In
The Maltese Falcon (1941) the characters
in the film are very dynamic. The two main characters Brigid O’Shaughnessy and
Sam Spade have characteristics that make the audience question their actions.
Are they the hero or are they the villain?
Brigid O'Shaughnessy
exhibits very interesting personality, which leads the audience members
watching the film to have very different impressions. The viewer’s impression
of her transform quickly from the start to the end. Upon Brigid walking in to Sam’s office in the first scene,
we see her as an innocent young woman who needs help. The way she is perceived
is as someone you seems helpless. Although Sam and his partner can tell that
she is lying and very untrustworthy. However, as an audience member is was difficult to see this
detail upon the first scene. The first clue to the audience that she was not
telling the truth was the fact that she was talking fast. This signaled that
she was not being honest. She also plays games with the men in the movie—mostly
with Sam. Brigid manipulates the people in her life, which ends up hurting her
in the end. Most people are fooled by her personality. For example, Mr. Spades
secretary Effie was fooled into thinking she was a polite woman. In reality,
she is a murderer—she killed Mr. Archer. Everything that Brigid does is for her
own personal gain. She wants the find the Maltese Falcon. She will do anything
in her power to find it. For example, she says that she is in love with Sam.
This is hard for him, as well as the audience to believe because she has
already done so much lying. Brigid even calls Sam to tell him that she is in
danger. When actually she is trying to get him to leave his office. Brigid is
using Sam to save herself. Even though she committed the crime, she wants
someone else to take the blame. By the end of the film the audience has seen a
quick transformation of a young innocent girl, to a woman who is deceitful—she
is clearly portrayed as one of the villains in the film.
Another important
character in the film is Sam Spade. Who, in my opinion is the hero of the
story. However, he is not the traditional hero that we see in films today. He
does what he wants and has a tough personality. He almost doesn’t have a warm
heart, and shows very little emotion. For example, he didn’t seem to show any
sadness of sorrow for his partner that had been killed. He also knew that
Brigid had killed Archer from the beginning, but didn’t let the audience know
until the very last scene. Sam is also playing a game. He puts up with Brigid’s
lies and drama all in order to solve the mystery of the murder. The relationship
between Brigid and Sam is also out of the ordinary. Did Sam actually like or
love Brigid? Or was he just playing with her emotions to get the truth about
Archer? In my opinion this film leaves the audience with
many unanswered questions.
Molly Koplos
To answer your question on whether or not Sam and Brigid are truly in love, I do think they are in love (regardless to how strange their relationship is) and I think the last scene of the movie is proof. In the last scene Sam says he loves Brigid, but he cannot deny the fact that she killed his partner. Although he loves her, he sticks to his morals and thinks Brigid should be punished for her crime, and that it’s respect for Miles. But like you said in your analysis, Sam can see through Brigid, she is no mystery for him. He knew all along that Brigid was sneaky, yet he could not resist her. But for Brigid, she cannot let go of her selfish habits and her lying, even though she knows that Sam is the one for her. He shows no emotions the entire film, not even when he finds out his partner has been murdered. Sam even says, “when a man’s partners dies, he’s supposed to do something about it;” I think that is the only justification for Sam turning Brigid in. Sam is a very cold character. I think you’re right about Sam being a nontraditional hero, but he is just as damaged as Brigid is, and together they realize they both have a meaningless feeling to their lives. This is mainly due to the years that they will never get back in consequence to her committing murder but also Sam knows that he is alone in all aspects now.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with the question of whether Brigid and Sam are heroes or if they are villians. The movie portrays Sam as though he has no morals and values in life besides women and money. On the other hand, Brigid is portrayed to show emotions of innocence and helplessness. Little do the viewer’s know, our interpretation of these characters will be changed by the end of the movie. I also like how you mentioned that Brigid may not really be in love with Sam. I think this to be true because she will do whatever it takes to make Sam believe he needs to help her and needs to be on her side. She is hoping that he will fall in love with her as well so he doesn’t turn his back on her and turn her in for murder. Along with Brigid playing with people’s emotions and manipulating them to get what she wants, Sam does that as well. He is a different kind of detective; one who doesn’t use police or evidence to solve a crime. I like how you explain that he plays a game with the criminals. He gets into other people’s business and ultimately lies to them to get them to trust him. I also think the character Sam Spade plays a game with the audience. We are always contemplating whether or not we really trust Sam Spade and whether or not he is doing the right thing. By the end of the movie we really find out who these characters are and the mysteries of their games and morals have been solved. Like you, I also had many unanswered questions at the end of this movie, but this could be what the writer wanted from the audience.
ReplyDelete--Allison Emery