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The Maltese Falcon

The Maltese Falcon

Mystery · Crime · Thriller · 1941

A private detective takes on a case that involves him with three eccentric criminals, a beautiful liar, and their quest for a priceless statuette.

Movie details

The Maltese Falcon

“He's a Killer When He Hates!”

1941 Mystery · Crime · Thriller 1h 40m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.7 / 10

Community rating

A private detective takes on a case that involves him with three eccentric criminals, a beautiful liar, and their quest for a priceless statuette.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over The Maltese Falcon?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

Shadow of a Doubt

Shadow of a Doubt

Thriller · 1943

In sleepy Santa Rosa, restless young Charlie’s world brightens when her sophisticated Uncle Charlie arrives for a long visit. But as his behavior grows increasingly strange, she begins to suspect that her beloved uncle may be hiding a terrible secret—and that danger has quietly entered her home.

The Pearl of Death

The Pearl of Death

Thriller · 1944

The famous Borgia Pearl, a valuable gem with a history of bringing murder and misfortune to its owner since the days of the Borgias, is brought to London, thanks in part to Sherlock Holmes. But before long the jewel is stolen, due to an error on Holmes' part, and shortly thereafter, a series of horrible murders begin, the murderer leaving his victims with their spines snapped and surrounded by a mass of smashed china.

Woman on the Run

Woman on the Run

Thriller · 1950

Frank Johnson, a sole witness to a gangland murder, goes into hiding and is trailed by Police Inspector Ferris, on the theory that Frank is trying to escape from possible retaliation. Frank's wife, Eleanor, suspects he is actually running away from their unsuccessful marriage. Aided by a newspaperman, Danny Leggett, Eleanor sets out to locate her husband. The killer is also looking for him, and keeps close tabs on Eleanor.

Sherlock: The Abominable Bride

Sherlock: The Abominable Bride

Crime · 2016

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson find themselves in 1890s London in this holiday special.

Appointment with Death

Appointment with Death

Thriller · 1988

Emily Boynton, the stepmother to three children, blackmails the family lawyer into destroying a second will of her late husband that would have freed the children from her dominating influence. She takes herself, the children, and her daughter-in-law on holiday to Europe and the Holy Land. At a dig, Emily is found dead and Hercule Poirot investigates.

Murder on the Orient Express

Murder on the Orient Express

Drama · 1974

In 1935, when his train is stopped by deep snow, detective Hercule Poirot is called on to solve a murder that occurred in his car the night before.

A Haunting in Venice

A Haunting in Venice

Mystery · 2023

Celebrated sleuth Hercule Poirot, now retired and living in self-imposed exile in Venice, reluctantly attends a Halloween séance at a decaying, haunted palazzo. When one of the guests is murdered, the detective is thrust into a sinister world of shadows and secrets.

Vertigo

Vertigo

Mystery · 1958

A retired San Francisco detective suffering from acrophobia investigates the strange activities of an old friend's wife, all the while becoming dangerously obsessed with her.

Mr. Monk's Last Case: A Monk Movie

Mr. Monk's Last Case: A Monk Movie

Comedy · 2023

Monk steps out of retirement as his stepdaughter's wedding turns tragic when her fiancé dies in a bungee jumping accident.

The Blue Gardenia

The Blue Gardenia

Crime · 1953

Upon waking up to the news that the man she’d gone on a date with the previous night has been murdered, a young woman with only a faint memory of the night’s events begins to suspect that she murdered him while attempting to resist his advances.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

John Huston

Written by

John Huston

Humphrey Bogart

Humphrey Bogart

Samuel Spade

Mary Astor

Mary Astor

Brigid O'Shaughnessy

Gladys George

Gladys George

Iva Archer

Peter Lorre

Peter Lorre

Joel Cairo

Barton MacLane

Barton MacLane

Lt. of Detectives Dundy

Lee Patrick

Lee Patrick

Effie Perine

Sydney Greenstreet

Sydney Greenstreet

Kasper Gutman

Court is in session

Put The Maltese Falcon on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Big-Idea Head

“Form is the argument.”

Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Technique in search of a pulse.”

Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.