The Maltese Falcon (1941 film) The Maltese Falcon (1941 film) The Maltese Falcon is a 1941 film noir written and directed by John Huston in his directorial debut, and based on Dashiell Hammett's 1930 novel of the same name. The film stars Humphrey Bogart as private investigator Sam Spade and Mary Astor as his "femme fatale" client. Gladys George, Peter Lorre, and Sydney Greenstreet co-star, with Greenstreet appearing in his film debut. The story follows a San Francisco private detective and his dealings with three unscrupulous adventurers, all of whom are competing to obtain a jewel-encrusted falcon statuette. The film premiered on October 3, 1941,
The Maltese Falcon (1941 film) "Satan Met a Lady". In a new documentary, "The Maltese Falcon: One Magnificent Bird", a blooper reel, makeup tests and three radio show adaptations—two featuring the film's original stars—are also present. Another special feature is a Turner Classic Movies documentary, "Becoming Attractions: The Trailers of Humphrey Bogart". Hosted by TCM's Robert Osborne, the 45-minute feature traces Bogart's evolution from a heavy in the 1930s to a romantic leading man in the 1940s, and his return to playing bad men late in that decade. The film was colorized for television by Turner Broadcasting System and released on video by MGM/UA in