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The Maltese Falcon (1941) 8.3
A private detective takes on a case that involves him with three eccentric criminals, a gorgeous liar, and their quest for a priceless statuette. Director:John Huston |
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Title: The Maltese Falcon (1941)
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Cast
| Complete credited cast: | |||
| Humphrey Bogart | ... | ||
| Mary Astor | ... | ||
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Gladys George | ... | |
| Peter Lorre | ... | ||
| Barton MacLane | ... | ||
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Lee Patrick | ... | |
| Sydney Greenstreet | ... | ||
| Ward Bond | ... | ||
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Jerome Cowan | ... | |
| Elisha Cook Jr. | ... | ||
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James Burke | ... | |
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Murray Alper | ... | |
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John Hamilton | ... | |
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Plot Summary
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Plot Synopsis
Storyline
Spade and Archer is the name of a San Francisco detective agency. That's for Sam Spade and Miles Archer. The two men are partners, but Sam doesn't like Miles much. A knockout, who goes by the name of Miss Wanderly, walks into their office; and by that night everything's changed. Miles is dead. And so is a man named Floyd Thursby. It seems Miss Wanderly is surrounded by dangerous men. There's Joel Cairo, who uses gardenia-scented calling cards. There's Kasper Gutman, with his enormous girth and feigned civility. Her only hope of protection comes from Sam, who is suspected by the police of one or the other murder. More murders are yet to come, and it will all be because of these dangerous men -- and their lust for a statuette of a bird: the Maltese Falcon. Written by J. Spurlin
Taglines:
He's as fast on the draw as he is in the drawing room! See more »Parents Guide:
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
18 October 1941 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
The Gent from Frisco See more »Box Office
Budget:
$300,000 (estimated)Company Credits
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IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
Mono (RCA Sound System)Color:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1
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Sam Spade: Yes, sweetheart?
Effie Perine: There's a girl wants to see you. Her name's Wonderly.
Sam Spade: A customer?
Effie Perine: I guess so. You'll want to see her anyway. She's a knockout.
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
Most of the film was shot sequentially. See more »Goofs
When Joel Cairo and Brigid O'Shaughnessy are in Spade's house, Cairo lights a match with his left hand. Between shots the match appears in his right hand. See more »Quotes
[first lines]Sam Spade: Yes, sweetheart?
Effie Perine: There's a girl wants to see you. Her name's Wonderly.
Sam Spade: A customer?
Effie Perine: I guess so. You'll want to see her anyway. She's a knockout.
See more »
While there are films that are considered classic for their technical achievements and classics that resound with audiences for a feel-good emotion, The Maltese Falcon stands in that group that is a classic for every aspect of its creative makeup. With a brilliant script, talented direction and some outstanding performances, The Maltese Falcon stands up today as well as it did upon release.
When Sam Spade -- played brilliantly by Humphrey Bogart -- and his partner Archer are hired to tail a rich eccentric by a woman who claims her sister is being unwittingly kept separated from her by the rich eccentric, it seems like just another case. But when Archer and the eccentric are gunned down and all fingers point to Sam Spade for conflicting yet damning reasons, Spade is thrown into a whirlwind of deceptions that all point in one direction: a Maltese statue of a falcon.
Bogart demonstrates clearly why he is one of the great classic actors of the 20th century, and indeed one of the most natural screen actors ever. His charisma, charm and intense masculine looks give him a presence that simply dominates the screen. With a host of other great talents to fill the screen, there is not a moment of wasted performance. The direction is tight and driving and the pacing never lets up. And the script demonstrates why there are less and less truly great films being released in present day: the writers and directors of the golden age of cinema knew that subtlety works ten times more effectively than the modern in-your-face all-the-time works.
The Maltese Falcon is a timeless work that deserves its place in the list of greatest films ever made.