This movie was enjoyable, but Joel Cairo's first appearance was the most ridiculous thing I have ever seen in the history of film. As the scene was coming to a close, and he asked for his gun back, I was jokingly hoping that he stuck him up again. And he did. Greatest moment in movie history.
shareTruly a great, hilarious, moment. Um, greatest in movie history? Um. . . helloooo!!!
shareIt is certainly the best scene in the movie. What I like about 'Falcon' is the eccentric villains and Sam Spade's reaction to them. His reaction to Joel Cairo is not what you'd expect a tough guy's response to be. I would think that Bogart and Lorre must have enjoyed playing that scene for laughs.
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What I don't understand to this day, 20 years after I saw the movie for the first time, is Bogart's reaction when Effie announces his presence. "Won't you come in, Mr. Cairo?" Why would Sam have a surprised look on his face at this point, unless Cairo's name had been brought up in his discussion with Bridgid that the audience was not aware of.
Formerly tdnh_2000
Maybe he's just put off by Cairo's effeminate appearance and demeanour as he comes into the room?
Re "Bogart's reaction when Effie announces his presence." I think Sam Spade is still reeling from the overpowering whiff of the gardenia on Cairo's calling card. Being a tough guy who is probably used to dealing with tough people, Sam isn't quite prepared for the full-on pansiness of Cairo. His further reactions are so funny.
share"What I don't understand to this day, 20 years after I saw the movie for the first time, is Bogart's reaction when Effie announces his presence. "Won't you come in, Mr. Cairo?" Why would Sam have a surprised look on his face at this point, unless Cairo's name had been brought up in his discussion with Bridgid that the audience was not aware of. "
I don't get this, either. The only thing I can think of is that the card only has the last name, and so, when Bogart says, "show him in" in that accent, he was only joking about the "him" part. When the secretary tells him to come in, he is shocked that it really is a he.
Ruin is a gift. Ruin is the road to transformation (Eat, Pray, Love)
"I don't get this, either. The only thing I can think of is that the card only has the last name, and so, when Bogart says, "show him in" in that accent, he was only joking about the "him" part. When the secretary tells him to come in, he is shocked that it really is a he."
Never looked at it that way, but you might be spot on!
I'm surprised that Spade gave a loaded gun back to the very guy that had pulled the gun on him a few moments before. I would have taken the bullets out of Cairo's gun, when he was knocked out in the chair. Anybody else wonder why Spade didn't do that?
I think it's the same answer as the 'Why does Spade look surprised?' question.
This is the 1920s, and the vast majority of gay guys are firmly in the closet. Spade was a very experienced guy, but nevertheless he could have underestimated Cairo from the first whiff of the gardenia cologne.
Actually, it was set in 1940, but your point probably still stands.
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