Maltese Falcon stolen!

[phase pistol]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?...BAGV4O3F8R4.DTL

Maltese Falcon swiped from SF restaurant

John Koopman, Chronicle Staff Writer

Monday, February 12, 2007
A photograph of Humphrey Bogart with the original Maltese... A replica of the famous Maltese Falcon used in the 1941 H... John Konstin, the owner of John's Grill, says the Maltese...

(02-12) 16:46 PST -- It's been nearly 80 years since Sam Spade wandered the streets of San Francisco in search of the Maltese Falcon. Now, the statue is missing again.

John Konstin, the owner of San Francisco's John's Grill on Ellis Street, said someone broke into a locked cabinet on the second floor of his establishment and took a signed reproduction of the Maltese Falcon -- one used for publicity stills for the movie -- along with several vintage and signed books by and about Maltese Falcon author Dashiell Hammett.

Konstin said the theft was noticed Saturday afternoon. He guesses the theft took place sometime late Friday night or in the early morning hours of Saturday.

The black statue was signed by actor Elisha Cook Jr., a San Franciscan who played the role of Wilmer the Gunsel in the movie. He presented it to the restaurant after Konstin and San Francisco private investigator Jack Immendorf failed in their attempt to buy the original bird that was used in the movie.

Police have been summoned to the scene of the broken cabinet on the second floor of the restaurant, and Konstin has offered a $25,000 reward for return of the statue and books.

E-mail John Koopman at jkoopman@sfchronicle.com

 

[kell]

I told my wife I wanted one, she could have just got it off E-bay. :lol

On this subject I always notice 2 different falcons on E-bay. Which is better ? Opinions ?

 

[Serafino]

I wonder.

So far as I know there has only been one accurate replica of the one in the original movie, and that was done a few years ago based on a carefully researched sculpture.

If one of those pops up on Ebay snag it. The rest is at best castings of the one made for the take-off movie I believe.

 

[phase pistol]

I had thought that the "actual" hero lead prop had surfaced a couple of years ago.

 

[division 6]

It appears the resin one that was used for publicity shots and the scenes where Sam was running around town with it tucked under his arm is the bird in question that has been taken.

Although that would make the one sold by Profiles in history bogus since this has been in SF all these years.

The making of commentary on the movie mentions 2 lead and 1 resin birds
IIRC one of the lead ones is in a museum and the other a private collection.

A few years ago I thought I saw mentioned that there where 6 birds made for the film.



As for replica birds the one made a few years ago was the MK Falcon that was a limited run.

There are a number of other fan mde ones that look more like the one used in the parody film that was made I believe in the 70's (?)
This one has a flat head and is usually made of plaster.

D6

 

[jcoffman99]

[attachmentid=12541]

It's mine mine mine. Down go go... Mine mine mine..

 

[Apollo]

Only 25,000 for the return?

He is going to have to cough up more than that for its return.

 

[BLASTER]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(apollo @ Feb 13 2007, 04:44 PM) [snapback]1418214[/snapback]</div>

Only 25,000 for the return?

He is going to have to cough up more than that for its return.
[/b]

So, how much are you charging him to return it?




Steven

 

[BLASTER]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(division 6 @ Feb 13 2007, 09:23 AM) [snapback]1417917[/snapback]</div>

It appears the resin one that was used for publicity shots and the scenes where Sam was running around town with it tucked under his arm is the bird in question that has been taken.

Although that would make the one sold by Profiles in history bogus since this has been in SF all these years.

The making of commentary on the movie mentions 2 lead and 1 resin birds
IIRC one of the lead ones is in a museum and the other a private collection.

A few years ago I thought I saw mentioned that there where 6 birds made for the film.

D6
[/b]

Not disputing what anyone has seen elsewhere and I am certainly no expert, but did they even use "resin" in 1941? I would think that most props and such from that era would be made of wood, metal,plaster or some other more natural substance then a resin material.
I remember reading there were 2 statues (maybe that didn't include any stunts) one is not scarred while the other prop is scratched up from the scene in the movie where one of the actors scrapes it with knife or something.
The actor, William Conrad, owned one that was gifted to him, I believe by the director, until his death when it came up as part of his estate.

Steven

 

[Jumpin Jax]

The only lead prop or "real" Maltese Falcon is in collector's hands along with the piano from Casablanca. THAT one is worth the casssssssssshhhhhhhhhhhhh. There is only one. Adds to the mystique, but apparently the thief didn't get the gist of the film
JJ

 

[SG-RB]

I know there was a metal version of the Maltese Falcon on display at the Warner Bothers Studio Tour back in 2002. I think it was a production used piece. I definitely remember the info next to it saying that the tail feathers were bent when it was dropped at some time. The tail feathers were still bent.

Randy in San Diego

 

[Mike J.]

http://www.hooverae.com/upload/pics/140207/0805369.jpeg


-Mike

 

[temponaut]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(SG-RB @ Feb 14 2007, 05:39 PM) [snapback]1418622[/snapback]</div>

Warner Bothers[/b]

Don't know why I find that so amusing.

Sorry, don't mean to go off-topic. I wonder if it was an inside job?

 

[BLASTER]

The Falcon weighs nearly-50 pounds and stands 11 1/2 inches tall. A Warner Bros. serial number is inscribed on the Falcon in three places, twice on the underside and once on the back.



from this article about the Conrad one that went through Christie's.

http://www.liveauctiontalk.com/free_articl...?article_id=455


Wonder if the stolen bird was serial numbered as well.

 

[division 6]

The one Randy saw on display is the one I believe MK used as reference for his sculpt.

Marvin, look at the link Sith Sheriff Brody posted.
It describes the "resin" used as well as a pic or the bird.
It's not the type of stuff we use today.

D6

 

[GeneralMayhem]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Sith Sheriff Brody @ Feb 14 2007, 05:59 AM) [snapback]1418644[/snapback]</div>

http://www.hooverae.com/upload/pics/140207/0805369.jpeg


-Mike
[/b]

Wow. There are some nice reference photos in writeup.

 

[greatwazoo42]

I've never seen the film, is it worth watching?

 

[Riskbreaker]

There are 3 total. Two lead ones (43 pounds each) and 1 resin one. The resin one (yes, it's cast resin) was made after Bogart dropped the heavy lead one, denting it. It was very difficult for the actors to "act" with the 43 pounder, and if you watch the film, you can see the scenes when the Falcon is lead (ie, when Gutman turns the bird over on the table after opening the newspaper bundle) vs. when it's resin (when Bogie carries it around under one arm).

The dented lead one is on display at the WB studio lot out here in CA. The healthy lead one is owned by Harry Winston Jewellers who bought it at auction for nearly $400,000.

The resin one was auctioned years later after it's authenticity was verified and (I believe) purchased by a private collector.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(greatwazoo42 @ Feb 14 2007, 01:09 PM) [snapback]1418997[/snapback]</div>

I've never seen the film, is it worth watching?
[/b]

This film was the birth of both noir and the "detective" film, largely a lost art in current Hollywood. Being from the early 40s, the film has staged, play-like qualities to it due to the limitations of the era, but is worthwhile to see as the template for many, MANY films that would follow decades after.

The film is worth seeing for the performance of Humphrey Bogart alone. This was the breakout and first starring role of one of the top 5 actors in cinema history. It's amazing to see how he owns every scene he's in and how his acting is "real" compared to the emulators around him. Their performances look dated while his will always ring true because he wasn't acting -- he became Sam Spade.

 

[CaptCBoard]

This one was cast from the original, back in the 70's.

Warner Brothers had the original mold in the staff shop, and may still have it. It is a plaster mold. Each of the props was hand-tooled after demolding, to clean up the casting and this is why each is not quite an exact duplicate. In fact, the chest feathers have to be shaved way down from what comes out of the mold. Here is what the bird looks like right out of the original mold.

I got this photo from an ebay page for The Haunted Studios Collection falcon. They claim to sell the only genuine reproduction. As you can see, they don't. Here's a shot of the real deal, so you can see what I'm talking about...

If you look at the bottom left corner of the photo, you'll see the bent tail feathers.

Scott

 

[Probe Droid]

Most of the knock-offs you see are copies of the statues used in the comedy parody The Black Bird. I've been to John's Grill many times (pricey but good) and have seen all the Hammett stuff (I'm a big fan) and don't remember the statue being all that accurate, although memory is a funny thing, especially mine. The books that were stolen may be far more valuable.

A buddy of mine is one of the leading Hammett scholars. I'll ask for his 2 cents.