The Maltese Falcon (1941)

Screenplay Genre: Mystery / Crime / Film Noir

Movie Time: 100 minutes

1. INCITING INCIDENT

While fulfilling his duties as a private investigator, Miles Archer is murdered. His partner, Sam Spade (Humphrey Bogart), comes to the scene and is soon alerted that the man that Archer was following (Thursby) has been murdered too. (00:05:40)

2. LOCK-IN (End of Act One)

Sam Spade goes to see his client, Brigid O'Shaughnessy. Brigid is the client that hired Archer to follow Thursby. Sam is looking for answers to why they are dead, but Brigid is unwilling to give any information. Sam is hired by Brigid to collect more information about the mysterious happenings. (00:21:40)

3. FIRST CULMINATION (Midpoint)

After the police accuse Sam of the murders, he finally starts to learn some information. Gutman tells Sam about the Maltese Falcon. It becomes clear why Gutman, Brigid, and Cairo are in a race to get it. Suddenly, Sam's vision becomes blurred and he is knocked out by one of Gutman's cronies. (01:03:00)

4. FINAL CULMINATION (End of Act Two)

After Sam gets the Maltese Falcon in his possession, he finds Gutman, Cairo, and Brigid in his apartment. He makes a deal to give them the falcon in exchange for $10,000. On top of that, he insists that Wilmer must take the fall for the three murders that have happened. (01:19:00)

5. THIRD ACT TWIST

The Maltese Falcon, which has been the product of three murders and years of chasing, turns out to be a fake. (01:28:30)