To
Aquinas, greed is the worst of the major sins. Augustine had privileged pride
with the dubious distinction of being the worst of the worst. In films, avarice
is typically clothed with riches. The Maltese Falcon (1941) and (1931), as well as Satan Met a Lady (1936),
which is based on the same novel, all depict greed as an obsession. Even though
the object sought is thought to be very valuable, no one in the “hunt” is
wealthy. Greed is presented in this story primarily as an interior motive that relentlessly and obsessively grips the whole person. That is to say, greed is
reductionist, and in so being, distortive of any sense of natural perception
and proper proportionality. This is depicted best in the most famous of the
films. In this respect, the prior two films can be seen as building up to, or
evolving into, a depiction of greed full-blown in a distinctly pathological
sense.
The full essay is at "The Maltese Falcon"