The Black Bird (1975)

The son of famous detective Sam Spade carries on the family tradition of getting involved with the Maltese Falcon - and with the people who will stop at nothing, including murder, to get it.

Director:

David Giler

Writers:

Dashiell Hammett (characters), David Giler (screenplay)

Stars:

George Segal, Stéphane Audran, Lionel Stander

Cast

Credited cast:
George Segal	...	Sam Spade Jr.
Stéphane Audran	...	Anna Kemidov
Lionel Stander	...	Gordon Immerman
Lee Patrick	...	Effie
Elisha Cook Jr.	...	Wilmer Cook
Felix Silla	...	Litvak
Signe Hasso	...	Dr. Crippen
John Abbott	...	DuQuai
Connie Kreski	...	Decoy Girl
Titus Napoleon	...	Hawaiian Thug
Harry Kenoi	...	Hawaiian Thug
Howard Jeffrey	...	Kerkorian
Ken Swofford	...	Brad McCormack
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John Alderman	...	Patron in Ballroom
Eumenio Blanco	...	Hernadez

Storyline

After the death of private detective Sam Spade, his son, Sam Spade Jr. (who only knew his father very briefly) is forced to inherit his San Francisco detective agency, much to his chagrin. He also must keep his father's sarcastic secretary, Effie Perrine ("Godzilla"), and must continue his father's tradition of "serving minorities". One day, an obese man named Caspar Gutman is killed just outside Spade's building, his last words being "It's black and as long as your arm". Later on, Spade is given an offer by a member of the Order of St. John's Hospital to purchase his father's useless copy of the Maltese Falcon. A right-wing thug named Gordon Immerman (Spade calls him "Andrew Jackson" after he gave Spade his "calling card", a bill), has been hired to make sure Spade delivers the bird, but he quickly warms to the detective, although the feeling is not mutual. Later on, he gets an offer from a Wilmer Cook, but before they can negotiate, he is killed. Shortly thereafter, he encounters a ...

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Plot Keywords:

private investigator | year 1975 | search for lost object | neo noir | comical banter | 

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Taglines:

Why is everyone after George Segal's bird?

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Genres:

Adventure | Comedy | Crime | Mystery

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

Lee Patrick and Elisha Cook Jr. reprise their roles from The Maltese Falcon (1941).

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Connections

Spoofs Thunderball (1965)

User Reviews

The Black Bird is awesome

I love this movie I haven't seen it in years and I finally found a on YouTube it's not released on DVD. Otherwise I would own it. It's one of my favorites I'm a film Noir buff and George Segal is one of my favorite actors. The cameos are awesome and so is the cast. Not to be taken seriously it's just a fun romp.

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Movie Channel [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 April 1976 (UK)

Also Known As:

Tail of the Maltese Falcon

Filming Locations:

San Francisco, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures, Major Studio Partners, Rastar Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min 98 min (VHS release)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1