12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A wonderful tongue-in-cheek spoof of a movie classic., November 23, 1998
By A Customer
This review is from: Black Bird [VHS] (VHS Tape)
This movie is one of the funniest I've ever seen. It's a wonderful take-off on The Maltese Falcon. It is a "sleeper" comedy - full of subtle and not so subtlle gags. George Segal is in his prime and the word play between Segal and the other characters makes it a must-see. I recommend it highly to movie-buffs with a quirky sense of humor. (Note: the more times you watch - it the funnier it gets.)
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Well, I am a detective., February 5, 2006
This review is from: Black Bird [VHS] (VHS Tape)
I first saw this movie in the mid '70's and I just howled at it. Being familiar with "The Maltese Falcon" makes it even funnier. In fact for maximum impact,I recommend watching TMF first and then "The Black Bird". The writers skewered every scene in the original. "What good is torture without the threat of death behind it?.... It's fun!" This film also includes one of my favorite character actors, Lionel Stander, who does a great job as the tough guy. Add former Playmate Connie Kreske, three big Hawaiians and priceless dialogue and sight gags and you got 5 stars. I thought the ending was in perfect keeping with Sam Jr's luck. All together a classic movie that slipped through the cracks. Anxiously awaiting the DVD.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Es negro y largo como su brazo., January 4, 2005
This review is from: Black Bird [VHS] (VHS Tape)
George Segal stars as Sam Spade Jr., a hard-luck private detective whose legacy from his famous father includes a harridan of secretary (Lee Patrick, reprising her role as Effie Perine from Bogart's 1941 film), a rattrap office in a neighborhood that's gone to hell, clientele of dubious bona fides, and the figure of a black bird that may -- or may not -- be the real Maltese Falcon.
The film is so rich with wacky characters, great running gags and plot twists that it nearly defies description. It's all the more astonishing, then, that the conclusion is so stunningly bad (and thus rates four stars instead of five). My guess is that it's the ending that gives it such a bad reputation but, if you can overlook that, you'll find a real gem.
It can't appear on DVD soon enough for me.
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