Sam Spade Bogart hs

[Gruff Old Bear]

I'm not sure that black really is screen accurate, since it was a black and white movie. That reference photo of Bogie and the bird is colorized. We also may think of it as black because of the George Segal satire, "The Black Bird." On the other hand, there's a reason they called the satire that.

What has been dubbed "rustic" is usually called "oil-rubbed-bronze" for things like kitchen and bathroom fixtures meant to appear bronze. A bronze foundry would call it the "traditional" finish. It's applied with chemicals and a torch, and it's temporary. Over time, a bronze piece darkens. If it's exposed to sea air, it will turn black rapidly. The traditional finish is usually waxed to delay this, but the wax comes off with handling.

Is the Falcon ever described in the film? Do they say whether it's bronze, marble, or something else? If it was supposed to be marble, black would definitely be the way to go.

The actual prop couldn't have been bronze or marble, at least not solid. Bogart couldn't have held it that effortless way.

I'm thinking black.

 

[Billion]

Yup, described as black:

Sam Spade: [impatiently] Now, let's *talk* about the black bird.

Kasper Gutman: Let's. Mr. Spade, have you any conception of how much money can be got for that black bird?

Although that doesn't mean either paint job wouldn't work just fine. Both would be basically black.

Edit: I'd need to rewatch it, but the material is supposed to be wax, right? So really shiny might be too much.

 

[gido]

Black is ok


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[Billion]

Okay, so I had some time to kill so I looked it up. The statue was supposed to be gold underneath the covering (but was actually lead). The covering WASN'T wax, it was paint. So the bronze/rustic look doesn't make much sense in terms of the movie, even though it does look good.

 

[Gruff Old Bear]

You can tell it's been decades since I last saw the film, right?

Black.

 

[Billion]

Hah, it's been years since I've seen it too. I remember the general plot, most of the lines, and various little details, but I definitely forgot pretty much all the details about the Falcon itself!

 

[Bernard2002]

In 1539, the Knight Templars of Malta, paid tribute to Charles V of Spain, by sending him a Golden Falcon encrusted from beak to claw with rarest jewels ~~~~~ but pirates seized the galley carrying this priceless token and the fate of the Maltese Falcon remains a mystery to this day

 

[Star Puffs]

I always envisioned the coating as a simple black lacquer. I've seen bronze-ish prop replicas, but that makes no sense relative to the way they try to whittle off the coating.

The book is excellent by the way and like the earlier film version includes issues no longer permitted under the Code.

 

[Entropy]

The falcon is black. Gutman explicately tells it's history including it was coated in black enamel to conceal its value. This presumably covers the jewels and obscures fine detail and allows it much easier to be faked as we see in the film. We never see "the real" falcon or know if one really existed.

 

[gido]

Ok-I believe it will be black then

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[Geronimo]

Wow, quite a discussion on the color of the bird, which I have enjoyed reading!

First, let me say I would be happy with either color. In the movie, as mentioned above, when they ripped the packaging off, it was colored black and they proceeded to try and scrape to find the jewels underneath.

When I ordered the printed version of the bird, earlier in the thread, I ordered it in black. It was difficult to see the detail however, so I started trying to highlight them, ending up with the rustic look.

If we want to be screen accurate, then black, but if we want a better detail to show, rustic...now, I probably confused the issue more; either one is good with me


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[Entropy]

Think of the detail if it were only lime green! :slap

If you really want highlights for detail sake try lead instead of bronze as the only falcon we see is a black painted lead fake.

 

[Davinator65]

Wow...when I asked for a vote, I didn't think that the color of the bird would turn into a lively discussion. LOL!

BLACK IT IS!!!

 

[Bernard2002]

Wow...when I asked for a vote, I didn't think that the color of the bird would turn into a lively discussion. LOL!

BLACK IT IS!!!

I'm ok with black, but can we do a test first to see how the overall appearance is?

 

[Davinator65]

I'm ok with black, but can we do a test first to see how the overall appearance is?

How this?

 

[Geronimo]

Looks perfect to me!


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[Billion]

That looks awesome! I love it!

 

[Gruff Old Bear]

Perfect!

 

[gido]

Nice!


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[JeffTVR]

I'm sold on black!