This is the behind-the-scenes(note that it's retroactive, they didn't have people noting how it was made as it was going on, that's a more recent thing) featurette on The Maltese Falcon(which it contains spoilers for), on the 2-Disc Special Edition DVD of it. It consists of interviews, clips of the movie, the other two versions and other pictures from the time(often ironically used, and to great effect) and footage from other sources. We hear from screenwriters, actors, film historians, biographers and relatives of the people behind it. Everyone has something interesting to say, and none of it is specialized to the point where you have trouble understanding. We're told Hammett's personal story, and go into the cast, the writing, the dialog and the impact it had, starting the genre of noir with its roots in German expressionism(what with directors fleeing Hitler), with the low angles, use of lighting and stark shadows. Yes, this has a love-fest going on, but they explain(and back up nicely by juxtaposing it with examples) why it is so amazing, instead of merely postulating. This is rather well-edited, it keeps to a solid pace, and with you finding out about all four leads, the inspiration for the novel, and what this production caused in the medium, in a mere 32 minutes, this is concise. There is disturbing content in this. I recommend it to any fan of the mystery genre. 8/10
5 Reviews
The birth of noir and rise of a star
SimonJack30 May 2018
This 32-minute short on the background of "The Maltese Falcon" is a cut above the usual of such documentaries. A host of film critics, actors, writers and historians discuss the history of the story on film. Dashiell Hammett's granddaughter, Julie Rivett, gives good history on the famous author. He worked as a Pinkerton Detective in Baltimore, and learned much of the trade that would become fodder for his subsequent mystery novels.
Hammett was stricken with tuberculosis at an early age, and had several bouts with TB. He had to quit work and received some support, and that's when he began to write. His early writing was carried in the Black Mask, a pulp crime fiction magazine of the early and mid-20th century. It was in San Francisco after 1926, that he wrote his first three blockbuster mystery novels - "Red Harvest," "The Dane Curse," and "The Maltese Falcon."
Of the enduring Falcon, Rivett says, "the story is compelling and told brilliantly." Joe Gores is a mystery writer himself, and wrote the 1975 novel, "Hammett," which was made into a movie. He says of Hammett, "He wrote about what he knew. He was not a writer trying to learn about detectives. He was a detective trying to figure out how to write."
Others in this documentary say that "The Maltese Falcon" is the first great detective story. And, although a couple of earlier films had parts of noir, John Huston ushered in film noir with this film. Huston wrote the screenplay, staying true to the book and its characters, and this film was his directorial debut.
Eddie Muller, author of "Dark City: The Lost World of Film Noir," says, "I think Hammett's big contribution was writing speech the way it was actually spoken. Before Hammett, detective fiction was all very elitist, upper crust. It was game-playing nonsense, you know." Gores adds, "As Chandler (writer Raymond) said, Hammett took murder out of the drawing room and dumped it in the alley where it belonged."
Author Michael Druxman says that Humphrey Bogart's climb to stardom was boosted more by George Raft than anyone else. It was leads in early key films that Raft turned down, in which Bogart starred.
A hot of other actors, writers, directors and film critics and historians contribute in this film. Among them are Peter Bogdanovisch, Larry Cohen, Rudy Behlmer, Michael Druxman and James Cromwell. Most notable of these are "High Sierra," "The Maltese Falcon," and "Casablanca."
This is an interesting and entertaining look behind the making of the first full-fledged film noir and its makers and stars.
Hammett was stricken with tuberculosis at an early age, and had several bouts with TB. He had to quit work and received some support, and that's when he began to write. His early writing was carried in the Black Mask, a pulp crime fiction magazine of the early and mid-20th century. It was in San Francisco after 1926, that he wrote his first three blockbuster mystery novels - "Red Harvest," "The Dane Curse," and "The Maltese Falcon."
Of the enduring Falcon, Rivett says, "the story is compelling and told brilliantly." Joe Gores is a mystery writer himself, and wrote the 1975 novel, "Hammett," which was made into a movie. He says of Hammett, "He wrote about what he knew. He was not a writer trying to learn about detectives. He was a detective trying to figure out how to write."
Others in this documentary say that "The Maltese Falcon" is the first great detective story. And, although a couple of earlier films had parts of noir, John Huston ushered in film noir with this film. Huston wrote the screenplay, staying true to the book and its characters, and this film was his directorial debut.
Eddie Muller, author of "Dark City: The Lost World of Film Noir," says, "I think Hammett's big contribution was writing speech the way it was actually spoken. Before Hammett, detective fiction was all very elitist, upper crust. It was game-playing nonsense, you know." Gores adds, "As Chandler (writer Raymond) said, Hammett took murder out of the drawing room and dumped it in the alley where it belonged."
Author Michael Druxman says that Humphrey Bogart's climb to stardom was boosted more by George Raft than anyone else. It was leads in early key films that Raft turned down, in which Bogart starred.
A hot of other actors, writers, directors and film critics and historians contribute in this film. Among them are Peter Bogdanovisch, Larry Cohen, Rudy Behlmer, Michael Druxman and James Cromwell. Most notable of these are "High Sierra," "The Maltese Falcon," and "Casablanca."
This is an interesting and entertaining look behind the making of the first full-fledged film noir and its makers and stars.
This is a helluva documentary -worth the box set purchase
emilyblunt13 December 2006
One Magnificent Bird is found in the Humphrey Bogart Signature Collection Volume 2. The smart folks at Warner Bros. added all three of their versions of The Maltese Falcon and included an in-depth documentary on The John Huston version. The doc is filled with clips and insights, reminding you just how important (and good) the film, and the book it was drawn from really were.
After watching this wonderfully created piece you will never watch the film about the bird in the same way afterviewing this. There's so much you didn't know. This is why we buy DVD sets. The extras and the things included; which just get better and better as time goes by.
The Maltese Falcon is the film that cemented Bogart as the king of smooth. While Casablanca made him an immortal icon. Bravo.
After watching this wonderfully created piece you will never watch the film about the bird in the same way afterviewing this. There's so much you didn't know. This is why we buy DVD sets. The extras and the things included; which just get better and better as time goes by.
The Maltese Falcon is the film that cemented Bogart as the king of smooth. While Casablanca made him an immortal icon. Bravo.
One of the best single-film features on a top-notch movie
pixrox129 May 2013
Warning: Spoilers
It is not surprising that this spotlight on THE MALTESE FALCON shines bright, given that some of the pontificators include Richard Layman, author of DISCOVERING THE MALTESE FALCON, Rudy Behlmer, who wrote a book entitled INSIDE WARNER BROTHERS (the studio which churned out three film versions of Dashiell Hammett's namesake novel in just 11 years), Eric Lax, who wrote a biography of the 194l FALCON's lead private eye "Sam Spade" (Humphrey Bogart), Stephen D. Youngkin, author of THE LOST ONE: A LIFE OF PETER LORRE, and ONE GOOD FILM DESERVES ANOTHER writer Michael B. Druxman, not to mention Hammett's granddaughter Julie Rivett, plus a generous cross-section of mostly well-known screenwriters, film editors, directors, and actors from more recent times, all of whom explain why they are big fans of the 1941 Bogart vehicle. Sprinkled generously with clips from the 1941 version and related movies, this feature provides enough material to occasionally surprise most anyone, while holding the viewer's attention from beginning to end. With a 32 minute, 4.75-second running time, ONE MAGNIFICENT BIRD is just the right length to provide a fitting nightcap to one magnificent movie!
Very Good Documentary
Michael_Elliott12 January 2012
Maltese Falcon, The: One Magnificent Bird (2006)
*** 1/2 (out of 4)
Peter Bogdanovich, Rudy Behlmer, Lincoln Hurst, Larry Cohen, Michael Madsen, Joe Gores, Eddie Muller, James Cromwell and Frank Miller are just a few of the people who show up to discuss THE MALTESE FALCON, the landmark 1941 film from John Huston and Humphrey Bogart. The film starts off talking about the original story and then we get into the 1931 version as well as the 1936 one under the title of Satan MET A LADY. From here the spotlight is on the 1941 film, its production, hiring of the cast and its reputation of one of the greatest films ever made. At just over 30-minutes there's certainly nothing too detailed here but it remains a very entertaining featurette. I think the greatest thing is just getting to hear the history behind the film as well as the original lead that the studio wanted. Another highlight is getting to hear about how the supporting actors got hired on and of course the other films that the success of this would lead to. Fans like Cohen, Madsen and Bogdanovich share their opinions on the film while historians Hurst and Behlmer talk about some of the behind-the-scenes stuff. If you're a fan of the film then this here is going to be a must-see. One could always hope it was a tad bit longer but they manage to cram quite a bit into the 30-minutes.
*** 1/2 (out of 4)
Peter Bogdanovich, Rudy Behlmer, Lincoln Hurst, Larry Cohen, Michael Madsen, Joe Gores, Eddie Muller, James Cromwell and Frank Miller are just a few of the people who show up to discuss THE MALTESE FALCON, the landmark 1941 film from John Huston and Humphrey Bogart. The film starts off talking about the original story and then we get into the 1931 version as well as the 1936 one under the title of Satan MET A LADY. From here the spotlight is on the 1941 film, its production, hiring of the cast and its reputation of one of the greatest films ever made. At just over 30-minutes there's certainly nothing too detailed here but it remains a very entertaining featurette. I think the greatest thing is just getting to hear the history behind the film as well as the original lead that the studio wanted. Another highlight is getting to hear about how the supporting actors got hired on and of course the other films that the success of this would lead to. Fans like Cohen, Madsen and Bogdanovich share their opinions on the film while historians Hurst and Behlmer talk about some of the behind-the-scenes stuff. If you're a fan of the film then this here is going to be a must-see. One could always hope it was a tad bit longer but they manage to cram quite a bit into the 30-minutes.
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