Overview
A classic tale of intrigue and deception unfolds in the shadows of San Francisco's streets.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- sardonic
- witty
- paranoid
- classic movie night
- film noir marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly regard it as a brilliantly constructed, entertaining film noir distinguished by John Huston's direction, economical writing, and Humphrey Bogart's performance.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Sam Spade navigates murderers, con artists, and competing criminals through terse dialogue and guarded pragmatism.
The jeweled Maltese Falcon statuette is the central prize motivating Gutman, Cairo, Brigid, and the other conspirators.
Spade balances personal avarice, professional calculation, loyalty, and a stern private conception of justice.
The screenplay uses rapid, precise exchanges and coded patter to establish suspicion, power, and comic menace.
Films like The Maltese Falcon, and why
Double Indemnity
shared film noir atmosphere, morally ambiguous private detective, sharp dialogue, and criminal intrigue
The Big Sleep
shared black-and-white noir style, hard-boiled detective protagonist, murder investigation, and femme fatale dynamics
The Big Sleep
shared whodunit structure, urban crime conspiracy, cynical tone, and charismatic investigator
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
shared treasure hunt, shifting loyalties, suspenseful pursuit, and morally compromised characters
Movie Details
- Director
- John Huston
- Release Date
- 1941-10-18
- Runtime
- 100 min
- Rating
- 7.7 / 10 (1945)
Cast
- Humphrey Bogart
- Mary Astor
- Gladys George
- Peter Lorre
- Barton MacLane
- Lee Patrick
- Sydney Greenstreet
- Ward Bond
- Jerome Cowan
- Elisha Cook Jr.
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- HBO Max Amazon Channel, Cinemax Amazon Channel, HBO Max, Cinemax Apple TV channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Maltese Falcon about?
- A hard-boiled San Francisco detective is drawn into a lethal scramble among swindlers and killers for a priceless bird statuette.
- What is The Maltese Falcon like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Maltese Falcon as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Maltese Falcon violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Maltese Falcon as mild.
- What did critics think of The Maltese Falcon?
- Critics broadly regard it as a brilliantly constructed, entertaining film noir distinguished by John Huston's direction, economical writing, and Humphrey Bogart's performance.
- Which films are like The Maltese Falcon?
- Films with a similar feel include Double Indemnity, The Big Sleep, The Big Sleep, and The Treasure of the Sierra Madre.
- How long is The Maltese Falcon?
- The Maltese Falcon runs 100 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Maltese Falcon?
- In United States, The Maltese Falcon streams on HBO Max Amazon Channel, Cinemax Amazon Channel, HBO Max, Cinemax Apple TV channel.
