Ricardo Cortez plays playboy detective Sam Spade, in this first version of novelist Dashiell Hammett's "The Maltese Falcon". Bebe Daniels (as Ruth Wonderly) is the femme fatale with whom he becomes involved, along with Dudley Digges (as Gutman) and Otto Matieson (as Dr. Cairo); for various reasons, they all seek "The Maltese Falcon". It's an exceptionally rare piece...
The production "look" of this early "talkie" is nowhere near as good as "The Maltese Falcon" (1941), which was directed by John Huston, and starred Humphrey Bogart. However, this 1931 version is more enjoyable that you'd expect; it is especially recommended as a viewing addendum to its better known re-make(s). Mr. Cortez and Ms. Daniels liven things up with some sexual play; this was so subdued in the 1941 version, it was almost sexless. Mr. Matieson and Una Merkel (as secretary Effie) are the best supporting performers. In this version, the characters' actions make more sense. There are a few noticeable story differences; for example, this one ends quite differently...
***** The Maltese Falcon (5/28/31) Roy Del Ruth ~ Ricardo Cortez, Bebe Daniels, Dudley Digges, Otto Matieson
The production "look" of this early "talkie" is nowhere near as good as "The Maltese Falcon" (1941), which was directed by John Huston, and starred Humphrey Bogart. However, this 1931 version is more enjoyable that you'd expect; it is especially recommended as a viewing addendum to its better known re-make(s). Mr. Cortez and Ms. Daniels liven things up with some sexual play; this was so subdued in the 1941 version, it was almost sexless. Mr. Matieson and Una Merkel (as secretary Effie) are the best supporting performers. In this version, the characters' actions make more sense. There are a few noticeable story differences; for example, this one ends quite differently...
***** The Maltese Falcon (5/28/31) Roy Del Ruth ~ Ricardo Cortez, Bebe Daniels, Dudley Digges, Otto Matieson