The Maltese Falcon (1941)

Written by Dashiell Hammett, John Huston

Directed by John Huston

Running Time: 101 minutes (approx)

Production Year: 1941

Rating: PG Certificate

Filmed in Black and White

This celebrated film noir, starring Humphrey Bogart, is rightly regarded as a stand-out classic. Directed by John Huston and released in 1941, it has become one of the most important must-see movies of all time.

The plot unfolds rapidly as maverick private detective Sam Spade (Bogart) investigates the murder of his partner and ends up on the trail of the Maltese Falcon, a mysterious golden statuette reputed to contain priceless jewels. As the plot twists and turns up all sorts of darkened back alleyways, various villains are also on the statuette's trail, and will do anything - at any price - to get it.

The supporting cast - including Sydney Greenstreet, Mary Astor and Peter Lorre (who puts in a memorable performance as whiny Joel Cairo) - could not be bettered, but Bogart, in what was a landmark year for him, leads from the front, and steals the show.

If you've never seen it, you're in for a treat. Superb.

Click to see when The Maltese Falcon is coming up on TV: UK

Cast

	Humphrey Bogart		Sam Spade
	Mary Astor		Brigid O'Shaughnessy
	Gladys George		Iva Archer
	Peter Lorre		Joel Cairo
	Barton MacLane		Det. Lt. Dundy
	Lee Patrick		Effie Perine
	Sydney Greenstreet		Kasper Gutman
	Ward Bond		Det. Tom Polhaus
	Jerome Cowan		Miles Archer
	Elisha Cook Jr.		Wilmer Cook
	Jimmy Burke		Luke
	Murray Alper		Frank Richman
	John Hamilton		Bryan