AmicusVP

Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948, Warner)
Director: John Huston
Cast: Humphrey Bogart, Walter Huston, and Tim Holt.

Review by: Lyle Horowitz

Dobbs and Curtin meet up in Mexico, and go to work for a contractor, MacClane, who takes them away to remote site and tells them they will be paid when the job is finished. When they are finished, they return to town to find MacClane to get their wages. MacClane gives them a few dollars, and says he'll just go to the bank and pick up the payroll for them. Dobbs and Curtin then meet up with an old prospector, who claims the hills are still full of gold, and if they can get the cash, he'll go with them. They eventually get the cash from MacClane after a little "persuasion", and all three set off for the hills as good friends, but will they return that way ?

Treasure of the Sierra Madre was a box-office flop when it was released in 1948. The reviews proved otherwise. It recieved some of the best reviews from film critics and is now regarded as one of the greatest American films ever made (A personal favorite of director Martin Scorsese) Many audiences at the time were used to seeing Bogart in a cynical/romantic detective role a'la The Maltese Falcon and The Big Sleep. This film is beautifully shot, and Bogart is (in my opinion) at his best. You watch his character of Fred C. Dobbs break down. This film showcased greed and paranoia like none other. Walter Huston is also excellent as the old prospector...and he won the 1948 best supporting actor award at the Oscars. John Huston, his son, who directed the film won best director for this film aswell. The first ever father/son win in the history of the Academy Awards. Overall, this film is brilliant, with a DVD that can finally do it justice. This is my personal favorite Bogart film, and one of the best films of all time. HIGHLY reccomended.

A/V: The picture quality is very good. The print shows very few specs and very mild grain. Considering there was no original negative for the film, they did the best they could. The restoration is amazing and it's the best we have ever seen this film. The image is very clear and the definition is very high. The sound is absolutely flawless.

E: The disc is absolutley STACKED when it comes to special features. It's amazing to say the very least. Over 5-6 hours of MEANINGFUL extras on this disc.

DISC ONE:
Remastered version of the film
-Audio commentary with author Eric Lax. This commentary, from what I have heard so far, is very insightful and detailed.

-Warner Night at the Movies - Hosted by Leonard Maltin. This features trailers, newsreels, and cartoons; showcasing what the theatre would show before the film in 1948.

-Bogart Trailer Gallery - THE PETRIFIED FOREST, ANGELS WITH DIRTY FACES, THE ROARING TWENTIES, THEY DRIVE BY NIGHT, HIGH SIERRA, THE MALTESE FALCON, CASABLANCA, TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT, THE BIG SLEEP, DARK PASSAGE, TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE, and KEY LARGO. I assume THE PETRIFIED FOREST, ROARING TWENTIES, and ANGELS WITH DIRTY FACES are coming soon.

DISC TWO:
-John Huston: The Man, The Movies, The Maverick Documentary. 2 Hours and 8 Minutes. This is narrated by Robert [Night of the Hunter] Mitchum. The documentary is old, made sometime in the early 90's.

-Discovering Treasure: The Story Behind THE TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE. A new documentary made especially for the DVD. 50 minutes.

-8 Ball Bunny Looney Toons Cartoon. 7 Minutes.

- Lux Radio Theatre Broadcast - Old Time Radio broadcast of THE TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE (4/18/49 - I would be born 38 years later of April 18th, 1987. Just felt like adding that...)

-Photo Galleries

Overall:
MOVIE---*****
VIDEO---****
AUDIO---**** ½
EXTRAS---*****

Check out my other reviews for cult films at www.eccentric-cinema.com

cinelion

Thanx AmicusVP for the review. I have admired this film since my earliest days of watching movies. I can't wait to give it a spin.

chente

I can't wait until my Warner Set shows up!

indycohiba

Me too!