Wikipedia:Peer review/The Maltese Falcon/archive1

The Maltese Falcon

This is the article about the Dashiell Hammett novel, and unfortunately it is a mess. The description of the plot is long and plodding and basically tells the entire story of the book, but in language that is so dull one could not possibly find it engaging. The ending of the novel is ruined, but the article is not very informative beyond that. Surely, an article about a film should be able to say enough so that you understand the basic story, should tell you something about the author, and the context within which the book was written and published. The Maltese Falcon, I dare say, is an important book, and well-loved, but this article would hardly give that impression. Furthermore, there is an edit war underway between myself and two other editors as to what image is appropriate to illustrate the article. Rather than risk a 3RR violation, I bring the problem here, and ask the question: Is it appropriate to illustrate an article about a novel with an image from a film adaptation of said novel; and, if so, which picture should it be? I would really like to see this article improved, and welcome any and all helpful comments. ---Charles 03:56, 11 July 2006 (UTC)[reply]

1) Image: This article is about a book, so illustrating it with a film still strikes me, at best, as a second choice to a book jacket. And more to the point, if you're going to use a film still, it ought to be from the most well-known version (the 1941 Humphrey Bogart version, not the 1931 Ricardo Cortez version).

2) Plot summary: My high-school English teachers frowned on plot summaries as padding for essays, and man, that guideline applies here: 2800 words of plot summary is far too much, being, what? five percent of the length of the book itself? Blow-by-blow is plotcruft, so when I get the chance I'll go after that with a chainsaw. --Calton | Talk 06:46, 11 July 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Take care not throw the baby out with the bath-water. Wikipedia is not a paper based reference, nor is it a school essay. The bottom line is: how pertinent is the information contained in the plot synopsis? If it's irrelevant or not pertinent to an understanding of the work then can it, otherwise let it stand. But 2800 words of plot, as you say, does seem a little overzealous. Sjc 09:41, 11 July 2006 (UTC)[reply]

PS I took a look. Get those scissors out! If not, I will :) Sjc 09:43, 11 July 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you both, Calton and Sjc, for your comments. I am glad to see that I am not the only one who felt the article was burdened by that long plot summary. Someone definitely needs to go after it with the hedge-trimmers. As to the picture, Calton, you and are in complete agreement. I am currently looking for an original book cover image that is in the public domain. I'll let you know as soon as I find one. ---Charles 19:12, 11 July 2006 (UTC)[reply]

PS Had I looked at the article first, before commenting here, I would have seen that you already replaced the picture, Calton. Thank you. VodkaJazz has done some admirable work on the article as well, and his compromise (using all 3 pictures for the time being) will work temporarily---as he himself said, it remains to be seen what the article will look like after some heavy editing. ---Charles 19:53, 11 July 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Please see automated peer review suggestions here. Thanks, AZ _t 19:49, 11 July 2006 (UTC)[reply]