DIRECTOR: John Huston
BOTTOM LINE: After several years as a screenwriter, John Huston made a smashing directorial debut with his adaptation of Dashiell Hammett’s 1930 novel. It had been adapted once before in 1931 as a pre-Code starring Ricardo Cortez and Bebe Daniels. However, Huston’s remake is now considered the definitive version. Humphrey Bogart got his big break playing Sam Spade, a San Francisco private detective dealing with three unscrupulous adventurers (Mary Astor, Sydney Greenstreet and Peter Lore) all seeking a jewel-encrusted falcon statuette. He would remain a star until his death sixteen years later. One of the quintessential film noirs, “Falcon” has not stood the test of time as well as some of its compatriots, probably because of a plot that does not make much sense. However, the performances are there to savor, with the great Ms. Astor doing a superb turn as Bridget O’Shaughnessy. Meanwhile, the gay triumvirate of Peter Lorre, Sydney Greenstreet, and Elisha Cook Jr. is bringing up the rear! Outstanding cinematography by Arthur Edeson.
STREAMING: Amazon Prime and Apple TV+
https://thebrownees.net/sixty-five-queer-films-made-under-the-hays-code-1934-1967
https://thebrownees.net/sixty-five-queer-films-made-under-the-hays-code-1934-1967-table-summary
https://thebrownees.net/fifty-two-post-hays-code-queer-films-released-in-the-decade-1967-1976
https://thebrownees.net/best-final-movie-made-by-a-great-director/
