Everyone wants something. It is a fact of life that at some point, we are all consumed by one of the seven deadly sins…greed. I know we don’t like to admit this character flaw out loud, but the reality is we all want something we don’t or can’t have. When we were younger, it was all about toys, clothes, and shoes. Buy me a new doll. Buy me a skateboard. I want a new bike. I want more Lego. I must have the latest video game. I gotta have that designer shirt or dress. It is endless. As we aged, our desires also grew. We must have the best car, the biggest house with perfectly placed accessories, the boat, jewelry, a private plane, and fabulous trips. We want what someone else has. We become insatiable, never ceasing. Many will go to great lengths to procure as much as possible. Need has nothing to do with this quest of finding and getting. It is a cycle, and it offers no respite for the weary. Some will stop at nothing…not even murder.
It is quite normal to desire what we don’t have. It is when that impulse or craving takes over every brain cell that we can run into trouble. It’s the moment when money has no limits. Thank goodness, I never went this far due to living on a teacher’s salary. This does not mean I didn’t splurge. Of course, I did. And when I jumped beyond my budget boundaries, I would have monthly payments to pull me back down to reality. Some people are not wired as I am, but this is what makes for incredible storytelling and guides us to the labyrinthine lies of wanting to possess THE MALTESE FALCON. It is an extraordinary tale about a one-of-a-kind artifact that triggers destruction and death. Cue Sam Spade, the infamous private detective, played by Humphrey Bogart. The deadly chase is on.
THE MALTESE FALCON is based on a novel by Dashiell Hammett. It was nominated for three Oscars, including Best Screenplay, thanks to John Huston, who was also the director. It did not win any statues, but this film is most revered as one of the greatest nevertheless. Houston’s directing style is still emulated by many today, including Steven Spielberg. Houston’s specific, detailed use of storyboarding every scene was an integral part in bringing this movie in under budget and on schedule. Many crucial moments were filmed in one long take, and Houston still left room for his actors to improvise or add their opinions.
Sam Spade was a larger-than-life character brought to the screen through the incomparable imagination of Humphrey Bogart. Spade was written as a womanizer, a boozer, and a man who always solved the crime. He really did have a moral compass of ethics, but he loved those gray areas surrounding that wavering arrow. He was a man’s man who dressed sharply in a suit and fedora. The studio made Bogart buy hin clothes to save money. I would say he nailed his look. Bogart was a beloved, consummate actor. He and several of the cast members remained friends long after the movie was completed. They often met at Huston’s home for interesting conversations and alcohol.
Mary Astor played Brigid, the lying, provocative leading lady. She could look Spade straight in the eye and weave a basket of BS. Men can be so easy. Houston and Astor had a scandalous affair throughout the filming. It was Spade who delivered the most memorable film line, “When you’re slapped, you’ll take it and like it.” It was a different decade of what was considered acceptable.
The entire ensemble was top-tier, featuring Peter Lorre, Sydney Greenstreet, and Lee Patrick. Lorie and Greenstreet went on to do nine more films together. Lorie is a favorite of mine. His opening scene was amazing. He had such control. Every movement had a purpose and intention. His timing for his sarcasm always cracked me up. He used his physique and quirky voice to his advantage every time he appeared on camera. This was Greenstreet’s debut feature film. He leaned on the experiences of those around him. He was a man of immense girth and had to have special suits made for him, and the props department created a chair that could hold his 367 pounds. It didn’t matter, Greenstreet was astounding.
There were ten Maltese Falcons originally designed, but only three are still in existence today. It is said each one is valued at a million dollars, making it one of the most expensive props. Leonardo DiCaprio owns one of the three. Was that something he had to have?
THE MALTESE FALCON is considered one of the most suspenseful noirs of all time. It is a brilliant crooked classic that showcases perfect casting and highlights Bogart’s incomparable acting. Its influence over the cinematic crowds began in 1941 and is still ongoing. In our lifetime, it becomes necessary to distinguish between our wants and needs. I may want to hold THE MALTESE FALCON in my hands, but Hollywood needs more films of this caliber. This is the balance that keeps us grounded.
THE MALTESE FALCON is available on TCM.
