Movies at Mechanics' Presents: The Maltese Falcon (1941)

A search for an elusive and valuable statue leads to crime and intrigue in The Maltese Falcon. Set in San Francisco, inspired by the real-life experiences of author Dashiell Hammett, The Maltese Falcon has become a noir classic, catapulting Humphrey Bogart to stardom and featuring some of the best performances of its many stars. Today, The Maltese Falcon has attained truly legendary status, regarded as one of the greatest films of the 1940s, a prototype of the noir genre, and one of the greatest directorial debuts of all time.

Dashiell Hammett’s novel, written in 1930, went into seven printings in its first year. Hollywood saw its potential immediately. However, in spite of its commercial success in print, attempts to bring it to the screen were mediocre. Roy Del Ruth directed a version in 1931, and Bette Davis starred in a loose adaptation entitled Satan Met a Lady in 1936. Neither was a hit. But in 1940, screenwriter John Huston decided to write an adaptation of The Maltese Falcon himself. Studio head Jack Warner liked it, and in a nod to the risk-taking spirit of 1940s Hollywood, he asked the untested Huston to direct it, as well.

To play Sam Spade, an idealistic yet hard-boiled detective who works outside the law to uncover the truth, the studio wanted George Raft. He was a bona fide star who would bring the box office receipts necessary for such a risky project. But Huston fought for Humphrey Bogart. Bogart was on suspension at the time, but the two had become close friends on the set of High Sierra, and Huston had great respect for his talent and potential. To Huston’s delight, George Raft turned the role down, and the studio reluctantly cast Bogart as Sam Spade. In a similar turn of events, Geraldine Fitzgerald declined to play the femme fatale, Brigid O’Shaughnessy. Instead, the studio cast Mary Astor, who gives a tour-de-force performance as the manipulative villain in a stark departure from the domestic roles for which she was known.

The result is a masterpiece of cinema, led by a spectacular ensemble of actors and a gifted first-time director. John Huston’s directorial debut led the way to films such as Treasure of the Sierra Madre, The Asphalt Jungle, and The African Queen, and it laid the foundation for Humphrey Bogart’s screen image, further refined by Casablanca the next year. By any standard, The Maltese Falcon is an important and groundbreaking film.

Join us for a night of San Francisco intrigue, and explore “the stuff that dreams are made of,” with The Maltese Falcon. As always, join us early for popcorn and snacks, and enjoy vintage newsreels, commercials and clips during our pre-show entertainment!

Movies at Mechanics' has welcomed film enthusiasts for classic cinema screenings and salons on Friday evenings for over 20 years. Join us for fresh popcorn, lively discourse, and your favorite films the first three Fridays of the month. Hosted by Lara Gabrielle, film writer and author of Captain of Her Soul: The Life of Marion Davies.

“Author Gabrielle has given us a gift: an honest biography of a woman whose life and career have long been misunderstood. . . .  In short, this is the book Marion Davies has always deserved.”-Leonard Maltin, film critic and historian