Continuity mistake: As Spade speaks to Brigid O'Shaughnessy in the first scene of the movie, just about everything on his desk moves between shots without being touched. (00:02:00)
Continuity mistake: Miles Archer walks in as Sam Spade speaks to Brigid O'Shaughnessy and he sits down. At the right side of his desk a coat hanger with a hat on it appears out of nowhere next to the window. (00:04:15)
Continuity mistake: Miles Archer walks in and throws his hat on his desk as Sam Spade speaks to Brigid O'Shaughnessy in the first scene of the movie. The hat is leaning against a letter holder on Miles' desk, later it's in the letter holder and no one went near it. (00:05:45)
Continuity mistake: As Spade speaks to Brigid O'Shaughnessy in the first scene of the movie, there's a file cabinet in between Miles' and Spade's desk. Throughout the scene, the books on top of the file cabinet move without anyone going near them. (00:05:50)
Continuity mistake: As Spade speaks to Brigid O'Shaughnessy in the first scene of the movie there's a file cabinet in between Miles' and Spade's desk. Throughout the scene the books on top of the file cabinet change positions without anyone going near them. (00:05:50)
Continuity mistake: Capt. Jacobi brings the Maltese Falcon to Spade's office and drops it at his feet. The Falcon is tied up with string with the center having one strand wrapped around it. Later when Spade picks it up the center has two strands of string tied together around it. (00:07:00)
Continuity mistake: Miles Archer is shot and Sam Spade stands at the wood fence on top of the hill looking down at the body. When Miles is shot he holds onto the fencepost and there is no railing on the left or on the right, but when Spade stands there railing is on the left side. (00:08:20)
Continuity mistake: The police visit Spade's apartment after Miles Archer murder and we see a nice tie rack with several ties hanging off of it behind the lamp near his night stand. Earlier in the movie we saw this spot when he got the call about the murder and the tie rack was not there. (00:10:40)
Continuity mistake: Spade is a gracious host and offers Detectives Dundy and Polhaus a drink from a bottle that appears between shots on his night stand. (00:11:00)
Continuity mistake: Spade returns to his office the next day to find Iva Archer waiting for him. The lamp in the center of Effie's desk is removed between shots as he turns to look at her. (00:14:50)
Continuity mistake: Spade shows up at Brigid O'Shaughnessy's apartment as she's unpacking. The two slips that are draped over the open suitcase in the center of the room move as the scene progresses even though no one goes near them. (00:18:50)
Continuity mistake: When Spade talks to his lawyer, Effie brings in Joel Cairo's calling card. Spade's packet of rolling papers are right next to his phone in some shots and not in others, even though he doesn't touch it. (00:23:10)
Continuity mistake: Joel Cairo walks into Spade's office and his phone is on some papers in some shots and not in others. (00:23:35)
Continuity mistake: Joel Cairo plays with his umbrella as he speaks to Spade about the possibility of him finding the Maltese Falcon. When he says, "I am prepared to pay, on behalf of the figure's rightful owner, the sum of $5,000 for its recovery," the handle of the umbrella changes positions between shots. (00:24:40)
Continuity mistake: Joel Cairo is knocked cold by Spade's upper cut and as he's unconscious Spade goes through his pockets. He takes his wallet out first and places it on the table behind him but by the time his hand reaches the table in the next shot the wallet becomes a watch. (00:25:40)
Continuity mistake: After going through his pockets, Spade holds Joel Cairo's three passports in his hand, but if you watch closely he puts four passports onto the top of the table. (00:25:50)
Continuity mistake: Spade pulls an orchestra ticket to the Geary Theatre out of Joel Cairo's wallet. At first three-quarters of the ticket is underneath the flap of the wallet then in the next shot the entire ticket is out of the wallet. (00:26:05)
Continuity mistake: At Spade's apartment, Brigid O'Shaughnessy tells Joel Cairo, "I haven't got the falcon, I'll have it in another week at most, though". The lamp on the table of the right of the screen changes position throughout the scene without anyone going near it. At first it's pointing downward then later it's pointing sideways at the three of them. (00:35:35)
Continuity mistake: Spade tells Joel Cairo, "When you're slapped you'll take it and like it" just before he pummels him. At first there's no blood on his cheek but then in the next shot blood spatter appears out of nowhere. (00:36:40)
Continuity mistake: At Spade's apartment, Brigid O'Shaughnessy and Joel Cairo get into a fight just as Detectives Dundy and Polhaus are talking to him at the front door. They come in and Joel has blood on his face, but it changes between shots throughout the scene. (00:39:10)
