It’s “the stuff dreams are made of.” Humphrey Bogart uttered those words at the conclusion of the the classic 1941 film noir The Maltese Falcon. Little did the filmmakers at the time realize how true the statement was as the fabled Black Bird – one of only two made for the production of the film – sold at auction for $3.5 million.
The lead statue weighs 45 pounds and stands 12-inches tall. The statue, which was auctioned by Bonhams, has a bent tail feather – the result of being dropped by actress Lee Patrick. Even though two of the statues were made, Warner Bros. has confirmed that the statue sent to auction is the only one to appear in the actual film. The figurine has a Warner Bros. inventory number etched into the base.
The Maltese Falcon starred Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor, Peter Lorre and Sydney Greenstreet. It was based on a novel by Dashiell Hammett. John Huston wrote the screenplay and directed (his debut). The result was one of the great films of all-time.