The Maltese Falcon - Characters & Cast

To survive, make a living, and adhere to his personal rule: 'When a man's partner is killed, he's supposed to do something about it.'

Spade starts as a cynical investigator indifferent to his partner's death but is drawn into a high-stakes game. He navigates the corrupt world by playing all sides, ultimately revealing his integrity by turning in the woman he loves to uphold his professional code.

Greed and self-preservation; she uses men as tools to obtain the Falcon and protect herself.

She begins as a distress damsel seeking help, reveals herself as a manipulative liar, and is finally exposed as a cold-blooded killer. Her arc ends in defeat when her sexual manipulation fails to save her from justice.

Obsessive greed for the Maltese Falcon.

The 'Fat Man' is the architect of the chaos, pursuing the bird for 17 years. He is willing to sell out his own 'son' (Wilmer) for the prize, only to be crushed by the revelation that the bird is fake.