First Friday Films: The Maltese Falcon

7:00 p.m. Pre-film lecture | 8:00 p.m. Film

The Expressionist period of filmmaking in Germany laid the foundation for Film Noir in the United States during the 1940s and 1950.  During this evening's lecture, Eddie Muller, nicknamed the Czar of Noir, will touch on the role of cinematic German Expressionism in the development of film noir and will specifically highlight the influence of Dashiell Hammett, the legendary American author who created the character of Sam Spade, played by Humphrey Bogart in The Maltese Falcon.   Muller has written many books about the film noir genre, including Dark City: The Lost World of Film Noir; The Art of Noir; and Dark City Dames: The Wicked Women of Film Noir.  

The Maltese Falcon, a classic film noir starring Humphrey Bogart and set in San Francisco, follows a private detective who takes on a case involving three eccentric criminals, a gorgeous liar, and their quest for a priceless statuette.

Running time: 100 minutes. Rated PG.  1941.