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The Maltese Falcon
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The Maltese Falcon (1941) More at IMDbPro »

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The Maltese Falcon (1941) -- Sam Spade, a private detective, gets involved in a murderous hunt for a valuable statuette.

Overview

User Rating:
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 3% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
John Huston
Writers:
Dashiell Hammett (novel)
John Huston (screenplay)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Maltese Falcon on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
18 October 1941 (USA) more
Tagline:
It's thrilling . . . it's chilling . . . it's the most baffling mystery story in years ! more
Plot:
A private detective takes on a case that involves him with three eccentric criminals, a gorgeous liar, and their quest for a priceless statuette. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
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Awards:
Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 1 win more
User Comments:
The best detective story. more

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
The Gent from Frisco (USA) (working title)
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Runtime:
101 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (RCA Sound System)
Certification:
Australia:G (TV rating) | UK:A (original rating) | Canada:G (Nova Scotia/Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | UK:PG (video rating) | Spain:T | Iceland:L | West Germany:16 (nf) | New Zealand:PG | South Korea:12 (2003) | Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | Germany:12 | Netherlands:AL | Norway:16 (1945) | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved (certificate #7457)

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The climactic confrontation scene lasts nearly twenty minutes, one-fifth of the entire running time of the film. It involves all five principal characters, and filming required over one full week (one day - 4 July 1941 - was taken off). more
Goofs:
Continuity: When searching for the body, Sam's handkerchief is ruffled only while he is in the room, not before or after. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Sam Spade: Yes, sweetheart?
Effie Perine: There's a girl wants to see you. Her name's Wonderly.
Sam Spade: A customer?
Effie Perine: I guess so. You'll want to see her anyway. She's a knockout.
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Movie Connections:
Referenced in Flushed Away (2006) more

FAQ

A NOTE REGARDING SPOILERS
What is a "gunsel"?
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23 out of 31 people found the following comment useful:-
The best detective story., 19 November 2003
Author: Robert J. Maxwell (rmax304823@yahoo.com) from Deming, New Mexico

I love this movie. I didn't love it until I'd watched it a couple of times. And I didn't love it quite so much until I'd read Harvey Greenberg's "Movies on Your Mind."

But I now think that, within the strictures of its budget, it's about as good as it can get. Sam Spade is a marvelous character in this film. He gives practically nothing away, while gathering information from others simply by letting them talk, kind of like a shrink.

And it's hard to believe that they could have found a cast that fit the templates of the novel so perfectly. Sidney Greenstreet IS the "fat man." Peter Lorre IS the queer.

If you see this one, and I hope you do, make note of the phenomenal black and white photography. (I hope you have a good connection.) Watch, for instance, the glissade of the camera when Bogart says, "You have brains. Yes, you do."

In case you're worried about this being too sophisticated for enjoyment by an ordinary audience, I should mention that I showed this (in one connection or another, I forget) to a class of Marines at Camp Lejeune. They enjoyed the hell out of it, especially the scene in which Mary Astor kicks Peter Lorre in the shins.

Don't miss it.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Maltese Falcon (1941)
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Casting a current remake kirksworks
Widescreen Version? Delpheno
At the risk of offending Bogart Fans, his worst scene in his worst movie rspear61
New dialog, deleted scene (I think) vocalistbob
Gun that killed Sam's partner Deusvolt
For any who have read this book byndgrysky
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