The Maltese Falcon

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Ted B 4.0 stars; No, it's not the greatest movie ever made. But even if it wasn't the first, it's the granddaddy of all film noir. The reason that some people don't get it as a classic is because it was the original, and there have been so many imitators since that it falls into a group of many just like it. But it is the original film noir. The acting was superb all the way around. This film, as a follow-on to High Sierra, made Humphrey Bogart an iconic star. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 10/14/25 Full Review Emerson H. With little to no character development and storylines that are too hard to follow, The Maltese Falcon fails to live up to its name as one of the greatest American films. Rated 1.5/5 Stars •  Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 07/21/25 Full Review Nick E A classic thriller; The Maltese Falcon is a seminal movie. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/07/25 Full Review Stephen C Success in 1 2/3 hours!!!!!!!!!!!! Starring Humphrey Bogart as an American pilot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/07/25 Full Review Mike J The Maltese Falcon is not just a film—it’s a timeless monument to cinema, a dazzling jewel that reigns supreme as the greatest movie ever made. Directed by John Huston in 1941, this noir masterpiece crackles with brilliance from its opening shot to its iconic close. Humphrey Bogart delivers an indelible performance as Sam Spade, a private eye whose sharp wit and cool detachment redefine screen charisma. His every line drips with grit and charm, anchoring a tale so perfectly crafted it feels like destiny unfolding. The cast is a constellation of legends—Mary Astor’s enigmatic femme fatale, Peter Lorre’s slippery schemer, and Sydney Greenstreet’s towering presence elevate every scene to electrifying heights. Huston’s direction is flawless, weaving a labyrinth of intrigue with taut pacing and shadowy visuals that practically invented the noir aesthetic. The dialogue snaps, the tension simmers, and the atmosphere wraps around you like a fog-drenched San Francisco night. What makes The Maltese Falcon unparalleled is its alchemy of style and substance—a thrilling mystery that’s as much about human nature as it is about the chase. It’s smart, seductive, and endlessly rewatchable, a film that doesn’t just entertain but etches itself into your soul. This isn’t merely a classic; it’s the gold standard of storytelling, a falcon forged in cinematic immortality. If perfection has a name, it’s this. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/21/25 Full Review Ken K I'm with some others. I'm watching a lot of classic 40's movies and I find them almost unwatchable. This one was a bore. If it were a slow burn, really building tension, fine. But it doesn't do that. Endless talking. Moves like molasses. And where's the beef? Take a great modern thriller like No country for Old Men. There is nothing like Javier Berdem's force of nature character or the tense unfolding that can mean life or death. Plus modern realism allows for much greater space for the chilling nature of the narrative. I guess Bogey was great back in the day but like The Big Sleep and To Have and Have Not, I couldn't get through them. I understand one must understand context but it only gets you so far. Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/09/25 Full Review Read all reviews

The Maltese Falcon

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