Academy Award® winner Humphrey Bogart stars in this classic film noir as tough San Francisco private detective Sam Spade in the classic, convoluted story of Spade’s involvement with a deadly band of international thieves who will lie, double cross and murder to obtain a small, jewel-encrusted statue known as The Maltese Falcon. Sam Spade’s (Bogart) partner, Miles Archer (Jerome Cowan), accepts a job protecting a young woman (Mary Astor). Neither Spade nor Archer believe the woman or the story she tells them, but they do believe her money. Then, when Archer is murdered, Spade’s search for the killer drags him in the web of lies and death spun by the desperate people seeking The Maltese Falcon.

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Video Quality

The Maltese Falcon makes its much-anticipated 4K UHD Blu-Ray debut with a stunning 2160p HDR transfer that appears to be derived from a newer 4K master than the one used for the underwhelming Blu-Ray from 2010, which is also included in this package. Thanks to this newer source and a genuine 4K presentation, the transfer easily bests any previous home entertainment release, making it one of the early standouts of the year.

The moody black-and-white photography shot by Arthur Edeson is showcased with a more nuanced contrast than ever before. The HDR10 offers a depth and stability that the previous Blu-Ray could not achieve in its wildest dreams. Prior home media releases did not allow you to fully appreciate the nearly flawless wielding of light and shadow. This film primarily takes place in appropriately atmospheric locations which could easily be a stumbling point for detail. Thankfully, this disc offers up stellar black levels which hold up impeccably in shadow detail while improving any previous signs of crush and digital noise. There is also a firmer handle on the highlights which present here as perfectly healthy with no instances of blooming.

Fine detail is the star here which can be attributed to the sumptuous natural film grain that has not been hit with heavy DNR. Throughout the runtime, it always seems to resolve quite well without ever being clumpy or unsightly. The film is pretty much entirely free of dirt and damage thanks to the team that has been tasked with preserving this one. Digital anomalies such as compression artifacts, banding or any other such nuisances are a rare sight. The texture you experience from the costumes and within the production design are a revelation. Even facial details like the makeup that never would have been seen during the original run are now present with notable clarity. This film has been in need of a greater level of care than it has previously been afforded, and it finally got what it deserves.

Audio Quality

The 4K UHD Blu-Ray disc comes with a remastered DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track in English that offers a really strong audio experience. The theatrical split-mono presentation is the preferred way to hear this title, and Warner Bros. has done their best to make it radiate with the firmest fidelity possible. The environmental effects are delineated effectively according to the space being explored. This track does not exhibit any glaring instances of age related wear and tear such as pops or drop outs. The snappy dialogue holds up nicely, coming though clearly without being overshadowed by the music or other effects. Stability almost never waivers even when pushed a bit aggressively. It is quite a task to make an audio track from this era sound brand new, but Warner has done what they could to get as close as possible. There are a wide array of different subtitles provided.

Special Features

Behind The Story

- Audio Commentary: Bogart biographer Eric Lax delivers a deeply informative commentary track in which he discusses the film with barely any dead air as he delves into the direction of John Huston, the careers of the ensemble, how this fits into the career of Bogart, the arc of the narrative, analysis of certain scenes and more.

- The Maltese Falcon – One Magnificent Bird: A 32-minute program is provided in which various historians and famous figures discuss the legacy of the film, the origins of the source material, the themes of the narrative, the details of the production and more.

Warner Night At The Movies

- Sergeant York Theatrical Trailer: The two-minute trailer for the Gary Cooper classic is provided here.

- Newsreel: A minute-and-a-half newsreel is provided which mainly focuses on war efforts on a Navy ship.

- The Gay Parisian: A 20-minute live-action 1941 short is provided here which showcases a ballet’s time at a Parisian nightclub.

- Hiawatha’s Rabbit Hunt: An eight-minute Merrie Melodies cartoon is provided here in standard definition in which Bugs Bunny attempts to avoid becoming dinner for Elmer Fudd as the titular Hiawatha.

- Meet John Doughboy: A seven-minute Merrie Melodies cartoon is provided here in HD in which a Porky Pig introduces a series of wartime spoof spots that are quite amusing.

Extras

- Becoming Attractions – The Trailers Of Humphrey Bogart: A 45-minute program hosted by TCM’s Robert Osborne who explores various trailers from the career of Humphrey Bogart and analyzes how the star was sold to the public over the years.

- Breakdowns Of 1941: A 13-minute gag reel from various Warner Bros. films in 1941.

- Makeup Tests: A minute-long look at Mary Astor to see how her makeup appears on camera.

Audio

- 2/8/1943 Lux Radio Broadcast: A 58-minute radio program with Edward G. Robinson taking over the vocal duties of Sam Spade.

- 9/20/43 Screen Guild Theater Broadcast: A 29-minute audio adaptation featuring the main players from the film.

- 7/3/1946 Academy Award Theater Broadcast: Another 28-minute audio adaptation with the main players from the film.

Trailers: There is a nearly three-minute trailer provided for The Maltese Falcon provided here. There is also a trailer provided for Satan Met A Lady.

Final Thoughts

The Maltese Falcon is one of the finest film noirs ever to be produced, and it is one that stands tall in the career of the legendary John Huston. Humphrey Bogart delivers the type of steely, memorable performance that all others in the genre try to imitate in their own way. The story still holds up after more than 80 years, and it is a prime example to show to anyone who needs to see the creative heights of film noir. Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has released a 4K UHD Blu-Ray sporting a pristine A/V presentation and a great array of legacy special features. If you are a fan of the film, you will be in heaven with this release. Highly Recommended

The Maltese Falcon is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray and Digital.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.