UHD Review A Few Words About A few words about...™ - The Maltese Falcon (1941) -- in 4k UHD (1 Viewer)

[Nelson Au]

Yes, the film does look amazing and it was so well made. Loved the brisk dialogue, the camera moves and the flow. I liked how Sam Spade has a set of rules he loves by and that makes him the hard boiled man. I get that term now. Too bad for the femme fatale.

I don’t smoke, but those cigarette lighters seen are neat!

 

[schugh]

Unfortunately, the Canadian release does not include a digital copy. But Amazon Canada still charges about $40 bucks for the 4K blu ray . The USA version costs $23.79 ( equivalent to approximately $32.50 Canadian) and includes a digital code. Why do I feel like we’re being shafted?

Yeah tell me about it. It's so frustrating. I've been waiting for the price to drop but it hasn't budged.
Many new releases in Amazon Canada are priced high lately for the last year. Not sure what's going on.
Online ordering from smaller businesses always adds too much in shipping so I don't bother normally there either.

But I gave up and bought this and Rebel and Cool Hand Luke from sunrise records for ~$37 Canadian.
Also lack of digital code doesn't make sense either to me. I don't know what's the deal there as most other mainstream studio releases all include digital codes in Canada. I can do without it but it would be nice to have.

So yes "shafted" about sums it up.

 

[Garysb]

$14.99 on Amazon Prime Day.

Amazon product ASIN B0BV3BCLB1

 

[Garysb]

Thanksgiving $11.49.

Amazon product ASIN B0BV3BCLB1

 

[bobclampett]

If one were to attempt to select the top noir productions, The 1941, John Huston directed Maltese Falcon would be at or near the top of the list. Unless one is going totally woke, and the film is deep-six'd for smoking or hats.

What we have is an essentially miraculous restoration via Warner's MPI for a number of reasons.

As an extremely popular film, the original camera negative was stored at a less then stellar venue until it was moved to the LoC (thank the merciful blood-stained gods there was no fire), was over-printed and abused.

So for a start, the initial miracle is that it survived.

A new 4k scan of that OCN, proper research into densities, and original grain left to range free adds to the perfection you'll see here.

As to the track, it was likewise dealt with to perfection by the studio sound dept, and is presented as DTS-HD MA 2.0.

One of the greatest films ever created, with a superb (and perfect) cast, magnificent cinematography by Arthur Edeson. I often wonder if Mr. Edeson had seen Citizen Kane, which was shot in 1940, but released only a month before Falcon in 1941, when he exposed ceilings on sets.

Regarding John Huston, who wrote the screenplay based upon the novel (serialization) by Dashiell Hammett, he was off to a good start. Falcon was his first directorial assignment, having previously been retained as a writer (Juarez, High Sierra, Sergeant York).

Looking at the early production history, it seems that the project original planned to have George Raft in the titular role of Mr. Spade, and that would have been a far different film, and one might surmise not the classic that was attained.

Sidney Greenstreet's first role, appearing as Kasper Gutman.

A light application of HDR is actually helpful here, as it helps to capture the appearance of original nitrate prints mit lots of silver.

Nominated for three Academy Awards - Best Picture, Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Mr. Greenstreet), Best Writing, Screenplay.

Everything here is perfection, and for those who run in the 4k crowed, this should be a major addition to one's library. Be aware that the two earlier versions of the film, Satan Met a Lady and The Maltese Falcon, are not included other than trailers, so you'll want to hang on to discs 2 and 3 of the original DVD set.

Adding one more ranking today, based upon both personal experience as well as the perception of how a production stands the test of time, with 10 being the top.

Have I used the term "miraculous disc?"


Image – 5 (Dolby Vision)

Audio – 5 (DTS HD-MA 2.0)

Pass / Fail – Pass

Plays nicely with projectors - Yes

Makes use of and works well in 4k - 4

Worth your attention - 10

Upgrade from Blu-ray - Absolutely!

Very Highly Recommended

RAH


Thank you for supporting HTF when you preorder using the link below. As an Amazon Associate, HTF earns from qualifying purchases. If you are using an adblocker you will not see link.

Amazon product ASIN B0BV3BCLB1

This is one o

If one were to attempt to select the top noir productions, The 1941, John Huston directed Maltese Falcon would be at or near the top of the list. Unless one is going totally woke, and the film is deep-six'd for smoking or hats.

What we have is an essentially miraculous restoration via Warner's MPI for a number of reasons.

As an extremely popular film, the original camera negative was stored at a less then stellar venue until it was moved to the LoC (thank the merciful blood-stained gods there was no fire), was over-printed and abused.

So for a start, the initial miracle is that it survived.

A new 4k scan of that OCN, proper research into densities, and original grain left to range free adds to the perfection you'll see here.

As to the track, it was likewise dealt with to perfection by the studio sound dept, and is presented as DTS-HD MA 2.0.

One of the greatest films ever created, with a superb (and perfect) cast, magnificent cinematography by Arthur Edeson. I often wonder if Mr. Edeson had seen Citizen Kane, which was shot in 1940, but released only a month before Falcon in 1941, when he exposed ceilings on sets.

Regarding John Huston, who wrote the screenplay based upon the novel (serialization) by Dashiell Hammett, he was off to a good start. Falcon was his first directorial assignment, having previously been retained as a writer (Juarez, High Sierra, Sergeant York).

Looking at the early production history, it seems that the project original planned to have George Raft in the titular role of Mr. Spade, and that would have been a far different film, and one might surmise not the classic that was attained.

Sidney Greenstreet's first role, appearing as Kasper Gutman.

A light application of HDR is actually helpful here, as it helps to capture the appearance of original nitrate prints mit lots of silver.

Nominated for three Academy Awards - Best Picture, Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Mr. Greenstreet), Best Writing, Screenplay.

Everything here is perfection, and for those who run in the 4k crowed, this should be a major addition to one's library. Be aware that the two earlier versions of the film, Satan Met a Lady and The Maltese Falcon, are not included other than trailers, so you'll want to hang on to discs 2 and 3 of the original DVD set.

Adding one more ranking today, based upon both personal experience as well as the perception of how a production stands the test of time, with 10 being the top.

Have I used the term "miraculous disc?"


Image – 5 (Dolby Vision)

Audio – 5 (DTS HD-MA 2.0)

Pass / Fail – Pass

Plays nicely with projectors - Yes

Makes use of and works well in 4k - 4

Worth your attention - 10

Upgrade from Blu-ray - Absolutely!

Very Highly Recommended

RAH


Thank you for supporting HTF when you preorder using the link below. As an Amazon Associate, HTF earns from qualifying purchases. If you are using an adblocker you will not see link.

Amazon product ASIN B0BV3BCLB1

This is one of the best restorations and 4K releases ever. Saw 35mm MF double billed with Casablanca back around 1990 and this 4K disc exceeds that experience. Can’t say for certain if it was the great improvement in picture clarity, but I never noticed Wilmer is crying, a tear running down his cheek, when Spade, Gutman and Cairo, put the squeeze on Wilmer as the fall guy. First saw the Maltese Falcon in the 1960’s on my 12” black & white Sanyo TV and thought out loud this is one of the best movies I’ve ever seen. All these years later and it still is one of the best. Kudos to everyone at Warner Bros. who brought this classic to 4K Blu Ray.