The Maltese Falcon - let's talk about the bird extract

[doctorw2]

wow just like the book!

[mrfixxxer118]

"You got til' five o'clock, Do you hear me?! You got til' five o'clock."

"You're a freaking psychopath!!"

[nexusg5]

They don't make films like this anymore...that's such a shame...

[MegaPatriot123]

Yeah baby that fat dude got schooled by my man Bogart.

[jahaniman]

Greenstreet's blustery Englishness contrasts nicely with Bogart's wisecracking style as they vie for cynicism. But then we have a flash of the integrity at the core of Spade's character when he says: 'I know the value in human life you people put on it'.

[zthetha]

The jewel in the crown of the golden age of movie making. I have only ever seen SG in this and Casablanca but his performance in both films is utterly magical and memorable. I doubt that today's actors could say these lines with conviction - the dialogue was of its time and in the mouths of these monumental talents completely believable. Bogey plays Bogey better than anyone else and when he's on screen you just can't take your eyes off him. The camera work is excellent too.

[Mality]

@zthetha I would highly recommend you see "The Mask of Dimitrios", starring Greenstreet and Lorre in another great noir tale. They made an excellent pair,

[bbbthesplendid]

Was there actor deficit or something ? Why are there always the same actors in movies of that time. Good actors nonetheless.

[billthestinker]

Wilmer has to service the fatman.

[MBaxtonM]

I just finished reading the book. It's awesome how well the movie captured the writing.

[arwaisquablock]

his voice is truly penetrating

[guitarlegionleader]

@arwaisquablock Just like a penis!

[JimmySteller]

Kasper Gutman, the original Fat Man and one of the best villains in film history.

[depechemiami]

My first crush. Had a life size poster of him. Tata was charlie chaplin & albert einstein

[oceanliving10]

Hemingway's "grace under pressure".

[RushLimborg]

Note how Gutman holds onto Spade's arm as they walk to the seating....

[MisterWordman]

@RushLimborg I never noticed that. What's it supposed to mean?

[RushLimborg]

@MisterWordman

Apparently, Dashiell Hammet implied in the book that Gutman and Cairo were both gay. The movie makes some subtle and not-so-subtle references to this (such as Cairo's perfume-infested business card), but for censorship reasons, it's nothing overt.

[MisterWordman]

@RushLimborg Wow, interesting. I love small touches like that.

[WSenator1]

@RushLimborg - Also, Spade uses the word "gunsel" when talking about Wilmer. The word sounds like being a hitman or bodyguard. It really means the young companion of an older homosexual.

[RushLimborg]

@WSenator1

Yep. Although, it's possible Spade just says that to get Wilmer even more worked up. Note that the first time Spade calls him that (at the end of this scene) is when he's doing his "angry rant".

[tuxguys]

@WSenator1

You are witness to a pivotal cultural moment: Prior to the novel, and this movie version, "gunsel" was a yiddish word meaning exactly what you've said it means, as was Hammett's intent. Almost immediately after the success of the novel, and this film, it ever after came to mean "hired gun." The public perception/consciousness changed the meaning, historically speaking, overnight.

[robertschelly]

This film is in my Top Ten. Greenstreet was an almost entirely unknown British stage actor at the time. Did he get Best Supporting Actor for this role.

[storrs19]

Mr. Gutman...what a perfect name for Sydney Greenstreet aka The Fat Man. The best Bogart movie ever, IMHO. I love the story in this one and the acting is top notch. I also love the way they park the camera down so you are looking up at SG's enormous frame. That laugh is timeless as well.

[someonespadre]

the camera angle on Gutman is good stuff.

[WSenator1]

Love the movie - I wish someone would put the whole thing back on YouTube. One very trivial question - I smoke cigars, and every so often, you need to flick the ashes somewhere: ashtray, the ground, somebody's hand, etc. There's some long ashes at the end of Gutman's cigar, and I know he's too refined to flick 'em on the floor, but I don't see an ashtray. Where's he gonna get rid of 'em?

[reptarthe9th]

@WSenator1 theres a clear glass ashtray on the table you can see it at 1:28

[WSenator1]

@reptarthe9th - Thanks for the info. take care and have a good day!

[inkey2]

@WSenator1 also...i didn'y notice either bogey or gutman bite off or puncture the end off those cigars. Fine cigars of that era (and I do assume they were fine as he is a rich man)....probably cubans you would have certainly needed to do that

[christopherm2k]

Certainly, one of the most elegant scenes in the film. Bogart's character feigns a temper tantrum. Even so, one of the best lines is, "mathematically correct, sir," in response to, "tell me, and we'll both know." Classic!

[tumadoireacht]

@christopherm2k I wish they had actors of this calibre today-when was talent swapped for pretty talentless six packs like clooney and colin farrell ?

[christopherm2k]

@tumadoireacht I agree with you absolutely! The dialogue and script in this film is riveting and exquisite. I'm afraid the emphasis these days is on the visual aspect and less importance is placed on an intelligent dialogue. Alas, but at that time, films were derived from classic literature instead of comic books and cartoons. lol