V
Variety
Praised it as "one of the best examples of actionful and suspenseful melodramatic story telling," highlighting its outstanding excellence in writing, direction, acting, and editing.
A private detective takes on a case that involves him with three eccentric criminals, a beautiful liar, and their quest for a priceless statuette.
Directed byJohn Huston
Written byJohn Huston, Dashiell Hammett
Budget$375,000 The American Film Institute claims the budget was $381,000.
Box office$1.8 million
Critical Consensus
7.9
IMDb
97
Metacritic
7.7
TMDB
The film achieved immediate commercial and critical success upon its release, and is now widely regarded as a landmark film noir, influential, and one of the greatest films of all time, receiving universal modern critical acclaim.
The Cast
Trivia
John Huston's directorial debut for "The Maltese Falcon" was meticulously planned with shot-for-shot setups and sketches for every scene to ensure efficiency and budget adherence.
The film was completed for less than $400,000, a testament to director John Huston's methodical planning and execution.
Humphrey Bogart was not the initial choice for Sam Spade; George Raft declined the role due to his contract forbidding remakes and unwillingness to work with a first-time director.
"The Maltese Falcon" was among the first 25 films selected by the Library of Congress in 1989 for preservation in the National Film Registry as "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."
Director John Huston removed all references to sex unacceptable to the Hays Office but fought warnings against showing excessive drinking, asserting it was crucial to Sam Spade's character.
Reviews
0 reviews
Avg: 0.0 / 5
Critics
BC
Bosley Crowther
Hailed it as "the best mystery thriller of the year" and recognized John Huston's promising directorial debut, noting his blend of "American ruggedness with the suavity of the English crime school."
TD
The Film Daily
Agreed with Crowther's assessment, calling the "beautifully made" production brilliant due to John Huston's direction of his own screenplay.
JM
James Agee (Life magazine)
Declared "The Maltese Falcon" to be "the best private-eye melodrama ever made," especially significant as Huston's directorial debut.
PK
Pauline Kael
Lauded Bogart's role as Sam Spade for giving "new dimension to the detective genre" and praised Huston's precise style and the film's lasting "brittle explosiveness."
RC
Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus
Described as "suspenseful, labyrinthine, and brilliantly cast," it is one of the most influential noirs and a "showcase for Humphrey Bogart at his finest."
MC
Metacritic Critics Consensus
Indicates "universal acclaim" with a weighted average score of 97 out of 100 based on 16 critics.
RE
Roger Ebert
Included the film in his esteemed "The Great Movies" series, signifying its status as a classic and important work of cinema.
PA
Panorama du Film Noir Américain
Cited the film as the "first major film noir," recognizing its foundational and pioneering contribution to the genre's establishment.
EM
Eddie Muller
Listed it as one of his personal top 25 noir films, highlighting its enduring quality and significance within the film noir genre.
Audience
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