Released in 1941, John Huston made his directorial debut with The Maltese Falcon. The film essentially set the benchmark for film noir and is still studied in film schools. For the uninitiated, the mysterious, femme fatale Brigid O'Shaughnessy (Mary Astor) shows up at the Spade however, Spade is a saint compared to his clients and others with whom he must deal. The bottom line is that The Maltese Falcon is a must see for those interested in film noir and the best of cinema during the golden age of Hollywood.