Movies recommended or seen lately... les films a voir #126: Maltese Falcon

Genre: Drama/Drame

Annee/Year: 1941

Format: Blu Ray

The Maltese Falcon. In order to wash down the taste from the last movies reviewed I chose this classic of classics. The Maltese Falcon from director John Huston (also did The african queen review #16). This edition is a really nice transfer to Blu ray of this black and white movie. Huston cast Humphrey Bogart and Mary Astor in one of the movies which defined the film noir genre. Their play is memorable. The movie also casts Sydney Greenstreet and Peter Lorre in memorable roles (Mr Gutman and Mr Cairo). The story is about a number of seedy characters who all try to take advantage of each other as they chase a Falcon statuette worth millions of dollars. Bogart plays the gumshoe role and Astor the lovely cutomer who needs protection. Watching the movie which started so many cliches is really amazing as most of this movie was reused dozens of times in all subsequent movie. Obviously a movie which impressed many people and still does. A classic to see by all; even young ones who are afraid of black and white flicks.

Le Faucon Maltais est un classique parmi les classiques. Ce film de John Huston (directeur qui a fait aussi The African queen, revue #16) met en vedette nul autre que Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor, Sydney Greenstreet et Peter Lorre dans des rôles qui les marqueront pour la vie. Le film est un pionnier dans le genre film noir des années '40. plusieurs scènes ont marqué le subconscient collectif si fortement que vous croirez avoir déjà vu le film auparavant (se ce n'est pas le cas). Si un film a été copié, c'est bien celui-ci; marque d'un vrai classique. Le film nous présente plusieurs personnages sombres et peu fiables qui se jouent les uns les autres afin de prendre possession d'une statuette de faucon d'une valeur inestimable. La morale du film est implacable et géniale. La version Blu Ray est parfaite même si le film est noir et blanc ceci vaut le coup. A voir par tous.


Great quotes:

[first title card] Title Card: In 1539, the Knight Templars of Malta, paid tribute to Charles V of Spain, by sending him a Golden Falcon encrusted from beak to claw with rarest jewels ~~
~~~ but pirates seized the galley carrying this priceless token and the fate of the Maltese Falcon remains a mystery to this day ~~~
...
Sam Spade: Yes, sweetheart?
Effie Perine: There's a girl wants to see you. Her name's Wonderly.
Sam Spade: A customer?
Effie Perine: I guess so. You'll want to see her anyway. She's a knockout.
...
Spade: We didn't exactly believe your story, Miss O'Shaughnessy. We believed your 200 dollars. I mean, you paid us more than if you had been telling us the truth, and enough more to make it all right.
...
Sam Spade: [impatiently] Now, let's *talk* about the black bird.
Kasper Gutman: Let's. Mr. Spade, have you any conception of how much money can be got for that black bird?
Sam Spade: No.
Kasper Gutman: Well, sir, if I told you... If I told you *half*... you'd call me a liar.
Sam Spade: No, not even if I thought so.
...
Kasper Gutman: That's an attitude, sir, that calls for the most delicate judgment on both sides. 'Cause as you know, sir, in the heat of action men are likely to forget where their best interests lie and let their emotions carry them away.
...
Kasper Gutman: I couldn't be fonder of you if you were my own son. But, well, if you lose a son, it's possible to get another. There's only one Maltese Falcon.
...
Joel Cairo: Might I remind you Mr. Spade that you may have the falcon, but we certainly have you.
...

Detective Tom Polhaus: [picks up the falcon] Heavy. What is it?
Sam Spade: The, uh, stuff that dreams are made of.
Detective Tom Polhaus: Huh?

Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0033870/maindetails

Rating perso: 8.5/10