MOVIES - May 27, 1993

Falcon Falls From Block: A resin Maltese falcon statuette that had been valued by Christie’s at $30,000 to $50,000 has been pulled from a June sale at the New York auction house after questions were raised about its link to the 1941 film classic. There is a consensus among film memorabilia experts that the 5-pound, mahogany-colored bird, which has the letters WB etched on its base, was held by Humphrey Bogart in a publicity still for the Warner Bros. film, but some dispute whether it was actually used in the movie. Christie’s pulled the bird from auction after Warner Bros. said it could not “authenticate as to whether or not it was used in any way.” Film director Ara Chekmayan paid $8 for the statuette at a flea market in New Jersey two years ago.