The Black Bird

George segal is sam spade junior, in the black bird, a parody of the maltese falcon. Some fun faces in here. Ken swofford (police academy) and vic tayback (mel, for those old enough to remember) are police detectives. Lionel stander (max, for those old enough to remember). Effie and wilmer are played by the original actors from bogart's version! Although in this one, effie is a loud, ornery shrew, who hates her boss. It starts out strong, but loses steam about halfway through; the trivia section here tells us that the writers, producers, and directors were all fighting, which didn't help. I love the premise, but after a while, it just tries too hard. And the anna character just brings it to a halt every time she speaks. Where's madeline kahn when you need her? They really wasted vic tayback... he did this in between the film "alice doesn't live here" and the tv series alice. The first and last film directed by david giler. Segal did this one about ten years after "virginia woolf". Too bad. I really wanted to like this one.

I love this movie. It's filled with little gems that can only be appreciated with repeated viewings.

"I'll see the first person with a 10 dollar bill in his hand--and that's cash, we're not taking' food stamps anymore."

"What is this?" "What do you mean 'What is this?'--this is the Maltese Falcon!" "I'll give you $14.95 for it." "Why is it always $14.95? Why can't it be $15, at least a round figure?" "Would you like a round figure?" "Yes, I would." "Fourteen dollars." "Come on, its gotta be worth more than that." "It is. It's worth $14.95."

"It's open and shut: the girl wandered into the building by accident and he threw her down the shaft. Now, it could have happened that way!"

"Dsemboweled?" "They take a large knife and--" "I know what that is!"

"There's no use spilling milk on a dead horse."

"It is mine because I deserve it. Mine because I have killed for it and will kill again for it. Mine because I have spent thirty years in pursuit of it. It is mine because I have the means, the determination, and most of all the power to have it. It is mine because I want it!" "Look, if it's yours what do you need with me?"

"Litvak will kill her (Effie)!" "It's bad luck to talk about these things before they happen."

"Litvak, you get a lot of bad press, but I gotta tell you you're aces with me. This is the best day I've had in a year!"

"Nonsense, no one is always wrong." "I am."

"Gordon Immerman, but you can still call me Andrew Jackson if you want to."

Certainly this flick is not a classic! However,it is guilty fun,quirky-and even affectionate towards the original-if only in its weird way...indeed there is no resemblance to the Bogart noir.Yet it works for me independently as a 70's aberration and a hoot to boot!Flaws?-you bet...so what!Stander is terrific and the two original characters(Cook & Patrick) from the early 40's are a pure delight and a connection from a past glory(also I would bestow honorable mention to Signe Hasso as a museum curator who plays her delightful role w\aplomb and the right kind of satirical dash).Don't know much if I especially like the midget or some of the over the top stuff,but-hey,its OK within the context of a silly little yarn. Moreover,George Segal,I think,is just right for a world weary sleuth in the shadow of a famed father detective.I like the opening credits w\ its promise of something more-but the absurd ending is less than satisfying...despite these things,I have watched the film numerous times and find it overall a "kick;"for you cannot take this one tale that seriously anyway:so go w\ the FLOW....

"The Black Bird" (1975) is neither an all-out private-eye spoof in the style of Inspector Clouseau (there are very few laughs), nor an engaging "straight" private-eye yarn (the plot - if you can call it a plot, it's mostly just people going around in circles - is tiresome, the McGuffin ineffectual). It is a half-hearted, strained comedy, though at least it is well-shot (in San Francisco). Stephane Audran looks great in two brief lingerie (one black, one white) scenes, but otherwise this is a big comedown from her work with Claude Chabrol. For a better George Segal film in a somewhat similar vein, try "Who Is Killing The Great Chefs Of Europe?". ** out of 4.

I liked the movie...thought it was funny, especially the bantering between George Segal and all of the co-stars. I watched the original version of unfaithful and saw the same actress was in This movie and the french version of unfaithful. I thought she was hilarious in this movie.

I saw this movie in a movie theater in 1976 and laughed and still laugh via VHS. Thought the ending was a little drawn out...so thats why I gave it an 8.. In Leonard Maltins book he gave it BOMB rating which I can not understand. I can watch this movie anytime where as a movie like Porkys or Dodgeball I find unwatchable.