Number 154 on the top 1000 films of all time is the 1941 film noir The Maltese Falcon.
Sam Spade (Humphrey Bogart) is a private detective hired by the femme fatale Ruth Wonderly (Mary Astor) to investigate her husband whom she suspects is having an affair. When Spade's partner is killed while tailing Wonderly's husband, Spade is thrown into a dark world of lies, deceit and morally grey characters.
I would argue that the Maltese Falcon is one of the earliest and best examples of noir cinema. From the low-key monochrome scheme to the cynical Sam Spade played brilliantly by Humprey Bogart. You could argue that Bogart is always typecast as the cynical, jaded reluctant hero especially in Casablanca and the the Treasure of the Sierra Madre but he is so damn good in these roles. He always brings a world-worn cynicism to his roles. Sam Spade is no exception.
He is hesitant to help Wonderly and immediately smells a rat when his partner is killed. His suspicions only deepen when his Wonderly reappears this time calling herself Bridget O'Shaughnessy. He only becomes further embroiled in the criminal underworld when Spade comes face-to-face with crime lord Kasper Gutman otherwise known as the Fat Man who wants to hire Spade to find a statuette of a Black Falcon from Malta - also known as the Maltese Falcon.
The film also explores the relationship between Spade and the morally duplicitous Wonderly. The two of them have a tempestuous romance. And even though Spade does have feelings for her, in the end he still does the right thing and turns her into the police. This internal conflict within Spade is the driving force of the film and Bogart performs well.
Overall this was an entertaining film with a great performance from Bogart. A must-see for any film noir fans.
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