THE MALTESE FALCON
TCM, 8:00 p.m. ET
Brad Bird, director of both Ratatouille and Mission Impossible – Ghost Protocol, has displayed terrific taste since guest programming TCM’s “The Essentials” showcase of classic films. Since he began presenting and discussing films in May with TCM’s Ben Mankiewicz, Bird’s roster of movies has included Singin’ in the Rain, The Searchers, Dr. Strangelove: Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, The Music Man, A Hard Day’s Night, Lawrence of Arabia, Ace in the Hole, The Red Shoes, and even a silent film, Buster Keaton’s The General. I’ve watched almost all of them anew, and have delighted at Bird’s enthusiasms and observations – for example, when he likened Keaton’s mastery as a daredevil stunt man and actor combined to Tom Cruise. And tonight, he presents 1941’s The Maltese Falcon, starring Humphrey Bogart. Can’t wait.