Maltese Falcon, The (1941, USA) 100m. ***½ D: John Huston. Starring Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor, Gladys George, Peter Lorre, Sydney Greenstreet, Ward Bond, Elisha Cook Jr., James Burke, Charles Drake, William Hopper, Walter Huston. Fast-moving, fast-talking, exciting crime classic from the book by Dashiell Hammett (filmed before in 1931). Bogart plays private eye Sam Spade with great expertise, as he is drawn into struggle for mysterious, immensely expensive title token. Sometimes he is so laid-back that his motivations are a great mystery, too. Sort-of abrupt ending keeps this from being an knock-out classic. Directorial debut of maverick director John Huston. This was also actor Greenstreet's first film (at 62!).