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IMDbPro

The Maltese Falcon

  • 19311931
  • PassedPassed
  • 1h 20m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
2.9K
YOUR RATING
Ricardo Cortez and Bebe Daniels in The Maltese Falcon (1931)
  • Crime
  • Drama
  • Film-Noir
A lovely dame with dangerous lies employs the services of a private detective, who is quickly caught up in the mystery and intrigue of a statuette known as the Maltese Falcon.A lovely dame with dangerous lies employs the services of a private detective, who is quickly caught up in the mystery and intrigue of a statuette known as the Maltese Falcon.A lovely dame with dangerous lies employs the services of a private detective, who is quickly caught up in the mystery and intrigue of a statuette known as the Maltese Falcon.
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
2.9K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Roy Del Ruth
  • Writers
    • Dashiell Hammett(based on the novel by)
    • Maude Fulton(screen play & dialogue)
    • Brown Holmes(screen play & dialogue)
  • Stars
    • Bebe Daniels
    • Ricardo Cortez
    • Dudley Digges
Top credits
  • Director
    • Roy Del Ruth
  • Writers
    • Dashiell Hammett(based on the novel by)
    • Maude Fulton(screen play & dialogue)
    • Brown Holmes(screen play & dialogue)
  • Stars
    • Bebe Daniels
    • Ricardo Cortez
    • Dudley Digges
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 45User reviews
    • 25Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos39

    The Maltese Falcon (1931)
    Ricardo Cortez, Bebe Daniels, Robert Elliott, J. Farrell MacDonald, and Otto Matieson in The Maltese Falcon (1931)
    Ricardo Cortez and Robert Elliott in The Maltese Falcon (1931)
    Ricardo Cortez, Bebe Daniels, and Walter Long in The Maltese Falcon (1931)
    Bebe Daniels in The Maltese Falcon (1931)
    Ricardo Cortez and Dudley Digges in The Maltese Falcon (1931)
    Ricardo Cortez in The Maltese Falcon (1931)
    Ricardo Cortez and Otto Matieson in The Maltese Falcon (1931)
    Ricardo Cortez and Thelma Todd in The Maltese Falcon (1931)
    Ricardo Cortez, Robert Elliott, and J. Farrell MacDonald in The Maltese Falcon (1931)
    Ricardo Cortez and Bebe Daniels in The Maltese Falcon (1931)
    Dwight Frye in The Maltese Falcon (1931)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Bebe Daniels
    Bebe Daniels
    • Ruth Wonderlyas Ruth Wonderly
    Ricardo Cortez
    Ricardo Cortez
    • Sam Spadeas Sam Spade
    Dudley Digges
    Dudley Digges
    • Casper Gutmanas Casper Gutman
    Una Merkel
    Una Merkel
    • Effie Perineas Effie Perine
    Robert Elliott
    Robert Elliott
    • Detective Lt. Dundyas Detective Lt. Dundy
    Thelma Todd
    Thelma Todd
    • Iva Archeras Iva Archer
    Otto Matieson
    Otto Matieson
    • Dr. Joel Cairoas Dr. Joel Cairo
    Walter Long
    Walter Long
    • Miles Archeras Miles Archer
    Dwight Frye
    Dwight Frye
    • Wilmer Cookas Wilmer Cook
    J. Farrell MacDonald
    J. Farrell MacDonald
    • Det. Sgt. Tom Polhouseas Det. Sgt. Tom Polhouse
    Agostino Borgato
    Agostino Borgato
    • Capt. John Jacobias Capt. John Jacobi
    • (uncredited)
    Tiny Jones
    Tiny Jones
    • Jailbird Seeking Cigaretteas Jailbird Seeking Cigarette
    • (uncredited)
    Cliff Saum
    • Baggage Clerkas Baggage Clerk
    • (uncredited)
    Morgan Wallace
    Morgan Wallace
    • District Attorneyas District Attorney
    • (uncredited)
    Lucille Ward
    Lucille Ward
    • Sarah - Prison Matronas Sarah - Prison Matron
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Roy Del Ruth
    • Writers
      • Dashiell Hammett(based on the novel by)
      • Maude Fulton(screen play & dialogue)
      • Brown Holmes(screen play & dialogue)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      When originally sold to television in the 1950s, the title was changed to "Dangerous Female" in order to avoid confusion with its illustrious remake, The Maltese Falcon (1941). Fifty years later, Turner Classic Movies restored its original title card. However, as recently as April 27, 2017, the service used by cable companies to provide data for their viewing guides used the "Dangerous Female" title for TCM's showing of the movie on that date.
    • Goofs
      The same prop is used for the suitcase that Spade finds in Miss Wonderly's room and the suitcase which contains the falcon. The travel stickers are identical on each one.
    • Quotes

      Effie Perrine: Sam, it's a gorgeous new customer.

      Sam Spade: Gorgeous?

      Effie Perrine: A knockout.

      Sam Spade: Send her right in, honey.

      Effie Perrine: [to the off-screen customer] Will you step in, please?

      [Joel Cairo walks in.]

    • Connections
      Featured in Great Performances: Bacall on Bogart (1988)
    • Soundtracks
      For You
      (uncredited)

      Written by Joseph A. Burke and Al Dubin

    User reviews45

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    The far sexier, precode version!
    I got such a kick out of this filmed version of Dashiell Hammett's detective novel that I think I was grinning from ear to ear throughout the movie. Because it was a pre-code film it was much more open to the sexiness of the original novel, for instance here we have Miss Wonderly (Bebe Daniels in the role played by Mary Astor in the 1941 version) actually undressing in the kitchen scene. In another scene, when she claims someone is following her and she is frightened to be alone, Sam Spade (Ricardo Cortez, who is much more handsome than Bogart) offers her his bedroom for the night. "You can have my bed, I'll sleep out here." She turns to him coyly from the sofa and says "Aw, don't let me keep you out." I burst out laughing. Couldn't imagine this repartee between Bogie and Astor!

    Una Merkel was superb as the devoted secretary of Sam Spade. She constantly gives off the aura that she has had a physical relationship with him in the past and that some of it still hangs around even though it is essentially over (note their sitting real closely on a chair in one scene, lingeringly holding hands). Thelma Todd plays Archer's wife, who has also had an affair with Sam in the past, and she adds some more spice to the film which is already loaded with it compared to the 1941 version, which was made under the control of the Hollywood Production Code.

    The other cast members are wonderful, including Dudley Digges as Casper Gutman, Otto Matieson as Joel Cairo, and Dwight Frye as the psychotic Wilma Cook. They completely hold your attention and are just as interesting, perhaps even more so, than the 1941 version actors.

    I am a Bogie fan, but Ricardo Cortez steals the picture with this performance. He is a much more selfish, less noble character than Bogie's Sam Spade, and that makes him more interesting to watch on screen. For instance, in the 1941 version, Bogie's Sam Spade reluctantly gives over the girl to the police because "when your partner is murdered, you are supposed to do something about it." In the 1931 version Ricardo's Sam Spade hands her over simply because he himself doesn't want to be charged with murder. He's saving his own neck, not acting out of some false loyalty to a partner he didn't even like. In fact in this version Ricardo as Sam states firmly, "I couldn't shed a tear for Archer, dead OR alive." This is a lot more honest and realistic.

    Don't miss your chance to see this early talkie gem. It is fascinating to watch on its own merits, and also to compare with the later, more famous, Bogart version.
    helpful•87
    14
    • overseer-3
    • Jul 13, 2004

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 13, 1931 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Chinese
    • Also known as
      • Dangerous Female
    • Filming locations
      • Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Warner Bros.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 20 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White

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