The Maltese Falcon Three-Disc Special Edition (1941 & 1931 versions / Satan Met a Lady)
starring: Mel Blanc, Bette Davis, Warren William, Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor
directed by: Friz Freleng, Jean Negulesco, John Huston, Robert Clampett, William Dieterle
directed by: Friz Freleng, Jean Negulesco, John Huston, Robert Clampett, William Dieterle
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Product Description:
Studio: Warner Home VideoRelease Date: 10/03/2006
Amazon.com essential video:
Still the tightest, sharpest, and most cynical of Hollywood's official deathless classics, bracingly tough even by post-Tarantino standards. Humphrey Bogart is Dashiell Hammett's definitive private eye, Sam Spade, struggling to keep his hard-boiled cool as the double-crosses pile up around his ankles. The plot, which dances all around the stolen Middle Eastern statuette of the title, is too baroque to try to follow, and it doesn't make a bit of difference. The dialogue, much of it lifted straight from Hammett, is delivered with whip-crack speed and sneering ferocity, as Bogie faces off against Peter Lorre and Sydney Greenstreet, fends off the duplicitous advances of Mary Astor, and roughs up a cringing "gunsel" played by Elisha Cook Jr. It's an action movie of sorts, at least by implication: the characters always seem keyed up, right on the verge of erupting into violence. This is a turning-point picture in several respects: John Huston (The African Queen) made his directorial debut here in 1941, and Bogart, who had mostly played bad guys, was a last-minute substitution for George Raft, who must have been kicking himself for years afterward. This is the role that made Bogart a star and established his trend-setting (and still influential) antihero persona. --David Chute
Studio: Warner Home VideoRelease Date: 10/03/2006
Amazon.com essential video:
Still the tightest, sharpest, and most cynical of Hollywood's official deathless classics, bracingly tough even by post-Tarantino standards. Humphrey Bogart is Dashiell Hammett's definitive private eye, Sam Spade, struggling to keep his hard-boiled cool as the double-crosses pile up around his ankles. The plot, which dances all around the stolen Middle Eastern statuette of the title, is too baroque to try to follow, and it doesn't make a bit of difference. The dialogue, much of it lifted straight from Hammett, is delivered with whip-crack speed and sneering ferocity, as Bogie faces off against Peter Lorre and Sydney Greenstreet, fends off the duplicitous advances of Mary Astor, and roughs up a cringing "gunsel" played by Elisha Cook Jr. It's an action movie of sorts, at least by implication: the characters always seem keyed up, right on the verge of erupting into violence. This is a turning-point picture in several respects: John Huston (The African Queen) made his directorial debut here in 1941, and Bogart, who had mostly played bad guys, was a last-minute substitution for George Raft, who must have been kicking himself for years afterward. This is the role that made Bogart a star and established his trend-setting (and still influential) antihero persona. --David Chute
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- Groundbreaking Film
Amazon is right to tag The Maltese Falcon as essential video. This is a great period movie and stylistic film. It was also a trendsetter. It established Humphrey Bogart's career as a leading man, made the anti-hero a stable of Hollywood, and launched film noir into a fad. It's also fun to watch how Warner Bros. had to dance around the film censors of 1941. Times have changed. If you're not familiar with the norms of day, then when Spade is conflicted at the end, you might wonder when he consummated ... Read More
Rating: 
- Greatly Overhyped Film Noir
I've seen this movie several times over the years and it has not gotten better with age.In fact, I really do not understand how it has acquired such iconic stature.The plot is serpentine but somehow not very involving, the acting is way overdone (except for Astor, who is just downright bad), the characters are without exception slimy or at least not very admirable, and the whole thing creaky.To its credit, it is not long and the direction is pretty taut but I certainly think that I have watched ... Read More
Rating: - A classic indeed
Talk about a movie that is standing the test of time.I've put off seeing this movie for I don't know how long.For some reason I had fixed in my mind that I wouldn't like it--BUT boy was I wrong.Bogart shines like the star he was.He commands every scene his in and is able to whip out this fast talking piece with convincing believability.One thing for sure, you have to pay attention or you can easily get lost.The only angle I thought that could have been cut is the whole you love me I know you ... Read More
Rating: - COLORIZED version is a unique experience for old and young!
The product on this page is the COLORIZED version which is hard to find. It is an experience to watch it with a teenager that despises black and white programming. I only wish that the powers that be would colorize this onto DVD using the new technology that was used to colorize the Ray Harryhausen black and white Sci-Fi classics "Earth Vs. the Flying Saucers", It Came from Beneath the Sea" and "20 Million Miles to Earth".
Rating: 
- 3 stars out 4
The Bottom Line:
An overrated early noir that suffers from O'Shaughnessy's uninspired performance and the lack of any compelling characters the audience cares about, The Maltese Falcon is only really alive when Sydney Greenstreet is onscreen; look to Treasure of the Sierra Madre or Double Indemnity for similar themes done better.
- Groundbreaking FilmAmazon is right to tag The Maltese Falcon as essential video. This is a great period movie and stylistic film. It was also a trendsetter. It established Humphrey Bogart's career as a leading man, made the anti-hero a stable of Hollywood, and launched film noir into a fad. It's also fun to watch how Warner Bros. had to dance around the film censors of 1941. Times have changed. If you're not familiar with the norms of day, then when Spade is conflicted at the end, you might wonder when he consummated ... Read More
- Greatly Overhyped Film NoirI've seen this movie several times over the years and it has not gotten better with age.In fact, I really do not understand how it has acquired such iconic stature.The plot is serpentine but somehow not very involving, the acting is way overdone (except for Astor, who is just downright bad), the characters are without exception slimy or at least not very admirable, and the whole thing creaky.To its credit, it is not long and the direction is pretty taut but I certainly think that I have watched ... Read More
- A classic indeedTalk about a movie that is standing the test of time.I've put off seeing this movie for I don't know how long.For some reason I had fixed in my mind that I wouldn't like it--BUT boy was I wrong.Bogart shines like the star he was.He commands every scene his in and is able to whip out this fast talking piece with convincing believability.One thing for sure, you have to pay attention or you can easily get lost.The only angle I thought that could have been cut is the whole you love me I know you ... Read More
- COLORIZED version is a unique experience for old and young!The product on this page is the COLORIZED version which is hard to find. It is an experience to watch it with a teenager that despises black and white programming. I only wish that the powers that be would colorize this onto DVD using the new technology that was used to colorize the Ray Harryhausen black and white Sci-Fi classics "Earth Vs. the Flying Saucers", It Came from Beneath the Sea" and "20 Million Miles to Earth".
- 3 stars out 4The Bottom Line:
An overrated early noir that suffers from O'Shaughnessy's uninspired performance and the lack of any compelling characters the audience cares about, The Maltese Falcon is only really alive when Sydney Greenstreet is onscreen; look to Treasure of the Sierra Madre or Double Indemnity for similar themes done better.
