The Treasure of the Sierra Madre

One of John Huston's best films (and he made several great ones, including The African Queen, The Maltese Falcon, and The Asphalt Jungle), this 1948 adaptation of the classic novel by the mysterious B. Traven (widely believed to be a German anarchist also known as Ret Marut) stars Humphrey Bogart in one of his best performances as Fred C. Dobbs, a down-and-out American living in Mexico, who hooks up with two other men--Curtin (Tim Holt) and old-timer Howard (Walter Huston)--to prospect for gold in rugged mountains overrun by banditos interested in more than just fritos. After they make a strike, and the gold begins to accumulate, Dobbs becomes more and more paranoid, certain the other two are plotting to kill him for his share. Walter and John Huston won father and son Oscars for Best Supporting Actor and Best Director and Screenplay, respectively, and the film boasts a beautiful score by Max Steiner. Trivia buffs should note that Cheech and Chong's classic comic routine about not needing no stinkin' badges comes directly from this film. Boasting a luminous, sharp transfer (throughout, except for a few brief spots) and a clear Dolby Digital mono soundtrack, Warner's double-disc edition also includes a treasure trove of extras: a solid commentary by film historian Eric Lax, the two-hour-plus 1989 documentary tribute John Huston: The Man, The Movies, The Maverick (hosted by Robert Mitchum, and featuring Lauren Bacall, Paul Newman, Anjelica Huston, and others), a 50-minute retrospective "making of" (narrated by the somewhat lethargic-sounding director John Milius), the classic Bugs Bunny cartoon short "8 Ball Bunny" (with a nod to Bogart's classic "can you help a fellow American?" panhandling line), and more. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. (R. Pitman)