The term GENRE FOR 'THE MALTESE FALCON' is NOIR, a 4-letter word. The Maltese Falcon is a 1941 film NOIR directed by John Huston and based on the novel of the same name by Dashiell Hammett. The film follows private detective Sam Spade as he investigates the murder of his partner and the theft of a valuable statuette. The film is considered a classic example of the film NOIR genre, which is characterized by its dark and cynical tone, use of shadows and chiaroscuro lighting, and morally ambiguous characters.