1. The Maltese Falcon - The Maltese Falcon
The quintessential MacGuffiin, the titular item of what is considered one of cinema's first noir films, the Maltese Falcon knows how to make a bad day worse. In this Bogart film, private detective Spade is thrown into a tangle of twists and lies as one ill-intended individual kills off another for the valuable, jewel incrusted Maltese Falcon. As the title of the film tells you, this movie item is your driving force for the entire plot. Everyone, save for Spade, will go to any lengths to get their hands on this pricey artifact for profitable gain. Representing a straight-forward embodiment of blind greed, the Maltese Falcon enchants the weak minded with the opportunity of wealth. Seeing the shallow and pointlessness in such endeavors, Spade ensures that no crook, including the lady he may be falling for, wins the prize as he easily keeps the Falcon out of murderous hands and places it in the custody of law enforcement.