The Maltese Falcon

Realeased on October 18, 1941, The Maltess Falcon is one of the most baffling murder stories. This example of a film noir was produced and written by John Huddson, main producer, and Dashiell Hammett. Filled with many same aspects of Double Indemnity, The Maltese Falcon was nominated for 3 Oscars and won 1. Spade and Archer is the name of the detective agency were the story begins. But once Miss Wanderly walks into the picture, the whole place changes.

At the detective agency Spade and Archer, Sam Spade, played by Humphrey Bogart, and Miles Archer, played by Jerome Cowan, are partners, of course. Their whole world begins to change the second Miss. Wanderly, played by Mary Astor, steps through the door. She claims to be looking for a man named Thursby, but really needs Spade for other reasons. Miles and Thursby are proclaimed dead. Miss. Wanderly finally admits why she needs Sam. She needs him for protection and the precious Maltese Falcon, which is being hunted for by men that very minute. The Maltese Falcon is a bird with a viberant, royal jewel inside it. Sam Spade decides to help Miss. Wanderly while he is being blamed for the two murders. Both Miss. Wanderly and Spade recover a fake Maltese Falcon leading the dangerous men to find the real one. The two became romantically involved through all the drama, but once Sam finds out Miss. Wanderly is the reason Miles is dead, he turns her in because a man never leaves or decieves his partner.

The Maltese Falcon is romance, murder, and intrige. Any audience would enjoy this captovating murder mystery. Being in the film noir genre, the audience is consumed with suspicion of every character, more so of the femme fatale, and dark shadows. I would recommend this movie to people 16 and older because of the commplicated plot line. Overall, this was a great murder mystery.