<P> The Maltese Falcon is a 1941 film noir written and directed by John Huston in his directorial debut , and based on Dashiell Hammett 's 1929 novel of the same name . The film stars Humphrey Bogart as private investigator Sam Spade and Mary Astor as his femme fatale client . Gladys George , Peter Lorre , and Sydney Greenstreet co-star , with Greenstreet appearing in his film debut . The story follows a San Francisco private detective and his dealings with three unscrupulous adventurers , all of whom are competing to obtain a jewel - encrusted falcon statuette . </P>
<P> The Maltese Falcon is a 1941 film noir written and directed by John Huston in his directorial debut , and based on Dashiell Hammett 's 1929 novel of the same name . The film stars Humphrey Bogart as private investigator Sam Spade and Mary Astor as his femme fatale client . Gladys George , Peter Lorre , and Sydney Greenstreet co-star , with Greenstreet appearing in his film debut . The story follows a San Francisco private detective and his dealings with three unscrupulous adventurers , all of whom are competing to obtain a jewel - encrusted falcon statuette . </P>
who plays the femme fatale in the maltese falcon
who plays the femme fatale in the maltese falcon
Mary Astor
Mary Astor