Humphrey Bogart Book:

The Maltese Falcon (Old Time Radio) Reviews:
a timeless classic
2009-11-02 - Just watched the DVD a second time, what a fine story, a great cast and just the best direction. What ever happened to Hollywood that we don't get this kind of film anymore from there?

Classic
2009-10-27 - Classic, one of Bogart's best. They don't make them like this anymore. Highly recommended. I didn't want the other movies, but had to buy the package set to get The Maltese Falcon. Wish Amazon would have offered the movie as a stand-alone.

The First Film Noir - Bogie's Best! [VHS VERSION]
2009-09-07 - I got to rewatch this as I was reviewing my VHS collection. From MGM/UA comes the VHS version in "glorious black and white." The cassette plays the original film as-is, with no clean-up, complete with little crackles and dust motes, etc.

Bogart plays Sam Spade, one of his best roles that nearly typecast him as the hard-boiled film noir private detective. San Francisco 1941, complete with Bay Bridge and Bush & Stockton Streets. At that fateful corner, Sam's partner Archer bites it. But he never pulled a gun and his coat is buttoned. Did he know the killer?

And who is the mysterious woman who is a pathological liar and overacts to Sam? Sam sees right through her ("you're good -- now you gonna walk around and start straightening everything out in the room?"). She's in over her head.

Peter Lorre plays the slimy Turk who insists on searching Spade's office even after Sam punches him out for pulling a gun on him. What nerve!

Sydney Greenstreet is the rich businessman who in oh so smooth and suave way, takes Spade at his word and seemingly takes him into his confidence -- until a Mickey in the drink changes Sam's mind.

Wilmer is an interesting character, makes like a gangster and could be the fall guy for the gang's murderous ways.

As a detective story, the plot moves steadily if a bit slowly towards its completion. I already knew who the killer was, having watched this a few times already, so I get more and more impressed with the style of 40s filmmaking whenever I watch it. Mary Astor is the strange lady with strange purpose.

Looks like the director was trying to work in the Archer's wife who was in love with Spade thing, but they let that drop, the only real plot hole in the whole affair.

Overall, great film that would set up Bogart for life. Highly recommended.



The Maltese Falcon
2009-06-30 - ESSENTIAL MOVIE!!! The Maltese Falcon is one of Hollywood's greatest, if not THE greatest, examples of the film-noir genre. Bogart, already a star, ascended to the top of the list with this film. The film is based on Dashiell Hammett's novel of the same name. The director, John Huston, mostly known as a screenwriter to this point, made his directorial debut with a stunning effort. Bogart & Huston would return to do 6 more films together, all successful until the final one, Beat the Devil. Bogart was cast as the lead when George Raft decided he didn't want the roll; Raft must have regretted that decision for the rest of his life.

Sam Spade (Bogart) is a P.I. with a partner, Miles Archer (Jerome Cowan). Enter Brigid O'Shaughnessy (Mary Astor), though that's not the name she originally gives. She hires Archer for protection from a Floyd Thursby. She's never believed but the money she offers convinces him to take the case. Later he's found murdered. Spade takes up the investigation, & like most film-noir male leads, he's not above taking things into his own hands. The story centers on finding the title bird & Spade finds himself immersed in international intrigue.

The supporting cast includes Sydney Greenstreet (The Fat Man) in his screen debut; Peter Lorre (Joel Cairo); Elisha Cook, Jr. (Wilmer Cook); Barton MacLane (Lt. Dundy); & the great Ward Bond (Det. Polhaus). The story is full of twists & turns & will keep you guessing all the way. This is perhaps one of the 10 best films Hollywood has ever made & it's a film you can watch many times.



ABOUT A BIRD
2009-06-12 - Dialogue rules in this ferocious onslaught of double-cross, after double-cross, and shadowy figures with twisted codes, and non-existant morals. Bogart's version of the tougher than nails, Sam Spade, is the screen detective that all others were subsequently measured by for decades, and Mary Astor's treacherous widow is sublime. Though the actual violence in this film classic is at a minimum, the threat of it permeates the entire movie.

The film quality on this transfer is pretty decent ( though not so on the other two films included ). This is definitely a must for noir lovers, or just film lovers in general.