Pretty damn good. It's not on the level of Huston's version, but it's still quite enjoyable. Cortez isn't quite Bogart, but he's surprisingly close. However, Matieson is no Lorre, and Digges is miles from Greenstreet as Casper Gutman. The one thing I favor about this version is the sexuality; the lack of a Hayes Code leads to some great innuendo and implications, and Spade is much more of a womanizer in this. However, despite the great photography, it lacks the same stylistic flair. Still, good.

"Yeah?" "Yeah."

Largely faithful to the book, largely interesting, and in no way holds a candle to the Houston version.

It's not a bad movie, but the poor thing feels like a high school play now. Cortez, Digges, and Matieson all lack the charisma to make it a classic.

The first film version of The Maltese Falcon, 10 years before the famous Bogart version. Not nearly as successful, but it's still a fun movie. The biggest star in this version is Bebe Daniels who had a long career since the 1910's and she does a fine job as Ruth Wonderly. Ricardo Cortez does a good job as the tough detective Sam Spade even if he is no Bogart. But then again, who is? The other characters did well too even if the fat guy wasn't as fat as the '41 guy.