The Maltese Falcon (1941, NR)

Directed by: John Huston

Grade: B+

The Maltese Falcon will always be remembered as that classic movie that made Bogart the movie star of his era, and also the film that set the classic example for the MacGuffin plot device.  The Maltese Falcon itself, a very important movie prop, is the MacGuffin.  Almost every character in the film is out to claim Falcon for one reason or another, and each are willing to do anything, pay anything or kill anyone to get to it.  But then we ask ourselves: what is so important about the Falcon anyway?  In essence, the Falcon has both so much and so little to do with the way the characters in the film are defined.

Truthfully, I began watching the Maltese Falcon with marginally too high of expectations.  Admittedly, I was really hoping for something that fancied the same impeccable dialogue, dramatic elements and heightened romantic tensions that so characterized Casablanca, to date still one of my favorite motion pictures of all time.  Rest assured I was almost confident that the Maltese Falcon would be entered into my Significant Films list. 

The Maltese Falcon, even for a 1940’s film, moves at a very fast rate, with a whole lot going on in the span of just over 100 minutes.  The opening sequences are still confusing, but everything is tied together by the film’s end.  The final, nearly half-hour scene, is one of the best final-movie scenes in cinematic history.  Compare this to the puzzling beginning scenes. 

I was wrong in my dear expectation to enter the Maltese Falcon into my Significant Films list, though it definitely came close.  Even for all its levels of complexity and moments of very fine acting, it never exactly ascended to a level of brilliance.  As a result, I can’t find a slot for it into that list.  However, I have heard from a number of people that the second viewing’s a charm for this film, and so it remains unclear as to whether or not my opinion of the Maltese Falcon will change when I do get around to another viewing. 

Am I getting around the impression that I didn’t like the Maltese Falcon?  I hope not!  I thoroughly enjoyed the Maltese Falcon for all that it was and would gladly watch it again.  It’s a solid, influential and precious mystery-thriller by all means.  Pretty much, the only thing probably, firmly off beam is the opening 10-15 minutes, which like I said don’t offer quite enough explanation for what’s going on, but the other 75 or so minutes are just so much fun!

All together, the Maltese Falcon works very well, especially as a mystery film, in that it’s fun and enjoyable.  It’s a film that may or may not require multiple viewings, depending on the kind of person you are and what your tastes for cinema are.  The Maltese Falcon thoroughly deserves it’s recognition as a work of classic cinema, and the Falcon itself is a movie prop that is just as valuable as the film!  B+