The Maltese Falcon (1941)
Genre: Filmnoir / Crime
Duration: 99 minuten
Alternative title: Maltezer Valk
Country:
United States
Directed by: John Huston
Stars: Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor and Peter Lorre
IMDb score:
7,9 (169.009)
Releasedate: 18 October 1941
The Maltese Falcon plot
"A story as EXPLOSIVE as his BLAZING automatics!"
Sam Spade and his partner Miles Archer own a detective agency. One day Archer is shot and killed while shadowing someone. From that moment on, Spade is being watched by the police. However, that does not prevent him from investigating the mysterious circumstances surrounding the murder himself. As a result, he becomes involved in the battle for an extremely precious statue.
Actors and actresses
Samuel Spade
Brigid O'Shaughnessy
Joel Cairo
Kasper Gutman
Effie Perine
Iva Archer
Wilmer Cook
Lt. of Detectives Dundy
Det. Tom Polhaus
Miles Archer
Reviews & comments
Fisico (moderator films)
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- 9509 messages
- 5174 votes
More than a decent film, but also one where you have to keep your thoughts. Not unnecessarily complex, but I did experience it as "tiring" and often thought of the principle "less is more". The film is based on Dashiel Hammett's book and reportedly follows plot and dialogue quite closely. But a book plot and a movie plot do not always go together because not everything can be covered and nuance or essential links may be missed. The film noir genre is honored here and the film succeeded in doing so.
Humphrey Bogart does a great job as detective Sam Spade and even plays one of his most memorable roles. Peter Lorre and Sydney Greenstreet are also excellently played as the gangsters Joel Cairo and 'Fat Man' Kasper Gutman. A film that I will remember for the time being of the strong atmosphere and acting roles. Also with a plot that has indeed been well thought out, but also one that did not resonate with me enough. One that I definitely want to review later, it deserves it. A safe 3.5* for now.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Noodless
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- 9496 messages
- 5952 votes
The Maltese Falcon was Huston's directorial debut. Huston decided to follow the story of Hammett's book closely. The film also uses the story perspective of the book: all events are told from the perspective of Sam Spade. The Maltese Falcon has been filmed in three different versions: in 1931, in 1936 as Satan With a Lady and this in 1941 which is also the most famous version and which has only a few changes from the original. However, I have not seen the original, so I can't make a comparison, but given some research and film reviews, the strength in the original lies mainly in the female cast who do the genre film noir a little more justice. In this film Mary Astor as femme fatale makes little impression. But it is Humphrey Bogart as Sam Spade who finally broke through to the general public. In this film, he created a character that made him famous for the rest of his life. The other male roles are also well filled, especially Sidney Greenstreet as the fat man is really convincing in his role. Recognized as one of the first 'Film Noirs', The Maltese Falcon is a milestone in Hollywood history. 7/10
Translated from Dutch · View original
Lovelyboy
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- 3389 messages
- 2494 votes
And for classic Sunday I fished The Maltese Falcon from the considerable pile of oldies that are still ready. And it is always a matter of waiting to see if there is a click, so one does nothing with you and the other is a direct hit. At least the synopsis of The Maltese Falcon made me hope for the best.
An innocent-looking story of a damsel in distress with a standard surveillance with a fatal outcome causes a lot more dust than Sam Spade could have suspected and expected. Soon Sam is both a suspect in various cases that start to roll in after that, as well as being followed and questioned by the 'underworld'.
Not only does it suddenly seem to trust no one anymore, the question is also how Sam gets out of everything that plays unscathed. There are quite a few special types such as Cairo and Gutman, detectives Dundy and Polhaus are not inferior to that, but the most striking is of course the grumpy Bogart himself with his thick wood sawing planks approach and pooh Sam Spade is smart .
The plot around the statue, and everyone who seems to be cheating on each other but at the same time also turns out to be a partner, is quite nicely put together although it is sometimes a bit predictable. The shortcoming of The Maltese Falcon for me is the lack of tension and the noir designation. Because it's not exciting anywhere and noir really, stronger, I think The Maltese Falcon is almost brave and also with a romance that I'm not really convinced of for a single moment.
The Maltese Falcon does disappoint a bit, but I realize that a lot of the criticism, especially the noir part, has to be seen in the time perspective of 1941, because yes, this film is almost as old as my father. That is why The Maltese Falcon also gets a good 3.5 from me and I am sometimes in for a re-watch in the long run.
Translated from Dutch · View original
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