The Maltese Falcon

The Maltese Falcon1941

The Maltese Falcon is a 1941 film noir about a San Francisco private detective and his dealings with three unscrupulous adventurers, all of whom are competing to obtain a jewel-encrusted falcon statuette. The film has been named as one of the greate… more »



Gutman:
We begin well, sir. I distrust a man who says "when". If he's got to be careful not to drink too much, it's because he's not to be trusted when he does. Well, sir, here's to plain speaking and clear understanding. [They drink.] You're a close-mouthed man.

Spade:
No, I like to talk.

Gutman:
Better and better. I distrust a close-mouthed man. He generally picks the wrong time to talk and says the wrong things. Talking's something you can't do judiciously unless you keep in practice. Now, sir, we'll talk if you like. I'll tell you right out - I'm a man who likes talking to a man who likes to talk.

Spade:
Swell. Will we talk about the black bird?

Gutman:
[chuckling] You're the man for me, sir. No beating about the bush, right to the point. Let's talk about the black bird, by all means. But first, answer me a question. Are you here as Miss O'Shaughnessy's representative?

Spade:
Well, there's nothing certain either way. It depends.

Gutman:
It depends on? Maybe it depends on Joel Cairo.

Spade:
Maybe.

Gutman:
The question is, then, which you represent. It'll be one or the other.

Spade:
I didn't say so.

Gutman:
Who else is there?

Spade:
There's me.

Gutman:
Ah. That's wonderful sir, wonderful. I do like a man who tells you right out he's looking out for himself. Don't we all? I don't trust a man who says he's not.

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    "The Maltese Falcon Quotes." Quotes.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 19 Dec. 2024. <https://www.quotes.net/mquote/120963>.

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