AFI 100 Years, 100 Movies: No. 17


Back in 1998, the American Film Institute unveiled its list of the 100 greatest films as voted on by members of the cinematic community. The year, I'm looking at the films on that list, re-ranked according to my preference. Check back Fridays and Saturdays throughout the year as we walk through this list of classic films.

Sam Spade: When a man's partner is killed, he's supposed to do something about it. It doesn't make any difference what you thought of him. He was your partner and you're supposed to do something about it. And it happens we're in the detective business. Well, when one of your organization gets killed, it's-it's bad business to let the killer get away with it, bad all around, bad for every detective everywhere.

The Maltese Falcon (1941)
Original List Position: 23
Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor, and Gladys George
Director: John Huston
About: This is a classic in the noir detective space. It landed at No. 23 on the original list, but slipped to No. 31 a decade later. I like it a bit more than that, landing it in the teens for me. It's one of a couple iconic performances and characters for Bogart, who shines here as Sam Spade. This is the kind of noir detective tale that's often copied, but never quite as well. This is a classic for a reason.

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