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The Maltese Falcon

  • Writer: Brandon Thompson
    Brandon Thompson
  • Jan 15, 2016
  • 2 min read

While Humphrey Bogart (Sam Spade) can cleary be seen holding guns in the poster for this movie he never fires one and after watching the movie for the first time I can only recall one gunshot. This doesn't mean that the movie isn't explosive or blazing. In fact this classic film-noir builds suspense using the title of the film, The Maltese Falcon.

As an audience we are placed in the view of Sam Spade for every scene except one (which he wasn't in) and we are thrown into the deep end just like Sam is and it works for the constricts of 1941 censorship. A part of the film that has helped it stand the test of time are the wide shots of several characters, all feature the ceiling and/or the floor making the space around characters tight and options limited.

Humphrey Bogart's performance is easily a stand-out in the movie. He manages to portray intelligence and witiness along with a feeling of not knowing the full extent of what is happening around him which mirrors the audience's feelings. This performance for Bogart needs a special mention for really propelling Bogart's career to new highs to help him get roles in Casblanca, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, The Affrican Queen and The Big Sleep. A shout out is needed for the strong performances for the supporting cast espically Peter Lorre (Casablanca, M).

The music I found was nothing special for 1941. However the editing worked well for the movie using longer takes, a skill that most directors don't show today. It helps build tension throughout the movie. The lighting like most Film-Noirs adds plenty of atmosphere for the movie as colour wasn't able to be used then.

Finally to the directing. This is the first John Huston movie I have seen and I am definately curious to see his other films (African Queen and The Treasure of the Sierra Madre). I was also shocked to read that this was John Huston's directorial debut.

Overall this is a strong film for all film buffs and cinephiles to see and I would ask people to see it as it holds up well for being 75 years old.

Overall Score 7/10

What are your thoughts on this film if have seen it? Let me know what they are as I would like to hear them. Is this the review dreams are made of? Yes? No? Maybe? let me know!


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About Me

I like watching movies so much I am pursuing a career in them, hopefully, to become a director. In the mean time, I write about movies.

 

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