Let’s talk about the Black Bird

For those of you who haven’t seen the Maltese Falcon, here’s my favourite scene from the film. Everything about this is just right: perfect dialogue (from the novel by Dashiel Hammett, adapted by director John Huston), perfect acting (Humphrey Bogart and Sidney Greenstreet), and perfect lighting and camera work (credit the great cinematographer, Arthur Edeson). This film is 75 years old this year but I don’t think it has dated at all!

 

 

2 Responses to “Let’s talk about the Black Bird”

  1. telescoper's avatar
    telescoper Says:

    It’s set in the 1930s. Hats, cigarettes, etc are all of the period. That’s different from being dated in terms of production.

    Who has the mid-Atlantic accent, by the way? Sidney Greenstreet’s character is most definitely English.

  2. Anton Garrett's avatar
    Anton Garrett Says:

    Phillip: Do you know how to attach subtitles to YouTube clips, as people do to the Hitler Rant from Untergang? It would be amusing to turn off the sound from this Maltese Falcon clip and relate it to Peter’s imminent departure from the Sussex School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences…

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