For cinema-based blogs, visit "Silver Screen Reflections" on WordPress

For all the latest posts related to classic/cult cinema and Svengoolie, visit my "Silver Screen Reflections" blog on WordPress!

75 Years of "The Maltese Falcon" (1941)

A re-post from my other classic film blog, "Silver Screen Reflections."

Sam Spade.  Brigid O’Shaughnessy.  Miles Archer.  Joel Cairo.  Kasper Gutman.  Lieutenant Dundy and Detective Pullhouse.  The “MacGuffin.”  “The stuff that dreams are made of.”

The 75th anniversary revival screening of “The Maltese Falcon” (1941)

1941 Warner Bros. trade ad for "The Maltese Falcon,"
featuring Humphrey Bogart and Mary Astor.

Fans of classic cinema and film noir are in for a real treat, as this year will mark the 75th anniversary of John Huston’s 1941 screen adaptation of “The Maltese Falcon.”

Turner Classic Movies, in conjunction with Warner Bros. Pictures and NCM Fathom Events will showcase the film in select cinema venues from coast-to-coast for one day only on Sunday, Feb. 21 and Wednesday, Feb. 24.  “The Maltese Falcon” will be shown at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. (Eastern) on that day.  A special pre-recorded introduction by TCM host Ben Mankiewicz will be shown before the film.

With an all-star cast, featuring Humphrey Bogart, Peter Lorre, Mary Astor, Sydney Greenstreet, Ward Bond and Barton MacLane, John Huston’s film adaptation of Dashiell Hammett’s novel is one of the definitive classics of the silver screen.

Earlier adaptations of Hammett’s novel for the silver screen

Before Huston’s landmark film was released, Warners made two film adaptations of Dashiell Hammett’s novel.  The first screen adaptation of “The Maltese Falcon” was released as a pre-code feature in 1931, featuring Ricardo Cortez and Bebe Daniels.

Five years later, the studio produced a lesser-known light comedic adaptation with Bette Davis and Warren William, under the title of “Satan Met a Lady.”

A comedic version of “The Maltese Falcon” 

In addition to the three motion picture adaptations of Hammett’s novel, a comedic spoof of “The Maltese Falcon” was produced by George Segal and Ray Stark in 1975, under the title of “The Black Bird.”  Directed by David Giler, the film featured Segal (who also played the lead role of Sam Spade Jr.), Stéphane Audran, Lionel Stander, Elisha Cook Jr. and Vic Tayback.

Why you should watch “The Maltese Falcon” (1941)

If you’re going to see it on the big screen on Feb. 21 (or the upcoming TCM broadcast on Feb. 19), “The Maltese Falcon” is one of the definitive film noir classics.  You will not be disappointed by 100 minutes of suspense and intrigue.  Highly recommended!

Matinee Alert: “The Maltese Falcon” will not be shown in the Frederick area

SIDEBAR: Yet once again, the Frederick area will miss out on the revival screening of “The Maltese Falcon” (according to the NCM Fathom list of cinema venues from coast-to-coast that will be showing the film).

“The Maltese Falcon” (75th Anniversary Screening), presented by Turner Classic Movies, Warner Bros. and NCM Fathom Events

Sunday, Feb. 21 and Wednesday, Feb. 24 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Eastern in select theaters from coast-to-coast

List of cinema venues that are showing “The Maltese Falcon” from coast-to-coast (via NCM Fathom Events)

“The Maltese Falcon” will be shown two days before the 75th anniversary screening on Turner Classic Movies, beginning on Friday, Feb. 19 at 11 a.m. Eastern.  

Take the "Matinee Poll:" Do you think the Frederick area will miss out on the revival screening of "The Maltese Falcon" (even though it was shown in the Frederick area 75 years ago)?

"Silver Screen Reflections" Is Finally Here!

"Silver Screen  Reflections" is finally here (for my online journalism class at Hood College).

Check out the first two posts, including "Top 10 Ways to enjoy Classic Film," and an article on the recent Turner Classic Movies airing of the once-lost 1929 Colleen Moore Vitaphone (non-talking) film, "Why Be Good?"

The address is silverscreenreflex.wordpress.com.  Enjoy!

"At The Matinee" wants to hear from you!

1939 trade advertisement for the
screwball comedy Midnight, with
comments/suggestions from test
audiences who saw the test screening.

As we transition into August, the author of At The Matinee would like to hear from fellow friends and readers of this blog.

As I've stated before, this blog is dedicated to the field of classic/contemporary motion pictures, television, music and technology.  It has come to my attention that some readers of At The Matinee may not be interested in these subjects at all.  No matter what, that will not deter me from writing about classic/contemporary cinema and television (along with technology and music from time to time).

Plus, I will continue writing about the Frederick area cinema venues* and their ignorance of showcasing classic/contemporary films, the way they were meant to be seen- on the big screen.

ATM Wants To Hear From You!  As I am the author/head writer of this blog, I would enjoy hearing comments/suggestions from fellow readers and newcomers to At The Matinee.

For example: what works on this blog, and what doesn't work on this blog?  What improvements/changes could be made to this blog, and what general suggestions would you have for future posts on At The Matinee?

Plus, I'm also open to the idea of contributing posts (from interested writers) to this blog on classic/contemporary cinema, and other topics related to those aforementioned fields.

Again, I am open to all comments on At The Matinee or anything related to this blog (NOTE: all comments are monitored by the author).  Don't be afraid to ask!

You can add your comments at the bottom of this post, or you can e-mail me anytime (by clicking on the hyperlink).

Be on the lookout for new posts in August!

Thanks to all for your suggestions.  I highly appreciate it.

All the best,
Chris Hamby

*Excluding The Weinberg Center For The Arts from the cinema venues that are refusing to show revival screenings of classic/contemporary films, since the theater is closed for air-conditioning renovations from now until October.