The Maltese Falcon

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.

Out of the three versions of this story I've seen this is my least favorite. Even without comparing this to the other versions this movie just doesn't rise above being merely average. The highlights of this movie is Sam Spade's Secretary, who was great and a lot of fun and the sexual innuendo.

The original and still a great film.

"Yeah?" "Yeah."

This is one of those movies I saw for the first time while I was in college and thus thought I had to like it more than I did to be accepted as a true film fan. Now that I am older and care little about other people's opinions of me I can admit I think it's fine, but not really for me.

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

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.