FREE! Click here to Join FunTrivia. Thousands of games, quizzes, and lots more!
Quiz about The Maltese Falcon 1
Quiz about The Maltese Falcon 1

'The Maltese Falcon' #1 Trivia Quiz


'The Maltese Falcon' - the classic movie that confirmed Humphrey Bogart as a major international star in 1941.

A multiple-choice quiz by tirpitz44. Estimated time: 4 mins.
  1. Home
  2. »
  3. Quizzes
  4. »
  5. Movie Trivia
  6. »
  7. Movies L-P
  8. »
  9. The Maltese Falcon

Author
tirpitz44
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
223,758
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
15
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
11 / 15
Plays
1187
Awards
Top 35% Quiz
Last 3 plays: Guest 155 (13/15), Guest 68 (12/15), Guest 209 (12/15).
- -
Question 1 of 15
1. 'The Maltese Falcon' was based on a book by which author? Hint


Question 2 of 15
2. The movie was produced by which Hollywood studio? Hint


Question 3 of 15
3. Who directed 'The Maltese Falcon'? Hint


Question 4 of 15
4. In the opening scene of the film, what is visible through the window behind Sam Spade's desk? Hint


Question 5 of 15
5. What is written on the window of the office? Hint


Question 6 of 15
6. What was the name of Sam Spade's Secretary/Receptionist? Hint


Question 7 of 15
7. Sam Spade's partner's surname was Archer, but what was his first name? Hint


Question 8 of 15
8. What is the first name of Archer's wife - with whom Sam Spade was having an affair? Hint


Question 9 of 15
9. By what name is the femme fatale, Brigid, first introduced to Sam Spade? Hint


Question 10 of 15
10. Which name subsequently turns out to be Brigid's real name?

Hint


Question 11 of 15
11. What make of handgun was used to kill Sam Spade's partner Archer?

Hint


Question 12 of 15
12. Who played Detective Sergeant Tom Polhaus?

Hint


Question 13 of 15
13. The part of Joel Cairo was played by which actor?

Hint


Question 14 of 15
14. The part of 'The Fat Man' was played by which actor? Hint


Question 15 of 15
15. The character is referred to as The Fat Man, but what is his actual name in the movie? Hint



(Optional) Create a Free FunTrivia ID to save the points you are about to earn:

arrow Select a User ID:
arrow Choose a Password:
arrow Your Email:




Most Recent Scores
Mar 14 2024 : Guest 155: 13/15
Mar 05 2024 : Guest 68: 12/15
Feb 25 2024 : Guest 209: 12/15
Feb 25 2024 : Guest 24: 14/15
Feb 23 2024 : Guest 99: 13/15
Feb 18 2024 : Andyboy2021: 15/15
Feb 14 2024 : bocrow000: 11/15
Feb 05 2024 : harveysh: 8/15

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. 'The Maltese Falcon' was based on a book by which author?

Answer: Dashiell Hammett

'The Maltese Falcon', published in 1930, was Hammett's third novel in two years and established him as America's leading detective fiction writer.
Hammett, who had spent several years working as a detective for the Pinkerton Agency, died in 1961.
2. The movie was produced by which Hollywood studio?

Answer: Warner Brothers

'The Maltese Falcon' was billed as 'A Warner Brothers First National Picture'.
Warner Brothers Studios were established in 1923 by four brothers, Jack, Sam, Harry and Albert Warner, who reputedly didn't always get along, but were nonetheless considered by many to have produced some of the greatest movies in the history of Hollywood.
3. Who directed 'The Maltese Falcon'?

Answer: John Huston

'The Maltese Falcon' was top Warner screenwriter, John Huston's, directorial debut, which was one of the reasons top star George Raft cited for declining the role. It subsequently came to be regarded as one of the finest detective movies ever made.
Huston reputedly encouraged the actors to develop their roles in rehearsals. Although he observed them, he gave no explicit directions. All he asked them to do was follow his script.
Very little of the dialogue from his original screenplay was cut, and, apart for some night scenes, he shot the entire movie in sequence, a rare treat for the actors.
4. In the opening scene of the film, what is visible through the window behind Sam Spade's desk?

Answer: The Bay Bridge

With Spade seated at his desk, making a cigarette, one of the towers and a section of the span of the Bay Bridge can be seen through the window behind him. It's behind some tall buildings upon which there are three large neon signs, reading KLVW, MADISON and UNION.
5. What is written on the window of the office?

Answer: Spade and Archer

'Spade and Archer Confidential Investigators' can be seen on the door of the office reception area later in the film.
6. What was the name of Sam Spade's Secretary/Receptionist?

Answer: Effie

Effie Perine, the loyal and slightly judgemental secretary, who appears to approve of the glamourous 'Miss Wonderly' ("Her name's Wonderly ... She's a knockout!") but clearly does not approve of Spade's dalliance with his partner's wife, was beautifully played by Lee Patrick.
Lee Patrick was born in 1901, and appeared in 74 movies between 1929 and 1975 (with a gap of eight years between 1929 and 1937), including playing Bogart's blonde in 'Invisible Stripes' in 1939.
Her final film was a reprise of the original role of Effie in 'The Black Bird', the unfortunate Maltese Falcon sequel in 1975, for which she would seem to have came out of retirement, having made her previous movie in 1964.

Lee Patrick died the day before her 81st birthday, in 1982.
7. Sam Spade's partner's surname was Archer, but what was his first name?

Answer: Miles

Miles Archer, Spade's partner, was played by Jerome Cowan. A small and fairly thankless part, he nonetheless brought to it a gullible and rather foolish quality that made his death, and the fact that his wife clearly preferred his partner, all the more believable.
Born in 1897 - Cowan appeared in over 140 movies between 1936 and 1969 - including 'High Sierra' with Bogart in 1941, shortly before they appeared in 'The Maltese Falcon'.

He died in 1972.
8. What is the first name of Archer's wife - with whom Sam Spade was having an affair?

Answer: Iva

Mrs Iva Archer, clearly infatuated by Spade who, in the film anyway, rarely seems to reciprocate her devotion, was played, in a suitably tearful and melodramatic style, by the experienced Gladys George.
Born in 1900, she appeared in over forty movies between 1919 and 1953.

Gladys George died in 1954.
9. By what name is the femme fatale, Brigid, first introduced to Sam Spade?

Answer: Miss Wonderly

Miss Ruth Wonderly, introduced in the film by Spade's secretary Effie with, "There's a girl who wants to see you. Her name's Wonderly ... She's a knockout!"
Effie is nicely played by Mary Astor, who was born in 1906, and appeared in over 120 movies between 1920 and 1964, including 'Across the Pacific' with Humphrey Bogart.

She died in 1987.
10. Which name subsequently turns out to be Brigid's real name?

Answer: O'Shaughnessy

Brigid O'Shaughnessy, is introduced as Ruth Wonderly, briefly becomes Miss LeBlanc, and finally admits to her real name.

In 'The Cheap Detective', a Bogart spoof movie based loosely on the combined plots of 'The Maltese Falcon', 'Casablanca' and 'The Big Sleep', made in 1978, the character was played with great relish by Madeline Khan. She introduces herself with a different name almost every time she appears in the film, 16 in all, much to the exasperation of Peter Falk, who plays the Bogie role.
11. What make of handgun was used to kill Sam Spade's partner Archer?

Answer: A Webley Automatic

Detective Polhaus:" ... It's a Webley. English ain't it?"

Spade: "Yeh. A Webley Fosbery .45 Automatic - eight shot. They don't make 'em any more"

Where Hammett's book describes a very rare gun, a collector's item, the screenplay describes one that never existed!
No eight-shot Webley Fosbery .45s were ever manufactured.

In the scene where Spade and Polhaus are investigating Archer's death, a poster for 'Swing Your Lady', a 1938 movie starring Humphrey Bogart, can be seen on the wall in the background!
12. Who played Detective Sergeant Tom Polhaus?

Answer: Ward Bond

Detective Sergeant Tom Polhaus, a solid straight cop, whose relationship with Spade was clearly based on mutual respect and friendship, was played by Ward Bond.

Born in 1903, he appeared in a staggering 260 movies between 1929 and 1959, and died in 1960.
13. The part of Joel Cairo was played by which actor?

Answer: Peter Lorre

The sinister and deceitful Cairo was played with slimy menace by Peter Lorre.

Born László Löwenstein, in what is now Slovakia, in 1904, Peter Lorre starred in over 80 movies, including five times with Humphrey Bogart in 'The Maltese Falcon', 'All Through the Night, 'Casablanca', 'Passage to Marseilles' and 'Beat the Devil'.

He died in 1964.
14. The part of 'The Fat Man' was played by which actor?

Answer: Sydney Greenstreet

Educated, mysterious and utterly ruthless The Fat Man, who will stop at nothing to possess the Falcon, was unforgettably played by the English actor Sydney Greenstreet.

Born in 1879 - noted stage actor Greenstreet made his screen debut in 'The Maltese Falcon' at the age of 61, and was nominated for an Academy Award!
The scene where he tries to get Spade to take the drugged drink was his first in front of a camera!
He appeared with Bogart in three other films, 'Across the Pacific', 'Casablanca' and 'Passage to Marseilles'.

At over 350 pounds, he was so large that his entire wardrobe for the film had to be specially manufactured.

Sydney Greenstreet died in 1954.
15. The character is referred to as The Fat Man, but what is his actual name in the movie?

Answer: Kasper Gutman

Gutman is certainly an appropriate name for a character being played by an actor weighing over 350 pounds!

In Dashiell Hammett's book, Gutman has his vulnerable 17-year old daughter, called Rhea, staying with him at the Alexandria Hotel.
Source: Author tirpitz44

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor skunkee before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.
Related Quizzes
1. The Maltese Falcon Average
2. Woody Allen's "Manhattan" Average
3. Dean Koontz' "Phantoms" Average
4. Major Payne Difficult

3/29/2024, Copyright 2024 FunTrivia, Inc. - Report an Error / Contact Us