Film Review: Film Noir - The Maltese Falcon

Right from the start of the movie, it was clear that the story would be a mystery, full of crimes and drama, all characteristics of the Film Noir tradition. By introducing Spade & Archer as private detectives from the start, it can be assumed that that will be how we know them by throughout the movie. If looking at what is Mise En Scene, Spade's desk holds a small trophy of a falcon or bird of a kind, a probable sign for the rest of the movie. The female character is obviously desperate and anxious for her poor sister and shows concern for the men and her sister when it comes to the "bad guy", and if this were looked at as a film noir, it would become apparent that the woman is acting it out. Her costume of exotic and expensive clothing would also make her more attractive to the detectives with hearts of gold. This would explain the smile on Archer's face right before he gets shot (if he were shot by this beautiful woman). The actual shooting scene is extremely dark, with Archer walking in from the shadows, and then falling and rolling down the hill and into the shadows again. When Spade hears about this news, all he cares about is keeping Archer's wife away from him, suggesting drama between the male and female characters.