Maltese Falcon Gender Roles

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.” (The Maltese Falcon, John Huston, 1941) Sam Spade’s assistant, Effie is a
Sam said to Brigid,“If you were actually as innocent as you pretend to be,we would never get anywhere.” (The MalteseFalcon, John Huston,1941) 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 myloyalty with money and nothing else?” (The Maltese Falcon, John Huston, 1941) This shows that she was desperate and willing enough to receive his trust through the exchange of money. “What else can I buy you with?” (The Maltese Falcon, John Huston, 1941) Towards the end of the film, it showed how hard she tried to convince him that she still loved him so that she wouldn’t go to jail. “I would have come back to you soon, from the very first instant I saw you, I knew.” (The Maltese Falcon, John Huston, (1941) Through this you could figure out the true personality of Brigid and how she