Arguably the finest remake ever.
The Maltese Falcon (1941)
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Reviews Counted:39
Fresh:26
Rotten:13
Average Rating:6.5/10
Consensus: Suspenseful, labyrinthine, and brilliantly cast, The Maltese Falcon is one of the most influential noirs -- as well as a showcase for Humphrey Bogart at his finest.
Runtime: 4 hrs 12 mins
Genre: Action/Adventure
Synopsis: Hard-drinking private eye Sam Spade (Humphrey Bogart) sleuths the backyard of San Francisco in search of an elusive black bird statuette while evading the setups of three disparate miscreants: the... Hard-drinking private eye Sam Spade (Humphrey Bogart) sleuths the backyard of San Francisco in search of an elusive black bird statuette while evading the setups of three disparate miscreants: the duplicitous Brigid, the perfumed Mr. Cairo, and the scheming Fat Man. John Huston's brilliant directorial debut is aided by first-rate performances, excellent camera work, as well as the director's acute attention to detail while shooting the film. Based on the crime novel by Dashiell Hammett. Academy Award Nominations: 3, including Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Sydney Greenstreet), and Best Screenplay. Previous versions of the story were filmed in 1931 (a.k.a. DANGEROUS FEMALE) and in 1936 (as SATAN MET A LADY, starring Bette Davis), and poorly redone in 1975 (THE BLACK BIRD). [More]
Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor, Gladys George, Peter Lorre
Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor, Gladys George, Peter Lorre, Sydney Greenstreet, Ward Bond, Elisha Cook, Barton MacLane, Lee Patrick, Jerome Cowan, James Burke, Murray Alper, John Hamilton, Emory Parnell, Robert Homans, Creighton Hale, Charles Drake, William Hopper, Hank Mann, Jack Mower
Director: John Huston
Director: John Huston
Producer: Henry Blanke
Screenwriter: John Huston
Story: Dashiell Hammett
Composer: Adolph Deutsch
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Reviews for The Maltese Falcon
If The Maltese Falcon doesn't qualify as the best private-eye yarn ever filmed, I don't know what does. (Three-Disc Special Edition)
A study in human desire and imperfection, and a textbook example of how all the elements can come together in a film to create a unified effect. In the end, it's the noir treatment that makes the biggest difference.
The 3-disc DVD includes many specials, including the previous two film versions (1931, same title, and 1936, called Satan Met a Lady), new documentary, theatrical trailers of this film and Sergeant York, Oscar-nominated short, Gay Parisian, and others.
Latest News for The Maltese Falcon
August 27, 2008:
Certified Fresh Picks from the WB Vault
It's the third-oldest American movie studio: the company that brought us Rin Tin Tin, convinced the world that the talkies were here to stay, and eventually grew into one of the... More...
June 22, 2007:
AFI Announces Top 100 Movies of All Time ... Again
Ten years ago the AFI gave us a list of the Top 100 American Films Ever Made -- and when that was done they churned out 15 other lists every few years. And then last night they... More...
April 20, 2006:
Interview With "Brick" Director Rian Johnson
A film noir set at a contemporary high school, "Brick" is a strange, tough little movie, a throwback to the days of Sam Spade that utilizes its young actors to... More...
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 44% 44% | Night at the Museum: B… |
| 32% 32% | Terminator Salvation |
| 36% 36% | Angels & Demons |
| 95% 95% | Star Trek |
| 25% 25% | Four Christmases |
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 88% 88% | Inglourious Basterds |
| 78% 78% | The Hangover |
| 49% 49% | Taking Woodstock |
| 26% 26% | The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard |
| 47% 47% | The Girl From Monaco |
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