Rating: 
Summary: "The stuff dreams are made of..."
Review: The Maltese Falcon is one of those often imitated but never surpassed films. It has set the standard for years for detective movies, but its dark atmosphere, fantastic script, and gripping tension have never really been achieved (possibly The Big Sleep, another Humphrey Bogart mystery, comes close) since. The plot is rather complicated, and to explain it in detail would be to give away the point of the movie. Still, the movie mainly deals with two elements: one is a seemingly innocent girl whose appeal for help to Sam Spade (Humphery Bogart) and his partner leads to several mysterious murders, and the other is the web of crime relating to the priceless Maltese Falcon. As the movie progresses, the relation between the two elements becomes clearer and clearer...but to say anymore would be to spoil too much! But even though the plot is very interesting and thrilling, what really makes this film special is the atmosphere, the script, and the acting. The black-and-white cinematography is great, and the scenes, which are kept shadowy, give the movie a chilling, dark atmosphere - it really is a film noir. The script is fantastic, and Humphery Bogart brings the wisecracking, tough Sam Spade to life. He is the perfect incarnation of the streetwise, cunning detective - always ready to fight, but smart enough to not have not do so very often. In another of Humphery Bogart's films, The Big Sleep, in which he plays a similar character, a girl tells Bogart that he is not very tall. His response is typical, and is the epitome of his attitude - yes, he admits, I'm not very tall, but "I try to be," he explains. His comment says it all: he is not tall, but he projects a fantastic tough guy image nonetheless. Anyhow, his performance is wonderful - it is his quintessential role! The other actors, especially the girl he deals with, are good as well. All in all, this is a must-see film - and it is OK for the whole family, although it may be a little hard to follow for younger children. I don't know how else to recommend this...get it soon!
Rating:
Summary: The Stuff Dreams Are Made Of!
Review: 'The Maltese Falcon' is the granddaddy of the modern detective movie, as well as the first of the 'film noir' genre, which should impress any film buff looking for an 'essential' film for his collection...But even if you're not, I'd STRONGLY recommend this DVD edition, as a terrific film with a first-rate cast! Hollywood legend has it that George Raft had been cast as detective Sam Spade, in this third version of the Dashiell Hammett novel (it had been filmed 10 years earlier, with Ricardo Cortez as Spade, and a few years later, with Bette Davis in the Astor role). Raft refused to work with novice director John Huston, however, and Humphrey Bogart, fresh from his breakthrough success in 'High Sierra', inherited the role...and a legendary team was formed! Huston was a master of sharp, witty dialogue and character, and nobody could play a loner with a code of honor better than Bogart; together, they were unbeatable! The premise involves a statue of a falcon said to have a fortune in jewels under the lead paint covering it, but this is really a tale of greed, betrayal, and murder. The cast of characters is unforgettable; in addition to Bogart's Spade, there is the beautiful and mysterious Brigid O'Shaughnessy (Mary Astor), slickly effeminate Joel Cairo (Peter Lorre), gregarious and self-centered Kasper Gutman (Sidney Greenstreet, in his finest role), and Gutman's young, psychotic hitman (Elisha Cook, Jr.). Even the minor characters are indelibly etched, with great performances by Lee Patrick, Jerome Cowan, Barton Maclaine, and Ward Bond. We follow Spade, as he journeys deeper and deeper into a spiderweb of deception, hunting for the statue and investigating his partner's murder, while becoming romantically involved with O'Shaughnessy. The film never loses momentum, and the climax has the kind of irony that became a John Huston trademark! The DVD edition offers a wealth of 'extras', including a fabulous retrospective of Bogart's years at Warner Brothers, using his 'trailers' as guideposts. Hosted by Robert Osborne, of Turner Classic Movies, this documentary is worth the price of the DVD, by itself! Treat yourself to a film you'll enjoy again and again! 'The Maltese Falcon' will be a prized film in your collection!
Rating: 
Summary: Come on, Warner Bros!
Review: How is it in this age of computer technology, Warner Bros. is still churning out these black-and-white DVD's? Colorization should be a given. As it is, I can't make out a thing in this non-colored transfer. Until the colorized version is released for everyone to enjoy, I'm not going to buy it.
Rating:
Summary: The stuff dreams are made of . . .
Review: This is a fine noir treatment of the Dashiell Hammett hard-boiled novel, and Humphrey Bogart is great as the cynical, highly controlled, and yet passionate Sam Spade. The Warner's supporting cast is familiar to any Bogart fan: Sidney Greenstreet as "the Fatman", Elisha Cook Jr. as the wannabe tough-guy thug, and Peter Lorre as the sleazy but dangerous criminal entrepreneur who would betray his mother for the golden bird. Mary Astor has a tough role to play in this film: vulnerable yet ruthless, scheming, and yet with a smoldering passion that ignites Bogart's own desire. She pulls it off, although Sam Spade was clearly thinking with the more private part of his anatomy when he fell for her. Watching the film, you can just see she's trouble, but Spade wouldn't be the first guy to let his drum major do his thinking for him. Yet he never loses his cool. And in the end, the seductive femme fatale gets what's coming to her. As for the bird, well the gleam of desire in the eyes of everyone in the film when they finally get it in their hands shows what it means . . . as Bogie said, "It's the stuff that dreams are made of." Great dialogue, great cast, great film.
Rating:
Summary: Bogart at his best in a great detective film.
Review: "The Maltese Falcon" remains one of the great detective films of all time. Humphrey Bogart was never better than as Sam Spade investigating the death of his partner Myles Archer. He soon turns his attention to finding a famous and valuable statue, the Maltese Falcon. A great supporting cast of actors hinders his search. First is "the dame," Mary Astor, who knows how to lie, except to Bogart. Next is "the fat man," capably played by Sidney Greenstreet. Elisha Cook Jr. is "the gunsel" who works for Greenstreet, but who can't match Bogie for toughness and savy. Peter Lorre is the perfumed "weasel" trying to lay claim to the falcon, but who is slapped down by Bogart who tells him that when he is hit he will "take it and like it." Ward Bond shows up as a police officer trying to keep Bogie out of trouble, but he is having a hard time smoothing things over with his lieutenant. This great film is a close adaptation of Dashiel Hammett's classic novel of the same name. Viewers who love the film will enjoy the book just as much and be prompted to get Bogie's other famous detective film, "The Big Sleep." In my opinion Humphrey Bogart is the single greatest American actor and "The Maltese Falcon" showcases his considerable talents.
Rating:
Summary: Should I stutter?
Review: In order to follow merely the plot of this story the first time round you need a brain that goes clickety-click fast enough to match Bogart's machine-gun-like delivery. I can't believe anyone ever talked as fast as he did on film. Partly because the plot is so intricate, it gets better each time you see it: everything eventually falls into place with perfect logic. But there's very much more to it. There's a terrific undertow of all kinds of deeper meanings below the surface: the campy amorality of the misfit crooks with their greed and false values, pursuing nothing. The ferocious bitterness in Bogart's staccato angel, precious, darling, sweetheart. It's as if he hated the whole female race. There's no love here, just off-screen pairing. It's pointless to complain that Mary Astor is melodramatic. That's the whole point of her character: she doesn't lie in order to gain some advantage, it's her feminine nature to put on an act, deceive and mislead. Her opposite is the role of the staunch and loyal secretary: "You're a good man, sister!" In fact the whole movie is suffused with gender-bending confusion. The cops are a couple of boyfriends. The womanising jerk, Archer, is Bogart's partner. Add to this the fantastic character-acting of, especially, Sydney Greenstreet. An amazing screen presence, he really was. This is a film which matures the more you see it, and it is definitely for the mature. I didn't think much of it, the first time I saw it.
Rating:
Summary: A Very Clever Film
Review: The film is very clever and kind of twists you up a bit at the end. You have to pay attention to really capture the essence. Some greedy lowlifes want to get the Maltese falcon which apparently was part of the treasure given to the Knights Templar from the kingdom of Spain. Does anybody remember the Knights from the Da Vinci Code. Anyways, detective Sam Spade gets involved. His partner gets killed early on in the story and he hooks up where his partner left off. The cops think he killed his partner and most everybody sees him as a good for nothing. He plays it like that, trying to play his hand to the highest bidder, acting as if he wants the money, that thats all he is concerned with. The lowlifes project that on to him, because thats what they see in themselves. The cops don't trust him. He seems to be a one man show but is it for the money or for the need to see justice proclaimed. Bogart does a real good job in his character and the film noir is never better! The dialog is snappy and intelligent. I'm glad I am watching these movies. I thought the classics would be sort of silly, and old fashioned but this film shows real clarity. Lisa Nary
Rating:
Summary: Sit back and enjoy
Review: Colorize the Maltese Falcon? HAH! Wonderful joke, Leonard. I do appreciate your twisted sense of humour.
Seriously, how can you go wrong with the combination of Humphrey Bogart, Peter Lorre and Sidney Greenstreet?
Rating: 
Summary: A film noir classic from John Huston
Review: Brigid O'Shaughnessy hires Sam Spade and his partner, Miles Archer, to bring back her sister who's been living with a "dangerous" man. Miles sets off to tail the man, but winds up murdered. Trying to discover who killed his partner before the police can lay blame on him, Spade gets more involved with Brigid's search for a missing statue, the Maltese Falcon. She must find it before the nervous Joel Cairo or the mysterious Kaspar Gutman can get their hands on it. Director John Huston, who also wrote the screenplay based on Dashiell Hammett's novel, a crafted one of the finest examples of film noir to hit the screen. Humphrey Bogart's star-making turn as Detective Sam Spade is full of sharp-tongued intelligence as he plays each of the characters against themselves to get to the truth. Peter Lorre is devious as the nervous Joel Cairo, determined to locate the Maltese Falcon for his employer, Kaspar Gutman, played with finesse by Sydney Greenstreet. Mary Astor does a fine job as Brigid, but to me, she comes across as a bit too melodramatic. I found it hard to take her seriously in the role of a woman out to use whatever it takes to get the statue. The script is fast paced with excellent dialogue, especially the scenes between Spade and Gutman. The DVD transfer has some satisfactory extras, such as movie trailers and a history of the film. I'm a bit surprised at the picture quality. Many grainy spots, noise lines, and other imperfections. I hope they release a restored version of this in the near future. "The Maltese Falcon" is a marvelous film and is a must for any cinephile.
Rating:
Summary: A Bonafide Classic!
Review: The Maltese Falcon is a superb film. A bonafide classic masterpiece with top notch acting from the entire cast, Bogart, Lorre, etc! Being a film buff who is against colorizing black and white movies I have to totally disagree with the review I just read from some guy saying that this movie needs to be colorized! Black and white movies are beautiful works of art and should remain that way!
|
