Starring James Coburn, Paul Stewart, Jason Miller, Nancy Addison, Hector Elizondo, Beatrice Straight, Jean Simmons

(8-Exceptional Film)

Sterling. Intricate. Lurid.

Faithful adaptation of Dashiell Hammett’s Continental Op novel starring James Coburn as the shrewd detective. He’s investigating a jewelry theft, but, true to the noir style, that quickly expands to much more nefarious crimes. He can’t help caring for the emotionally unstable Gabrielle Leggett, leading him down a spiral of one mystery after another. Not as crisp and expert as Hammett’s masterpiece, The Maltese Falcon, it’s still good viewing thanks to Coburn’s effortless cool.

-Walter Tyrone Howard-

(439)