Maltese Falcon

The Maltese Falcon, was not only a detective film, but a film that displayed many different aspects of the female and the male character in the movie. The film was more than a story, but a story that explored the ideas of the detective genre and the different characteristics of femininity and masculinity. It also brought forth subjects of sexual desires and the greediness of money. The characters and the visual motifs in the film contributed to the developing of the plot and assisted in creating a more detective and gender oriented film. In the film, The Maltese Falcon, the role of men and women are portrayed in different ways in the film to show the distinct functions of masculinity and femininity between the characters.

Sam said to Effie, “Your a nice rattle brain angel.” Sam Spade’s assistant, Effie is a conservative and a practical woman. As the detective’s assistant, she possesses more of masculine qualities than feminine qualities. Since she works in an environment around

men, she has a tendency to be more influenced by their activities and their ideas. Sam said to Effie, “Your a detective darling.” Her voice seems to be monotone which shows her as a strong and an independent person. Although she may act this way, she is still a woman who is somewhat ladylike and very polite. In some ways, women are used to bring forth the ideas of sex and lust, but in this case, Effie’s role was necessary in helping the story to develop and to present how the role of woman could be played and perceived. Sam said to Effie, “Your a good man, sister.” Effie possessed many masculine qualities and this quote helped to reinforce the idea of it all.

Another female role that was a part of the film was Iva, who was the wife of Miles. She was very lady-like and beautiful which helped her to use her image and personality in a way to receive certain things. Miles was Sam Spade’s partner in the detective business. Her character as a woman is somewhat different from Effie’s. Iva and Sam Spade once had a history together even though she was married to Miles. Iva said to Sam, “You killed my husband, Sam, be kind to me.” She sets up a different role for woman because of her actions and of the characteristics that she possesses. In a way, she thinks that Sam Spade is in love with her and for that reason, she thought that he had killed her husband so that they could be together. Iva’s role fits into the genre of female characters because of her femininity. She used her figure as a power tool and focused on her image to express the way she felt. Women in these cases were very distracting to the male characters in the film. Sam said to Iva, “You shouldn’t have come here today, precious. It wasn’t wise. You can’t stay.” This shows that Iva was in the way of Sam Spade’s work. Iva was seen as a suspicious character in film as well. Effie said to Sam, “She kept me waiting at the door while she undressed, her clothes on a chair where she dumped her hat and coat underneath, her slip was still warm.” This quote described the suspicions that Effie had about Iva on the night that Miles, Iva’s husband was murdered. Sam could trust Effie, but both Effie and Sam had a hard time trusting Iva. This may have meant that some men may have a harder time trusting woman who are very feminine.

A character that Sam Spade had a hard time trusting was a woman named Brigid O’Shaughnessy, who was also know as Miss Wonderly. Effie said to Sam, “She’s a knockout.” Not only did Effie and Sam Spade see that she was pretty, but so did his partner, Miles. Miles said to Sam, “She’s sweet...Maybe you saw her first, but I spoke first.” Brigid takes on the sexy woman figure whose voice is gentle, helpless, and manipulative all at the same time. She is very self-centered and tends to deceive others in order to get what she wants. Brigid said to Sam, “Can’t you shield me so that I won’t have to answer their questions...I am afraid and alone.” She has a way of playing with words and using emotions to receive other people’s comfort. She also said to Sam, “Your brave, your strong, you can spare me some of that courage surely.” Since she came to Sam because she was in trouble with her past, she can relate to the genre of woman in general. They have a tendency to seek men when they are in need, or only when they are in trouble. Her character follows through with the “dark past” theme.

Since she has deceived him many times, it was hard for Sam to believe what words that came out of her mouth. Sam said to Brigid, “If you were actually as innocent as you pretend to be, we would never get anywhere.” She wasn’t able to receive his trust, so in many ways, this showed that women could not be trusted and that it portrayed women in a lower view. “Haven’t you tried to buy my loyalty with money and