Post by klep on Jun 19, 2017 6:34:32 GMT -6
MOVIE OF THE WEEK for 6/19: The Maltese Falcon
1940s WEEK!
The Maltese Falcon is a perfect film. It goes beyond Hawks' famous adage and not only has no bad scenes, it barely has any bad notes. Every scene has some importance to the plot, and there are no pieces that don't fit. It has everything anyone could want from a movie - action, romance, intrigue, temptation, bad guys, good guys, and questions of duty and morality. And it has a star, boy does it have a star.
Prior to 1941 Humphrey Bogart was a bit player in Hollywood, showing up in minor roles here and there. He was an unlikely star, and an even more unlikely sex symbol with his long, sullen face and baggy eyes. But after this film and High Sierra he became both. And if ever there were a role to make a star, it's Sam Spade. He's smart - or even better, clever. He sees all the angles, knows all the plays, and has a smart comment to go along with them. He's a good guy, but not too good - he hides his nobility behind a veil of hard-earned cynicism. He has a darker edge that shows through and gives you enough room to question his true intentions. It's an actor's dream role and Bogart shows that he deserved it.
But a great role isn't worth much without a good plot to go with it, and The Maltese Falcon again delivers. On its face it's a simple quest to track down and acquire a MacGuffin, but its twists and turns along the way make it one of the archetypal noirs, and the film that the general public identifies perhaps most strongly with the genre. It begins with a femme fatale (Mary Astor) and a murder and spirals from there, putting Spade under pressure from the law as well as the less savory elements after the titular falcon.
It all ends in an archetypically noir fashion, and the ride's twists and turns mark The Maltese Falcon as a glorious exercise in classic Hollywood filmmaking. It's cinema at its finest. It is, in a word, perfect.
On a final note, The Maltese Falcon marks the 100th Movie of the Week I've had the privilege to cover and write about for you guys, and while it hasn't always been easy to keep up, I'm both grateful for your indulgence and proud of what we've accomplished. I'm looking forward to starting our next century of films with one of the greatest of all time, and I can't wait to see what else we have in store. I hope you'll all continue to join me in selecting and watching fine films for us to discuss. Thank you, everyone.
OUR NEXT MOVIE OF THE WEEK for 6/26: The Third Man
UNSEEN CLASSICS WEEK
We go from classic noir to classic noir as we cover The Third Man, which is a personal favorite and one of the greatest films ever made. I'm so excited both to watch this again myself and to hear the responses of those of you who will be watching it for the first time. Please, please join us next week for The Third Man, available on Netflix Instant and Amazon Video, where it is free for Prime members with a Tribeca Shortlist add-on.
NEXT PICTURE SHOW PODCAST for 6/15: Wonder Woman
Following Paths of Glory into no man's land is the new DCEU film and first good DCEU film, Wonder Woman! Join us Wednesday as we talk about Diana's first encounter with man's world. Wonder Woman is still crushing it at the box office.
1940s WEEK!
The Maltese Falcon is a perfect film. It goes beyond Hawks' famous adage and not only has no bad scenes, it barely has any bad notes. Every scene has some importance to the plot, and there are no pieces that don't fit. It has everything anyone could want from a movie - action, romance, intrigue, temptation, bad guys, good guys, and questions of duty and morality. And it has a star, boy does it have a star.
Prior to 1941 Humphrey Bogart was a bit player in Hollywood, showing up in minor roles here and there. He was an unlikely star, and an even more unlikely sex symbol with his long, sullen face and baggy eyes. But after this film and High Sierra he became both. And if ever there were a role to make a star, it's Sam Spade. He's smart - or even better, clever. He sees all the angles, knows all the plays, and has a smart comment to go along with them. He's a good guy, but not too good - he hides his nobility behind a veil of hard-earned cynicism. He has a darker edge that shows through and gives you enough room to question his true intentions. It's an actor's dream role and Bogart shows that he deserved it.
But a great role isn't worth much without a good plot to go with it, and The Maltese Falcon again delivers. On its face it's a simple quest to track down and acquire a MacGuffin, but its twists and turns along the way make it one of the archetypal noirs, and the film that the general public identifies perhaps most strongly with the genre. It begins with a femme fatale (Mary Astor) and a murder and spirals from there, putting Spade under pressure from the law as well as the less savory elements after the titular falcon.
It all ends in an archetypically noir fashion, and the ride's twists and turns mark The Maltese Falcon as a glorious exercise in classic Hollywood filmmaking. It's cinema at its finest. It is, in a word, perfect.
On a final note, The Maltese Falcon marks the 100th Movie of the Week I've had the privilege to cover and write about for you guys, and while it hasn't always been easy to keep up, I'm both grateful for your indulgence and proud of what we've accomplished. I'm looking forward to starting our next century of films with one of the greatest of all time, and I can't wait to see what else we have in store. I hope you'll all continue to join me in selecting and watching fine films for us to discuss. Thank you, everyone.
OUR NEXT MOVIE OF THE WEEK for 6/26: The Third Man
UNSEEN CLASSICS WEEK
We go from classic noir to classic noir as we cover The Third Man, which is a personal favorite and one of the greatest films ever made. I'm so excited both to watch this again myself and to hear the responses of those of you who will be watching it for the first time. Please, please join us next week for The Third Man, available on Netflix Instant and Amazon Video, where it is free for Prime members with a Tribeca Shortlist add-on.
NEXT PICTURE SHOW PODCAST for 6/15: Wonder Woman
Following Paths of Glory into no man's land is the new DCEU film and first good DCEU film, Wonder Woman! Join us Wednesday as we talk about Diana's first encounter with man's world. Wonder Woman is still crushing it at the box office.