Unlike the vast majority of book-to-movie adaptations out there, I actually have read the book that The Maltese Falcon is based on. I had to read the book for English class in high school, and I actually remember enjoying it pretty decently. I’m a fan of mysteries, and so I enjoyed reading one of the classics. A little over a decade after the book’s release, new director John Huston adapted the book into a movie, which has become one of those examples where I’d say that the movie is more famous than the book. I was really excited to watch this movie, since I was so fond of the book back when I read it 10 years ago.

We follow a private investigator named Sam Spade, who is played by Humphrey Bogart. Sam is approached by a woman who hires him for a case. While the woman originally says that she wants Sam to trail a dangerous man that’s dating her sister, Sam soon discovers that this is a cover story for what the woman really wants. There’s a relic that exists called the Maltese Falcon, and a few people are aware of its existence and are competing to find it and get rich off of it. Sam agrees to help his new friend investigate this case, which leads to some dangerous encounters.

The Maltese Falcon really helped pioneer the film noir genre. It’s one of the earliest examples of a mystery noir classic, and it embodies the kind of image that people think of when they think of the genre. This is one of those movies that I have to admit that I unfortunately don’t have anything substantial to contribute to the conversation surrounding it. I enjoyed the movie well enough and I think that it deserves to be watched, but I don’t really have anything compelling to say outside of that. Check it out if you want an interesting mystery filled with some fun twists.

4/5