The Maltese Falcon
One of the greatest films ever made. The birth of noir, the cementing of Bogie's stardom, Huston's debut, the first pairing of Greenstreet and Lorre, innovative, daring and actually superior to one of the greatest novels ever written.
This film changed my life. That was well over 100 viewings ago.
Ultimate balls. Review up on my blog. http://thehificelluloidmonster.wordpress.com/2013/02/12/the-maltese-falcon-1941/
All Through the Night
A ridiculously entertaining B-picture with Bogie getting mixed up with a ring of Nazi saboteurs and killers led by Conrad Veidt, Peter Lorre and Judith Anderson. They don't make 'em like this any more.
3.5 balls out of 4 of Bogie's favorite cheesecakes that you don't mess with.
Black Legion
If you thought the sight of a Heil-ing Bogie was off-putting, try this film. Here Bogie in a rare early starring role is a disenchanted worker who is roped into an anti-foreigner secret society complete with raids, secret oaths, guns and black hooded garb. Not only is this a surprisingly realistic take on what a racist society of the time could do, but it is equally damning to the poor individuals caught in its hate-fueled crossfire. Bogie is outstanding.
3.5 balls out of 4.
Across the Pacific
A stunningly disappointing reuniting of the three leads and director of Maltese Falcon. Here Bogie is a disgraced Army naval officer who decides to sell his services to a foreign navy and thus boards a freighter to the East. Shady dealings ensue with Sydney Greenstreet (what else does the man do?? ;) which relates to the impending conflict with the Japanese. Being an early war propaganda film, it isn't quite as blatant as you would imagine.
But the story is never developed, the scenes start to drag on, and most of all the ending was done by a completely different director and all of a sudden makes little to no sense.
But it is Bogie in his prime, first donning a trench coat. So there are some positives.
3 balls out of 4.