Dangerous Female

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1h 20m

Crime

Drama

List

71%

Tomatometer

7 Reviews

49%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

In San Francisco, wealthy Ruth Wonderly (Bebe Daniels) hires amorous gumshoe Sam Spade (Ricardo Cortez) and his partner, Miles Archer, to trail her sister's kidnapper, Floyd Thursby. Wonderly's story is revealed as a ruse when both Archer and Thursby are later found murdered. Soon, Spade discovers that Wonderly and three other criminal oddballs -- including rotund Casper Gutman (Dudley Digges) -- are in search of an elusive jewel-covered statuette known as "the Maltese Falcon."

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Michael E. Grost

Classic Film and Television

First version is closer to the novel and has more romance.

Dec 27, 2018

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Steve Crum

Video-Reviewmaster.com

Dated grandpoppa of Bogart's classic is worth seeing to compare.

Rated: 2/5

Oct 14, 2005

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 3/5

Jun 19, 2005

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

The original was a solid and enjoyable work.

Rated: B

Nov 23, 2003

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Ken Hanke

Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Surprisingly racy pre-code first version of the Hammett novel.

Rated: 5/5

Nov 5, 2003

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Carol Cling

Las Vegas Review-Journal

Rated: 3/5

Aug 22, 2003

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Steve D

If the remake didn't happen this would be far better remembered. Nowhere near as good as that film.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

05/02/23

Full Review

chartwell c

More clarity than the 1941 remake.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Yes, Huston's is the Classic. But instrumental to see this version as one can tell Huston copied some scenes almost exactly. Dialog stilted but remember, early Talkie and all of them had stilted dialog. Great costumes and sets. Realistic ending showing Ruth in the cell. Trysting scenes more straightforward. All in all, worthwhile to watch.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

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Patricia H

Loved the movie and Bogie in the part.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/25/19

Full Review

Classic Jaye

1941 Film Noir Bogart Lorre Greenstreet Houston what else is there to say!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/24/19

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Audience Member

Bad acting, poor direction, bad movie. 1941 version much better.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/26/23

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Roy Del Ruth

Director

Bebe Daniels

Ruth Wonderly

Ricardo Cortez

Sam Spade

Dudley Digges

Casper Gutman

Robert Elliott

Detective Lt. Dundy

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Synopsis

In San Francisco, wealthy Ruth Wonderly (Bebe Daniels) hires amorous gumshoe Sam Spade (Ricardo Cortez) and his partner, Miles Archer, to trail her sister's kidnapper, Floyd Thursby. Wonderly's story is revealed as a ruse when both Archer and Thursby are later found murdered. Soon, Spade discovers that Wonderly and three other criminal oddballs -- including rotund Casper Gutman (Dudley Digges) -- are in search of an elusive jewel-covered statuette known as "the Maltese Falcon."

Director: Roy Del Ruth
Production Co: Warner Brothers/Seven Arts
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 13, 1931, Original
Runtime: 1h 20m

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