Filmmaking giant John Huston's 1941 debut feature, based on the hard-boiled novel by Dashiell Hammet and starring Humphrey Bogart as private-eye Sam Spade. Named the 23rd best film of all time by the American Film Institute.
"Huston also wrote the script solo, endowing it with well-rounded episodes of suspense and surprise, but detouring from synthetic theatrics. Of major importance is the standout performance of Humphrey Bogart, an attention-arresting portrayal that will add immeasurable voltage to his marquee values... It's a strongly melodramatic tale concocted in Dashiell Hammett's best style.
"The story details the experiences of private detective Bogart when called in to handle a case for Miss Astor - shortly finding himself in the middle of double-crossing intrigue and several murders perpetrated by strange characters bent on obtaining possession of the famed bejeweled Maltese Falcon. Keeping just within bounds of the law, and utilising sparkling ingenuity in gathering up the loose ends and finally piecing them together, Bogart attempts to solve the series of crimes." (Variety, 1941)
Widely regarded as the first official film noir, The Maltese Falcon is a crowning achievement in American cinema. The film marked the arrival of one of most revered directors of the 20th Century, John Huston. It is also marked the first collaboration between Huston and Humphrey Bogart, forming one of the greatest director-actor teams of all time. In a flawless performance by Bogart as the anti-hero, Detective Sam Spade, the actor is in full command under Huston's fantastic film making ability. The sly direction, the sharp script, crisp editing and innovative cinematography provide one of the best crime mysteries ever to grace the screen. Huston pulls no punches in his first outing as a director, capturing the darkness of American crime through deft storytelling with a perfect dose of flair.
Among the movies we not only love but treasure, The Maltese Falcon stands as a great divide.
The perfect movie experience.
Think low-level shooting, off-centre compositions, a back-handed hero and a tight script, and it’s not hard to see why French critic Nino Frank had Falcon in mind when he first coined the term film noir.
This is one of the best examples of actionful and suspenseful melodramatic story telling in cinematic form.
We've been told the NZ release date for this flick is Wednesday, 1st Jan 1941.
Release date: January 1st 1941.
We haven't received times for this movie in this location yet. However these are updated as cinemas announce them, so check back soon. Hopefully the lovely cinemas in your location will choose to play it shortly. ~Ed.
