Warning: This review contains spoilers
To paraphrase its concluding statement, The Maltese Falcon is the type of film of which dreams are made.
This film noir classic, directed by John Huston (Anjelica Huston's father), unravels the allusive tale of private detective Sam Spade, portrayed by the legendary Humphrey Bogart, as he navigates a series of events he hopes will lead him to the coveted Maltese Falcon. Spade and his partner Miles Archer are initially tasked to inspect the whereabouts of new client Ruth Wonderly's missing sister. However, following the ambiguous death of his partner, Spade uncovers connections between Archer's murder and Ruth's real intent to locate a valuable jewel encrusted inside a statue shaped like a black falcon. Determined to revenge his partner's death, Spade ends up on a quest for truth and justice that leads him on a dark path full of untrustworthy suspects who are all seeking the treasured Falcon. His journey will include a betrayal of Spade's affection for the duplicitous Wonderly.
The pacing and plotting of the film is somewhat convoluted, but the acting is spectacular and the noir mood consistently enticing. In addition to Bogart, the talents of Mary Astor, Peter Lorre, Sydney Greenstreet, and Lee Patrick are mesmerizing. Each delivers an enigmatic performance that conveys both comedic and dramatic elements throughout. Themes of betrayal, loyalty, greed, and corruption are movingly depicted. These themes remind me of the moral ambiguity and complexity conveyed in the TV show The Sopranos. The Falcon gangsters desperately manipulate and scheme with each other, showing they will do anything for the sake of obtaining the Falcon that promises them a financial windfall, much like Tony Soprano and his mobsters pursuing money and power at any means. In the end, Tony Soprano learns the price of his immorality. Similarly, the characters in The Maltese Falcon are doomed by their greed. Images of silhouetted lines superimposed over villainous characters are noticeable in many of the film's scenes, suggesting that the lives they lead are nothing more than a prison. No one ends up with the coveted bird, and even our hero Spade is diminished - without love, without his partner, more jaded, alone except for the hard knowledge of truth. The message of the movie: beware of dreams that may deceive or corrupt.
I highly recommend this film for anyone who is looking for a deep and compelling mystery/thriller that leaves you with a morality tale to ponder.
