Review – The Maltese Falcon

Though academics could probably find some way to argue the point, I think most folks with an opinion on the subject regard this as the ultimate example of film noir. So if you see only one hard-boiled detective movie from the 1930’s, make it this one. Humphrey Bogart does a flawless job as the bitter, tough-talking protagonist, Sam Spade. The movie features a lot of the genre’s less desirable characteristics (especially extreme sexism). But if you can get past all that, this is a wonderful movie, as well-made and entertaining as it is seminal in film history. Worth seeing