On the Trail of The Black Bird...
The Whereabouts of the "Real" Maltese Falcon

As of March 1995, the original movie prop used in the filming of John Huston's 1941 classic The Maltese Falcon has finally gone home to roost in San Franciso, site of the film and the original novel by Dashiell Hammett. The leaden statuette emerged from obscurity to be purchased at auction by New York jewellers The House of Harry Winston, for $398,500 -- considerably more than Casper Gutman thought 'the dingus' to be worth.

According to a report in the San Francisco Chronicle, the bird will appear on display during April 1995 at John's Grill, an SF eatery frequented by Hammett in his Pinkerton days. (The owners of the diner bid unsuccessfully at the auction.)