Cinema Dissection: The Maltese Falcon
September 9, 2023
When Director John Huston’s version of The Maltese Falcon hit cinema screens in 1941, it was already the third adaptation of Dashiell Hammett’s novel, but it would prove to be the definitive version. Humphrey Bogart rose to become a full fledged leading man, while Mary Astor, just four years removed from a scandal that nearly destroyed her career, established the archetype for the femme fatale. Now add Peter Lorre, Elisha Cook Jr., and Sydney Greenstreet (in his film debut) for the perfect rogues gallery, and if that wasn’t enough, the film is widely regarded as Hollywood’s first true film noir. Join facilitator and SIFF Programmer Dan Doody for a shot-by-shot investigation of the film’s corkscrew plot, its iconic black-feathered MacGuffin, and what makes for a great film noir.
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