Summary
For those who enjoyedThe Maltese Falcon,a lesser-known Humphrey Bogart film from the 1950s makes for the perfect viewing experience. WhileThe Maltese Falconmay not have the same level of recognition asCasablanca, it’s still commonly regarded as one ofHumphrey Bogart’s best movies- and for good reason. This notion is well-supported by its accolades, which include an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture.
There was reportedly an intention at one point for Warner Bros. to follow up the success ofThe Maltese Falconwith a sequel. Unfortunately, these plans fell through and Humphrey Bogart never ended up with a second turn asliterary private eye hero Sam Spade. But while there was never an opportunity to see his version of the character grace the screen once more for another grand mystery, the actor did star in a very similar film six years later that serves as a worthy substitute forThe Maltese Falcon 2.
Humphrey Bogart’s 16 Gangster Movies, Ranked Worst To Best
Humphrey Bogart is known as a leading man from classics such as Casablanca and The Big Sleep, but he also played amoral villains in gangster movies.
Directed by John Cromwell and released in 1947,Dead Reckoningsaw Humphrey Bogart take on the role of Warren “Rip” Murdock, a U.S. Army captain excited to resume his civilian life at the conclusion of World War II. What sets off his journey in the movie is the surprising departure of his friend and fellow military officer, Johnny Drake. After hearing that he’s about to be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, Drake goes on the run, leaving behind a confused Rip. Having realized that his friend is hiding a secret past, Rip goes looking for him and inadvertently gets involved in a much bigger mystery.
The setup for the main plot isn’t at all unlike what happened inThe Maltese Falcon,even if its hero is hardly the private eye that Sam Spade is. Though Rip isn’t a private detective looking to solve a big mystery, that’s what he ultimately finds anyway, as his efforts to find Drake earn him the attention of some ruthless gangsters who have an interest in Drake of their own. The way Rip inserts himself into the aftermath of Drake’s death and becomes the center of a deadly conflict is right in line with the adventure Sam Spade embarks on when he starts investigating the husband of Mary Astor’s Brigid O’Shaughnessy.
Dead Reckoningis streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
One of the biggest parallels betweenDead ReckoningandThe Maltese Falconstems from the movies' respective love stories. In bothHumphrey Bogart film noir movies, his character falls in love with the mysterious and beautiful female lead. Exactly how these romances develop mirrors each other in interesting ways.
In addition to the story itself,Dead Reckoningbrings a lot to the table in terms of how it utilizes its star.The unmistakable charisma of Humphrey Bogart, his blunt but often sarcastic way of speaking, and his “tough guy” image all lend themselves well to his Rip Murdock character inDead Reckoning, just as they do Sam Spade inThe Maltese Falcon. By using the actor in this manner,Dead Reckoningis able to produce its fair share of memorable scenes andHumphrey Bogart quotes.
A great example is Bogart’s line, “You know, the trouble with women is they ask too many questions. They should spend all their time just being beautiful.” It’s a line that feels tailor-made for Humphrey Bogart, and something that’s easy to imagine Sam Spade saying inThe Maltese Falcon. The same could be said for another Rip remark, “Maybe she was alright. And maybe Christmas comes in July. But I didn’t believe it.“His attitude toward Lizabeth Scott’s Coral is reminiscent of Sam Spade’s desire to see the best in Brigid, but knowing deep down that he was only fooling himself.
In fact,there are a few lines inDead Reckoningthat seem as if they were purposely retooled fromThe Maltese Falcon.At one point inDead Reckoning, Rip says, “A guy’s pal is killed. He ought to do something about it.” The words themselves, and the delivery of the line, bear more than a passing resemblance to the classic Sam Spade quote, “When a man’s partner is killed, he’s supposed to do something about it.” With moments like this, it’s as ifDead Reckoninghas embraced its connections toThe Maltese Falcon.
It’s Not As Good As The Maltese Falcon, But Is Still A Great Humphrey Bogart Movie
WhileDead Reckoningis very much a Humphrey Bogart vehicle, that’s not to say that the actor single-handedly carried the film.Dead Reckoningalso benefits greatly from the performance of its lead actress. Though not necessarily one of Hollywood’s top stars,Lizabeth Scott excelled as a film noir actress, with herDead Reckoningrole being a highlight of her career. Her onscreen image was comparable to that ofBogart’s real-life wife and frequent co-star Lauren Bacall, hence why the pair was a natural choice forDead Reckoning’sleads, and the chemistry they shared was noticeable.
Due in large part to Bogart and Scott,Dead Reckoningsucceeds in being a high-quality film noir gem. However, it can’t be denied thatDead Reckoningdoesn’t have the same near-legendary film noir status asThe Maltese Falcon. Whereas the latter was named the #6 mystery movie of all time by the American Film Institute,Dead Reckoningnever comes anywhere close to its reputation. Reviews were mixed at the time of its release, and it was never in Academy Award contention. That said, its legacy - or lack thereof - isn’t representative ofDead Reckoning’squality.
Based on the reviews, it would seem that its similarities toThe Maltese Falconand other Bogart films were a detriment to its success more than anything else. Many reviews used the parallels toThe Maltese Falconto label its storytelling as unoriginal. And, it’s true that in trying to be too much like the 1941 classic, it may have set too high of a bar for itself. But when viewed for what it truly is, an attempt to build on and deliver more of what madeThe Maltese Falconwork,Dead Reckoningcan be better appreciated as a must-watch film noir movie and a more than worthwhile entry into the genre.
