The Maltese Falcon - Humphrey Bogart

(aka 'The Gent from Frisco')

Directed by John Huston
USA 1941

Huston's first film displays the hallmarks that were to distinguish his later work: the mocking attitude toward human greed; the cavalier insolence with which plot details are treated almost as asides; the delight in bizarre characterisations, here ranging from the amiably snarling Sam Spade ('When you're slapped, you'll take it and like it') who opened a whole new romantic career for Bogart, to Lorre's petulant, gardenia-scented Joel Cairo, Cook's waspishly effete gunsel, and Greenstreet's monstrously jocular Fat Man ('By gad, sir, you are a character'). What makes it a prototype film noir is the vein of unease missing from the two earlier versions of Hammett's novel. Filmed almost entirely in interiors, it presents a claustrophobic world animated by betrayal, perversion and pain, never - even at its most irresistibly funny, as when Cook listens in outraged disbelief while his fat sugar daddy proposes to sell him down the line - quite losing sight of this central abyss of darkness, ultimately embodied by Mary Astor's sadly duplicitous siren.

Excerpt from TimeOut Film Guide located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: October 3rd, 1941

Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews

DVD Review: Warner - Region 1,2,3,4 - NTSC

DVD Box Cover		CLICK to order from:
Distribution	Warner Home Video - Region 1,2,3,4 - NTSC

Available in 7-disc The Humphrey Bogart - The Signature Collection, Vol. 2 with The Maltese Falcon Three-Disc Special Edition / Across the Pacific / Action in the North Atlantic / All Through the Night and Passage to Marseille.

Runtime	1:40:21
Video	1.33:1 Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 6.2 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate:
Audio	English (Dolby Digital 2.0)
Subtitles	English, Spanish, French, None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Warner Home Video Aspect Ratio: Original Aspect Ratio 1.33:1 Edition Details: • Commentary by Bogart biographer Eric Lax • Warner Night at the Movies 1941 Short Subjects Gallery: vintage newsreel, Technicolor musical short The Gay Parisian, classic cartoons Hiawatha's Rabbit Hunt and Meet John Doughboy • 2 Previous Movie Versions of the classic Hammett caper: The Maltese Falcon (1931) with Bebe Daniels and Recardo Cortez • Satan Met a Lady (1936) with Bette Davis and Warren William • Theatrical Trailers • New Documentary "The Maltese Falcon: One Magnificent Bird" • The Trailers of Humphrey Bogart • Breakdowns of 1941: Studio Blooper Reel • Audio-only bonus: 3 radio show adaptations including a version starring Edward G. Robinson DVD Release Date: October 3rd, 2006 2 Slim transparent Keep Cases (thinpak) - 1 single, 1 double Chapters: 28

Comments:

There was a snapper case single disc version that we hoped to compare this to, but circumstances prevented it. Regardless it can't hold a candle to this package.

The film, a recognized classic, is worthy of a 3-pack SE release with supplements, commentary and a beautiful restoration. Warner went to town and the result is a must-own DVD package.

The image looks close to being possibly the best in the Bogie Signature 2 collection. Shadow detail is exquisite - sharpness is strong and it appears free of artifacts and any damage. Audio is likewise rock-solid and the optional subtitles are at Warner's usual high standard. On Disc 1 there are also extras - Anthony (from our ListServ) says:

I thought I should highlight the 22-minute special short on Disc One, which is about the best of these little features I've seen Warners give us yet. It's the 1941 Oscar-nominated complete film version of The Ballets Russe, featuring Leonid Massine, of the ballet arrangement of Offenbach's music, 'Gaite Parisienne'. Sensational Technicolor; the film marred somewhat by Jean Negulesco's over-active direction, but what he lets you see of the ballet is sensational.

Eric Lax gives an excellent commentary expounding on his vast knowledge of Bogart and the film. He does such a good job that you only consider that he could have had some support in a few brief moments. Regardless it was excellent! Warner jams the 3 DVD set with multiple supplements - the most notable being on disc 2 with two full features - the 1931 version of The Maltese Falcon and Bette David in Satan Met A Lady. Both paling in comparison to Disc 1's film, it was still nice to see although they had not seen the same diligent restoration process that the main feature has had. If you have the time, either would make for a good B-film starter evening - warming you up for the Huston's debut film.

On the third DVD - is a half hour featurette entitled - The Maltese Falcon: One Magnificent Bird, a 40 minute Turner featurette entitled - The Trailers of Humphrey Bogart. There is another vintage blooper reel - about 12 minutes called - Breakdowns of 1941: Studio Blooper Reel, some makeup tests with Mary Astor and three audio broadcasts.

The Bogart Signature Collection 2 is great but this is really the whole set in this film - the others are certainly worthy but John Huston transformed Hammett's novel into the stuff of legend - making this an essential DVD.

Gary W. Tooze

DVD Menus - Disc 1