Huston

starring Humphrey Bogart



In a nutshell: A classic

Quick synopsis: Sam Spade finds himself in the middle of a convoluted plot involving murder, money and a priceless statuette of a black bird

Content:

• Humphrey Bogart's icy demeanor is legendary. He plays it cool and never gets rattled no matter what the motley crew of criminal he has gotten caught up in throws his way. He is so damn charismatic and makes it seem effortless. George Clooney WISHES he was this cool. The Maltese Falcon could not have been what it is with a different actor in the lead.
• His voice is unmistakeable. His delivers is often imitated, but never duplicated. He flies through tricky dialogue crisply and often at a breakneck pace. It's a wonder to behold. And he always has the upper hand, even when it briefly seems as though he has been bested.
• His character, Sam Spade is nearly as famous a Bogie himself. The movie is EXTREMELY faithful to Dashiell Hammett's novel, so credit must be given to the author for the creation of this iconic character.
• I've seen this movie before and read the book, but the twists and turns seemed as fresh as they did on my first watch.
• Not all the supporting cast keeps up with Bogart, but two in particular try their hardest. Sydney Greenstreet and Peter Lorre aren't quite the household names that Bogart is, but their frivolous and colorful characters are the perfect foils for the all-business Spade.
• Didn't particularly care for the girl.
• The trailer makes it seem cheesier than it really is

• This movie is definitely dated. It's not one of those classics that shocks audiences with how contemporary it feels even today (like The Gradute or 2001). The acting is very dramatic, the sets look fake, some of the overdubbing is horrible and the editing is old-fashioned. So if these sorts of things bother you about old movies, then The Maltese Falcon is not likely to interest you. But if you like a good mystery and are at all enchanted by Hollywood's golden years, you'll love it. It's considered to be a classic for a reason.

Rolling rankings:
1. (500) Days of Summer (#185)
2. The Maltese Falcon (#188)
3. Up in the Air (#182)
4. Big Fan (#180)
5. The September Issue (#183)
6. Rachel Getting Married (#187)
7. Kids (#179)
8. Sex and the City 2 (#186)
9. Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs (#184)
10. Extract (#181)