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The Maltese Falcon 1941
This film set a theme for us that was far opposite from “Meet me in St. Louis.” The theme that I
see in this film was short and simple. Greed and lies. There are numerous acts through the film that a
few men act and lie in ways to get money. Money is the root of all evil could also sum up this film. I will
cover a few main characters. First Sam Spade (detective), second Cairo, and last Gutman.
Sam is a two-faced man with many angles that he plays on everybody. He gets his way with the
women by seducing them with him smooth ways. Throughout the film Sam turns over couple different
people to police for his own reward. As well has acts fast to get one up on Cairo. Even though Cairo
hired Sam to help him find the falcon, Sam does not exactly like the way Cairo acts. There are two
different occasions when Sam is forced to disarm Cairo because Cairo thinks he’s a tough guy.
Which brings me to my second character Cairo. We can tell just by the way Cairo carries himself
and his demeanor that he means no good. Cairo had a way or speaking in a soft and kind voice that
really had greed and lies behind it. An example of when he goes to Sam’s office in terms to offer his
5,000 dollars for the falcon. Do we really know if he had the 5,000 dollars anyway? I think not. Then he
is so fast to pull a gun on Sam, who then disarms him with ease. You would think he would learn. It’s
not much later in the film that Cairo then pulls a gun a second time and Sam slaps him around and puts
him in his place. As you see here Cairo doesn’t play a very superior role but a greedy and lying one.
Lastly, I would like to talk about Gutman. Gutman was a heavier set guy that just reeked of filth
and greed as well. He wheeled a deal with Sam to give him a fake falcon for 10,000 dollars but part of
that price was he also needed a name to give up for Thursby and Jacobi. Sam gives up Wilmer, then
after Gutman and Cairo talk it over they all agreed.
As you can see here this movie is filled with greed and many acts of it and that’s why I conclude
that as the theme. Also, I thought that “money is the root of all evil” fit well.
