Definitive noir and the film that really marked Humphrey Bogart's shift from bit-part Warner's baddie to leading man hero. Bogie is hard-bitten detective Sam Spade, out to avenge his partner's death and sort out the mystery of gem-encrusted statue the Maltese Falcon. Mix in femme fatale Mary Astor, lowlife crims Sidney Greenstreet and Peter Lorre, and the icy direction of John Huston and you have the stuff that dreams are made of.
DVD Extras:
Trailer, Becoming Attractions: The Trailers Of Humphrey Bogart.It's the old story - great film, rubbish disc. No commentary (there must be someone out there enthusiastic and knowledgeable enough about this to talk people through it, surely?), no filmographies and a bizarre doc from the TCM cable channel tracing Bogart's career - by the way Warner's PR department put him across in cinema trailers - just don't cut it.
