Customer Reviews

Dangerous Female (The Maltese Falcon) (1931-USA) [VHS]

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In 1931 Roy Del Ruth became the first director to bring Dashiell Hammett's THE MALTESE FALCON to the screen. Although it received favorable reviews and did a brisk business at the box office, like many early talkies it was soon eclipsed by ever-advancing technology and forgotten--until television, with its endless demands for late-late show material, knocked on Hollywood's door. Retitled DANGEROUS FEMALE in order to avoid confusion with the highly celebrated 1941 version, it has haunted the airwaves ever since.

DANGEROUS FEMALE is interesting in several ways, and perhaps most deeply so as an example of the struggle that ensued when sound first roared. What had proven effective on the silent screen suddenly seemed highly mannered when voices were added, and both directors and stars struggled to find new techniques--and DANGEROUS FEMALE offers a very vision of the issues involved.

It is a myth that the advent of sound forced directors to lock down the camera, but it is true that many directors preferred simple camera set-ups in early sound films; it gave them one less thing to worry about. And with this film, Roy Del Ruth is no exception: in a visual sense, DANGEROUS FEMALE is fairly static. The performing decisions made by the various actors are also illustrative and informative, particularly re leads Ricardo Cortez and Bebe Daniels. Cortez is still clearly performing in the "silent mode," and he reads as visually loud; Daniels, however, has elected to underplay, and while she is stiff by current standards, her performance must have seemed startlingly innovative at the time. And then there are two performers who are very much of the technology: Una Merkle as Spade's secretary and Thelma Todd as Iva Archer, both of whom seem considerably more comfortable with the new style than either Cortez or Daniels.

The film is also interesting as a "Pre-Code" picture, for it is sexually explicit in ways most viewers will not expect from a 1930s film, and indeed it is surprisingly explicit even in comparison to other pre-code films. Hero Sam Spade is a womanizer who seduces every attractive female who crosses his path--and the film opens with a shot of just such a woman pausing to straighten her stockings before leaving his office. Still later, the dubious Miss Wonderly tempts Spade with her cleavage, lolls in his bed after a thick night, splashes in his bathtub, and finally winds up stripped naked in his kitchen!

It is also interesting, of course, to compare DANGEROUS FEMALE to its two remakes. Directed by William Dieterle and starring Warren William and Bette Davis, the 1936 SATAN MET A LADY would put Hammett's plot through the wringer--and prove a critical disaster and a box office thud. But then there is the justly celebrated 1941 version starring Humphrey Bogart and Mary Astor under the direction of John Huston.

Both the 1931 and 1941 films lifted great chunks of dialogue from Hammett's novel, and very often the dialogue is line-for-line the same. But two more completely different films could scarcely be imagined. Where the 1931 film strives for an urbane quality, the 1941 film is memorably gritty--and in spite of being hampered by the production, considerably more sexually suggestive as well, implying the homosexuality of several characters much more effectively than the 1931 version dared.

In the final analysis, the 1931 THE MALTESE FALCON (aka DANGEROUS FEMALE) will appeal most to those interested in films that illustrate the transition between silent film and sound, to collectors of "pre-code" movies, and to hardcore FALCON fans who want everything associated with Hammett, his novel, and the various film versions. But I hesitate to recommend it generally; if you don't fall into one of those categories, you're likely to be unimpressed.

GFT, Amazon reviewer

In 1539 The Knight Templars of Malta paid tribute to Charles V of Spain, by sending him A Golden Falcon encrusted from beak to claw with rarest jewels.

After years of watching "The Maltese Falcon" I just found out about the other two versions. So I bought "Dangerous Woman". I was surprised to find it was distributed by "VideoYesteryear" as I have several of the films that used to come in the yellow jacket.

At first you need to overcome the differences, comparing and contrasting the two film versions. Then you realize that this film can stand on its own. I only could imagine what they could have done with this film if it had been an hour and a half long. A lot of the dialog is the same and actually they play out many scenes that were only implied in the 1941 version. However the characters are not as fleshed out. The camera is usually stationary giving this film the feel of a play. Wilmer Cook the gunsel has a much smaller part as he does not have to make Sam Spade look so tough. You also can see why the police think that Sam had something going with Iva Archer his partner's wife due to the fact that he comes on to anything female.

Basic story is Sam Spade (Ricardo Cortez) and Miles Archer (Walter Long) runs a detective agency. Sam is the type to chase anything in a skirt. Archer overhears a telephone conversation between Sam and Iva (Thelma Todd.) You figure this is going somewhere when it is interrupted by work. A mysterious woman Ruth Wonderly (Bebe Daniels) is looking for her sister. Supposedly her sister was abducted by the ruthless Thorsby. They plan to tail Thorsby to recover the sister. Wonderly pays them enough to make the story worth their while. Later Miles ends up dead. And the police (rightly so) have their eye on Sam. Now Sam must prove it was not he. In the mean time everyone is looking for a black bird.

This is the first filming of Dasheill Hammett's classic detective story. It predates the John Huston/Humphrey Bogart version by ten years and follows the novel closely. Ricardo Cortez makes a much more smarmy Sam Spade than Bogart, and the pre-code production makes explicit much of what Huston had to hint at. It's worth watching, if only to compare it with the 1941 version and marvel at the inspired casting that made the later work one of the greatest mystery films ever.

While the movie with Bogart grabs all the glory this original film is the better of the two. I like both films but this has become my favorite.

Dangerous Female, 1931 film

The story begins with a view of the ferry terminals of San Francisco from Oakland to the east. [They were destroyed after the bridge to Oakland was built.] Next we see an aerial view of San Francisco, the banking capital on the west coast, circa 1931. Sam Spade sees off a client. Miss Ruth Wonderly enters, she wants to find her sister. Mrs. Archer calls Sam. Mr. Archer returns from his business trip, and listens in to a conversation. Miss Wonderly deposits two $100 bills (a huge amount then). Miles Archer will personally handle the investigation. Early in the morning Spade gets a surprise on the telephone. Archer was shot at close range. Later two police detectives visit him to question him about Floyd Thursby. In the morning Spade visits Miss Wonderly. She is very good. She talks about Thursby, and tells of her fear of death.

Back at the office Spade gets a visit from Dr. Cairo. He wants to recover a statuette of a black bird. Cairo pulls a gun. Who is the owner? Cairo will pay for its return. Who is the high bidder? The police come by, and find Miss Wonderly and Dr. Cairo in Spade's apartment. Cairo leaves with the two police detectives. Spade plays a record on a phonograph. [Note the Westclox Baby Ben set for 10 o'clock.] Spade inspects Miss Wonderly's purse and finds a key. Spade tosses Ruth's apartment while she sleeps. Back home Sam gets a surprise visit from Iva Archer. Next a letter from Kasper Gutman about "the black bird". Note his sleazy character. He tells about the Knights of St. John and their Maltese falcon. Gutman traced this statuette, and offers to pay for it. "It's a deal!" "I'll be right back." Gutman talks to Cairo, they no longer need Spade to get the black bird. Spade sniffs his drink, then falls asleep.

The ship "La Paloma" arrives in San Francisco. Spade returns to his office and finds Effie. A ship's captain stumbles into the office with a suitcase. Insides is a black statuette. The package is checked, the claim ticket mailed to a Post Office box. Spade is called to the D.A.'s office for questioning, and accused of withholding information. Spade must find the murderer in 24 hours. When Spade returns to his apartment he finds a surprise. Gutman gives him money in an envelope. Sam says they need a fall guy to feed to the police as a solution to the murders. They must wait until daylight for the package. Is one $1,000 bill missing from that envelope? Sam searches Ruth for the money; Kasper admits he palmed it. Cairo whispers to Gutman; a deal is made.

Kasper explains the details of the conspiracy, and how Miss Wonderly's male friends had bad luck. They wait until morning. [ A fly in San Francisco? Isn't it too cold even in summer?] Effie brings the suitcase. Wilmer takes a powder. Kasper tests the statue; it is a fake! They were fooled! Kasper will return with Cairo to Constantinople to try again. Sam calls Tom Polhemus to warn him about the three men leaving town. Sam questions Ruth about Archer's murder. "I didn't mean to at first." Sam does not believe Ruth, he will not play the sap for her. She double-crossed every man she met. The police arrive to tell Sam what happened to the three men. Sam sends Ruth over. The `Examiner' tells how the police solved three `Maltese Falcon' murders. Sam produced an eye-witness who identified Ruth as the murderess. Later Sam has good news about the Chief Investigator for the District Attorney's office. "Send the bill to the DA's office."
It varies from the book but seems like a truer version. The actors seem more realistic than the 1941 version. If you knew Cantonese you could get a clue from an early scene in this movie. Note the right to keep and bear arms in San Francisco then.

I really like this version of the Maltese Falcon almost as much as the 1941 Bogart version. However, the print is terrible. However, you can get an excellent copy by buying the Bogart Signature Collection Volume II, along with Satan Met a Lady (a forgetable version of the Maltese Falcon!) and a bunch of other good Bogart classics!Humphrey Bogart - The Signature Collection, Vol. 2 (The Maltese Falcon Three-Disc Special Edition / Across the Pacific / Action in the North Atlantic / All Through the Night / Passage to Marseille)

In 1539 The Knight Templars of Malta paid tribute to Charles V of Spain, by sending him A Golden Falcon encrusted from beak to claw with rarest jewels.

After years of watching "The Maltese Falcon" I just found out about the other two versions. So I bought "Dangerous Woman". I was surprised to find it was distributed by "VideoYesteryear" as I have several of the films that used to come in the yellow jacket.

At first you need to overcome the differences, comparing and contrasting the two film versions. Then you realize that this film can stand on its own. I only could imagine what they could have done with this film if it had been an hour and a half long. A lot of the dialog is the same and actually they play out many scenes that were only implied in the 1941 version. However the characters are not as fleshed out. The camera is usually stationary giving this film the feel of a play. Wilmer Cook the gunsel has a much smaller part as he does not have to make Sam Spade look so tough. You also can see why the police think that Sam had something going with Iva Archer his partner's wife due to the fact that he comes on to anything female.

Basic story is Sam Spade (Ricardo Cortez) and Miles Archer (Walter Long) runs a detective agency. Sam is the type to chase anything in a skirt. Archer overhears a telephone conversation between Sam and Iva (Thelma Todd.) You figure this is going somewhere when it is interrupted by work. A mysterious woman Ruth Wonderly (Bebe Daniels) is looking for her sister. Supposedly her sister was abducted by the ruthless Thorsby. They plan to tail Thorsby to recover the sister. Wonderly pays them enough to make the story worth their while. Later Miles ends up dead. And the police (rightly so) have their eye on Sam. Now Sam must prove it was not he. In the mean time everyone is looking for a black bird.

But no comparison to the later version. I was surprised to see so much of the dialog the same.