Review of The Maltese Falcon (1941) by Ian R — 05 Mar 2013
I read somehwere this is the first major American noir, and it's certainly an excellent example of the genre. When I first saw it years ago I didn't like it, but with age has come wisdom. Unlike some other noirs, this one is not as focused on visual style, being more of a dialogue picture, almost like a play.
It's words and attitude that give this movie its entertainment value. The characters are constantly talking and weaving spectacular lies or evasions of the truth, or threatening and cajoling their adversaries, building to a lovely crescendo in Sam Spade's apartment.
This is certainly a movie that'll have you contemplating the idea of truth and how difficult to know it can be. It also comes with what must have been, for its time, a morally gray universe in which no one can be trusted, and no one's injury is mourned.
It's all cold cash. Plus, Humphrey Bogart is a Hall of Fame badass, and here he gets some great one-liners.
This review of The Maltese Falcon (1941) was written by Ian R on 05 Mar 2013.
The Maltese Falcon has generally received very positive reviews.
Was this review helpful?
