The Maltese Falcon [Region 2] | ![The Maltese Falcon [Region 2]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/5165Z7HRHQL._SL500_.jpg)
| Director: John Huston
Actors: Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor, Gladys George, Peter Lorre, Barton Maclane
Category: DVD
Buy New: $190.00
New (1) Used (1) from $26.80
Rating:  182 reviews
Sales Rank: 212279
Format: Pal
Languages: German (Original Language), Spanish (Original Language), English (Original Language), English (Subtitles For The Hearing Impaired), German (Subtitles For The Hearing Impaired), German (Subtitled), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), Italian (Subtitled), Turkish (Subtitled), Dutch (Subtitled), Swedish (Subtitled), Norwegian (Subtitled), Danish (Subtitled), Finnish (Subtitled), Portuguese (Subtitled), Hebrew (Subtitled), Polish (Subtitled), Greek (Subtitled), Czech (Subtitled), Hungarian (Subtitled), Icelandic (Subtitled), Croatian (Subtitled)
Rating: Unrated
Region: 2
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: 65012
EAN: 7321921650123
ASIN: B00004TVWW
Theatrical Release Date: October 18, 1941
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com essential video
Still the tightest, sharpest, and most cynical of Hollywood's official deathless classics, bracingly tough even by post-Tarantino standards. Humphrey Bogart is Dashiell Hammett's definitive private eye, Sam Spade, struggling to keep his hard-boiled cool as the double-crosses pile up around his ankles. The plot, which dances all around the stolen Middle Eastern statuette of the title, is too baroque to try to follow, and it doesn't make a bit of difference. The dialogue, much of it lifted straight from Hammett, is delivered with whip-crack speed and sneering ferocity, as Bogie faces off against Peter Lorre and Sydney Greenstreet, fends off the duplicitous advances of Mary Astor, and roughs up a cringing "gunsel" played by Elisha Cook Jr. It's an action movie of sorts, at least by implication: the characters always seem keyed up, right on the verge of erupting into violence. This is a turning-point picture in several respects: John Huston (The African Queen) made his directorial debut here in 1941, and Bogart, who had mostly played bad guys, was a last-minute substitution for George Raft, who must have been kicking himself for years afterward. This is the role that made Bogart a star and established his trend-setting (and still influential) antihero persona. --David Chute
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| Customer Reviews: Read 177 more reviews...
 The Maltese Falcon June 30, 2009
Harry Brewer (S'port, La.)
ESSENTIAL MOVIE!!! The Maltese Falcon is one of Hollywood's greatest, if not THE greatest, examples of the film-noir genre. Bogart, already a star, ascended to the top of the list with this film. The film is based on Dashiell Hammett's novel of the same name. The director, John Huston, mostly known as a screenwriter to this point, made his directorial debut with a stunning effort. Bogart & Huston would return to do 6 more films together, all successful until the final one, Beat the Devil. Bogart was cast as the lead when George Raft decided he didn't want the roll; Raft must have regretted that decision for the rest of his life.
Sam Spade (Bogart) is a P.I. with a partner, Miles Archer (Jerome Cowan). Enter Brigid O'Shaughnessy (Mary Astor), though that's not the name she originally gives. She hires Archer for protection from a Floyd Thursby. She's never believed but the money she offers convinces him to take the case. Later he's found murdered. Spade takes up the investigation, & like most film-noir male leads, he's not above taking things into his own hands. The story centers on finding the title bird & Spade finds himself immersed in international intrigue.
The supporting cast includes Sydney Greenstreet (The Fat Man) in his screen debut; Peter Lorre (Joel Cairo); Elisha Cook, Jr. (Wilmer Cook); Barton MacLane (Lt. Dundy); & the great Ward Bond (Det. Polhaus). The story is full of twists & turns & will keep you guessing all the way. This is perhaps one of the 10 best films Hollywood has ever made & it's a film you can watch many times.
ABOUT A BIRD June 12, 2009
Geary A., Jones
Dialogue rules in this ferocious onslaught of double-cross, after double-cross, and shadowy figures with twisted codes, and non-existant morals. Bogart's version of the tougher than nails, Sam Spade, is the screen detective that all others were subsequently measured by for decades, and Mary Astor's treacherous widow is sublime. Though the actual violence in this film classic is at a minimum, the threat of it permeates the entire movie.
The film quality on this transfer is pretty decent ( though not so on the other two films included ). This is definitely a must for noir lovers, or just film lovers in general.
Groundbreaking Film April 27, 2009
J. D. Best, author (Arizona)
Amazon is right to tag The Maltese Falcon as essential video. This is a great period movie and stylistic film. It was also a trendsetter. It established Humphrey Bogart's career as a leading man, made the anti-hero a stable of Hollywood, and launched film noir into a fad. It's also fun to watch how Warner Bros. had to dance around the film censors of 1941. Times have changed. If you're not familiar with the norms of day, then when Spade is conflicted at the end, you might wonder when he consummated a relationship with the Mary Astor character. Everything was kept off-screen in those days, and the hints were obtuse as well.
This is a great film. I have only one objection: Astor didn't have the appeal necessary to carry off her role. Spade would never fall for that dame. A strong female lead is as necessary for great drama as a nasty bad guy. I guess that why The African Queen and Casablanca are my favorite Bogart films.
 Greatly Overhyped Film Noir February 5, 2009
Donegal Dan (Southwest United States)
2 out of 9 found this review helpful
I've seen this movie several times over the years and it has not gotten better with age. In fact, I really do not understand how it has acquired such iconic stature. The plot is serpentine but somehow not very involving, the acting is way overdone (except for Astor, who is just downright bad), the characters are without exception slimy or at least not very admirable, and the whole thing creaky. To its credit, it is not long and the direction is pretty taut but I certainly think that I have watched it for the last time.
A classic indeed January 7, 2009
nodice (Manchester, Ga United States)
Talk about a movie that is standing the test of time. I've put off seeing this movie for I don't know how long. For some reason I had fixed in my mind that I wouldn't like it--BUT boy was I wrong. Bogart shines like the star he was. He commands every scene his in and is able to whip out this fast talking piece with convincing believability. One thing for sure, you have to pay attention or you can easily get lost. The only angle I thought that could have been cut is the whole you love me I know you do stuff. When Mary Astor start spitting that nonsense I started wondering when did anyone have time to fall in love in this movie. Great script, good direction. And all around winner in my book.
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