A Different Breed

A Maltese Falcon isn't one of those new hybrid dog breeds like a Labradoodle or a Puggle—it's a solid gold statue encrusted in jewels. It makes Faberge eggs look like those cheap plastic Easter eggs you can buy in bulk at Walmart.

The main reason it's the movie's title is because it's the title of the book, plain and simple—this film is an adaptation of a super popular novel. Like the book, the movie also features the Falcon in only two scenes, and in one of them, we don't even see the black bird (it's wrapped in newsprint).

The Falcon is a classic MacGuffin plot device—it's something that motivates all the characters, but turns out to be a hunk of worthless junk.