The Big Sleep or the Maltese Falcon

[fishwax]

Two of the best noir/hard-boiled detective films of the 40s -- Which do you prefer? And why?

(Note #1: This poll refers specifically to the 1945/1946 Howard Hawks film version of The Big Sleep starring Humphrey Bogart, and not the 1978 remake with Robert Mitchum.)

(Note #2: This poll refers specifically to the 1941 John Huston version of The Maltese Falcon starring Humphrey Bogart, and not the original 1931 film version. Huston's was actually the third adaptation of the Dashiell Hammett novel. I wonder if audiences in 1941 thought: "another remake? Clearly Hollywood is all out of ideas!")

[Faygo Kid]

1. Anything with Bogie, but I like the stuff that dreams are made of.

The Big Sleep was a little hard to track.

"You're taking the fall." Yep, Maltese Falcon.

[sethgrogen]

2. "You're a good man, sister!"

[pscot]

3. The cheaper the hood

the gaudier the patter.

[fishwax]

4. If they hang you, I'll always remember you

the last scene is great, no doubt. :)

That it's hard to track is one of the things I actually like about The Big Sleep. The same is also true of the book. One of the primary mysteries in the book (the murder of the chauffeur) is never resolved (to the consternation of William Faulkner, who adapted it for the screen).

They're both great, though. :bounce:

[tigereye]

5. loved the Big Sleep- book and movie.

And the Maltese Falcon is a classic- great acting and characters. Hard to choose.

:hi:

[fishwax]

7. hey tigereye!

Yeah, they're both definitely great. Can't go wrong with either (either book or either movie).

Have you read Dashiell Hammett's Red Harvest? It was his first novel--even better, I think, than The Maltese Falcon.

[tigereye]

9. no, I don't think so...

have to check it out.... I have a lot of Lillian Hellman to read, too.

[flying rabbit]

6. I can't call it

Although Big Sleep did have Bacall.

[fishwax]

8. Yeah, Bacall has Mary Astor beat

Their chemistry in that movie is hard to top. :smoke: