The Maltese Falcon [DVD] [1941]
- Details
- Format: DVD
- Release Date: 02-15-2000
- Other
- Product Name: The Maltese Falcon [DVD] [1941]
- UPC: 012569501225
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- Rated 5 out of 5 stars
The Stuff Dreams and Nightmares are Made of
This movie is a must for Bogart, detective and film noir fans. "The Maltese Falcon" first appeared as a serialized story in the monthly Black Mask detective magazine. in 1929. Pubished as novel with revised text by Dashiell Hammett in 1930, it's been in print ever since. Two movie versions flopped before John Huston got it right. Huston wrote the screenplay and made his directorial debut. He stuck to Hammett's book faithfully, trimming the violence slightly and implying the gay relationships between some of the bad guys because of the censorship board. This Blu-ray edition looks fantastic, capturing the shadows and shading of the superb black-and-white photography. Bogart IS Sam Spade; Mary Astor, Peter Lorre, Sidney Greenstreet, Elisha Cook, Ward Bond, Gladys George, Barton MacLane, and John Hamilton (Perry White in the Superman TV series) are among the costars and supporting actors, perfectly cast. Director Huston made two significant revisions at the end of the film that are an improvement over the book: Hammett's novel ends when Sam Spade returns to his office and has to confront his secretary and his dead partner's wife. Huston wisely chose to finish his film with the arrest or pending arrest of the villains. Bogart's closing line about the Maltese Falcon, "It's the Stuff Dreams Are Made of" is a quote from Shakespeare's "The Tempest" and quite fitting as the Black Bird's epitaph. The Bird is a statuette promising great wealth but leaving trails of betrayal, theft and bloody murder as people hunt it over the course of centuries. Movie extras include a commentary; the radio versions of the movie (One with Edward G. Robinson!); cartoons and newsreels from the period, and more. Bogart fans can make arguments for their hero's best film, but "The Maltese Falcon" is definitely among the Top Ten!
This review is from Maltese Falcon
Posted by internech
- Rated 5 out of 5 stars
A Must Have Movie
One of the best classics. A must have in your movie library.
This review is from Maltese Falcon
Posted by GWHou
- Rated 5 out of 5 stars
One of Bogart's best
One of his best movies, I have always liked. The first Film Nior movie that started the genre.
This review is from Maltese Falcon
Posted by DanR
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