Thursday, October 3, 1991

50 years ago: The Maltese Falcon, which Roger Ebert said spawned film noir, was released

The Maltese Falcon


Released: October 3, 1941


Studio: Warner Bros.


Genre: film noir/mystery


Box Office (numbers in millions):

Domestic: 0.97 Worldwide: 1.77


Adjusted for Inflation:

Domestic: 187.1 Worldwide: 272.1

Directing: John Huston


Screenwriting: John Huston


Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor, Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre, Elisha Cook, Gladys George


Review:

Many critics hails this as “one of the greatest detective films ever made.” VD It “improves with each viewing.” LM “Critic Roger Ebert said “this is the movie that spawned film noir.” MSN He said it laid the groundwork for the genre that celebrated “mean streets, knife-edged heroes, dark shadows and tough dames.” MSN

John Huston was 29 years old when he helmed The Maltese Falcon, his directorial debut. He also scripted the movie, based on Dashiel Hammett crime novel about “hard-boiled private detective” FS Sam Space (Bogart). The story “moves at lightning pace, with cameo by his father Walter Huston as Captain Jacobi.” LM

Spade is hired by Brigid O’Shaugnessy (Astor), the “mysterious femme fatale” A98 to scour the streets of “a claustrophobic San Francisco” FS in search of the titular priceless bird statue. He must evade “greedy and duplicitous characters” FS such as “the gardenia-perfumed Mr. Cairo (Lorre), the scheming, jovially-sinister Fat Man (Greenstreet), and an effete gunsel Wilmer (Cook).” FS


Sources:

Awards/Honors/Lists:


Dave’s Movie Database Lists:


Dave’s Movie Database Genre Lists:


Awards:


Oscars:

Wins: 0

Nominations: 3 – Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Greenstreet), and Best Screenplay


Other Lists/Honors:


Critics’ Picks:


First posted 6/2/2023.

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