The Maltese Falcon 1941

Critics score:
100 / 100

Reviews provided by RottenTomatoes

Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader: Who can argue with Bogart's glower or Mary Astor in her ratty fur? Read more

James Berardinelli, ReelViews: The Maltese Falcon is among the most important and influential movies to emerge from the Hollywood system -- as significant in some ways as its contemporary, Citizen Kane. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: Among the movies we not only love but treasure, The Maltese Falcon stands as a great divide. Read more

TIME Magazine: Frighteningly good evidence that the British (Alfred Hitchcock, Carol Reed, et al.) have no monopoly on the technique of making mystery films. Read more

Derek Adams, Time Out: Filmed almost entirely in interiors, it presents a claustrophobic world animated by betrayal, perversion and pain. Read more

Otis Ferguson, The New Republic: The Maltese Falcon is the first crime melodrama with finish, speed and bang to come along in what seems ages. Read more

Variety Staff, Variety: This is one of the best examples of actionful and suspenseful melodramatic story telling in cinematic form. Read more