MovieChat Forums > The Maltese Falcon (1941) Discussion > Sam's "toast"

Sam's "toast"

posted 9 years ago by aciolino
4 replies | jump to latest

I don't get Sam's toast, "Success -- to crime." He makes it with Ward Bond and Barton MaClane in his apartment early in the film.

What is it supposed to mean? Is it supposed to be humorous? I don't get it.

[–] Nikostratos 9 years ago

It`s supposed to mean that without crime, cops and detectives would be out of work. So they drink to the `health` of crime.

[–] aciolino 9 years ago

Not sure. Logical, but unsatisfying. And crime need not be successful for the police to have work fighting it.

But you are probably right. Thanks.

[–] Nikostratos 9 years ago

Agreed that crime need not be successful, but in the absence of crime, in a law-abiding society, police and detectives would be redundant.

But I agree that it was pretty obscure. It may have made more sense for the toast to simply have been `Here`s to crime`

[–] aciolino 9 years ago

Yes!!! Much better!!