Classic Hollywood Afternoon: John Huston’s The Maltese Falcon & The Dead

Join us for an afternoon celebrating the remarkable range of director John Huston, one of Hollywood’s most enduring auteurs. We’ll be discussing two of his most celebrated films — the razor-sharp detective thriller The Maltese Falcon (1941) and his luminous, elegiac final masterpiece The Dead (1987), adapted from James Joyce’s beloved short story.
From Humphrey Bogart’s cool, cynical Sam Spade to the quiet emotional devastation of Gabriel Conroy, Huston’s career spanned decades and genres while always returning to the deepest questions of human nature. These two films, bookending his extraordinary filmography, offer a perfect window into what made him such a singular voice in cinema.
Whether you’re a longtime Huston devotee or discovering these films for the first time, all are welcome. Come ready to discuss, debate, and reflect.
We’ll cover:
• Huston’s career arc, from Hollywood noir to intimate literary adaptation
• The Maltese Falcon as a defining work of film noir
• The Dead as a meditation on memory, love, and mortality
• The personal significance of The Dead as Huston’s farewell film
• Open discussion and audience favorites
Watching the films in advance is encouraged but not required!