Mania Grade: A
Film Grade: A+
Disc Grade: A
Reviewed Format: DVD
Rated: N/A
Stars: Humphrey Bogart, Walter Huston, Tim Holt, Bruce Bennett
Writer: John Huston, from the novel by B. Traven
Director: John Huston
Distributor: Warner Home Video
Original Year of Release: 1947
Retail Price: $26.99
Extras: 2-disc set, Commentary by Eric Lax, introduced by Leonard Maltin, 12 Bogart theatrical trailers, Newsreel, Comedy Short Subject, 2 Bugs Bunny cartoons, 2 documentaries, picture gallery of cast and crew and sets, storyboards, publicity materials, 1949 radio performance starring Humphrey Bogart and Walter Huston.

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THE TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE

Treasure, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. One may treasure the first cry of a newborn child, while another may treasure a brand-new Porsche. Since Adam and Eve, man has been looking for treasure in one form or another that may bring happiness, success, wealth, or some other form of status to lead to a better life. Hollywood certainly looks for the lines at the box office. Unfortunately, THE TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE was not a quick box office hit; however, Hollywood should be more than satisfied that Director and Writer John Huston gave it one of the all-time cinematic greats to treasure for all time. Warner Brothers certainly knows what they have since they gave the new DVD all the bells and whistles so new generations can be tempted to enjoy it.

THE TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE starts with Humphrey Bogart as down-on-his-luck Fred C. Dobbs in Tampico, Mexico. His main form of sustenance is appealing to fellow Americans: "Hey Mister, can you stake a fellow American a meal" is his standard refrain. His shame is such that he doesn't even realize that he has appealed to the same wealthy American three times. When he does find another one to beg from, he gets offerred a job instead. Unfortunately, this fellow American, Pat McCormick (Barton MacLane) isn't as generous and fails to pay him for the work. After befriending another unfortunate American, Bob Curtin (Tim Holt), he ends up in a chance meeting in a boarding house with a grizzled old prospector named Howard (Walter Huston, the director's father). Howard tells him that McCormick is well know in Tampico for getting ignorant Americans to work for him, then skipping out before pay day. Howard also informs him that, with the right capital and men, mining for gold is the way to actually make some money in these parts. Shortly thereafter, Dobbs and Curtin see McCormick and beat the money out of him. After a chance lottery ticket that Dobbs bought from a local kid hits, they have the money to go looking for the gold.

Now the adventure begins. Howard is wise and wary of the new venture, but it seems that he can not resist another opportunity to go for the gold. Very few prospectors die a rich man he tells the neophytes. There are many obstacles to overcome: bandits, the elements, greed. Neither Dobbs nor Curtin seem the least bit fazed by it, and off they go. They end up in the far off hills of the Sierra Madres and after a long and tortuous journey, find what they are looking for. The work is hard, the sun is hot, and the hours are long, but they keep at it and slowly build their treasure. However, the obstacles that Howard had spoken of start transcending from the theoretical to the real. Though from the surface of things it seems that Howard is batty, it is really Dobbs who slowly descends into madness as the glitter of the gold consumes him. When a fourth man chances upon them and wants in, they can't stand to let him in on it and decide to get rid of them, even though he subsequently helps them successfully ward off invading bandits. After a grueling ten months and an impressive haul, they decide to pack it in but fate isn't done with them. They fought off the bandits, and endured Mother Nature, now they have to deal with each other, and all three won't make it out alive. It turns out that the bandits and Mother Nature aren't quite done with them either.

Though it is certainly not the first, nor will it be the last, of movies of man searching for gold, THE TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE is arguably the best. When one character dies, a letter from his wife is found among his possessions and read aloud. The last line is "We've already found life's real treasure." Unfortunately this realization is made too late for those still standing, while the ones who held to a higher moral compass make out better than those who don't. That is the real lesson here. They may not have found the treasure they were looking for, but those who offer some good will find treasure nonetheless.

Humphrey Bogart's Dobbs, along with Sam Spade in THE MALTESE FALCON and Rick Blaine in CASABLANCA, is certainly one of the finest portrayals his career. His slow mental degeneration is painful to watch but the performance is a triumph of acting. Walter Huston deservedly won an Academy Award for his performance. He goes from pity to joy to fear to elation effortlessly. Tim Holt as Curtin is the unsung hero. Though he never made any more great movies after this, his role here is a great one. Most of his performance is in the reaction to what goes on around him, to see that who he thought was crazy is actually quite sane and the one he thought was together is really quite mad. His expressions show it all.

Thankfully, Warners did a great job with this two-disc set. The commentary by film historian Eric Lax is great. He relates many anecdotes from the making of the film as well as giving bios of the cast and crew. From page to screen, the process took 20 years and he tells how it was made it in great detail. One story is how Bogart was hoping to make a boat race upon completion of the film. However, since it went overtime, he never made it. At one dinner, Bogart vented his frustration at Huston. Huston promptly reaches over, grabbed and twisted his nose. Lauren Bacall, who was present during filming, told Huston that he's hurting Bogie and Huston replies, "I know, I mean to." That was the end of Bogie's complaining.

One great feature is the ability to watch the movie as it may have been watched upon its first theatrical release. It starts with a trailer, then a newsreel, then a live action short subject, followed by a Bugs Bunny cartoon, which leads into the feature film. It's a nice reminder of the film going experience from a bygone era. On the second disc is a two-hour documentary about John Huston made shortly after his death in 1987. He was basically one unpredictable fellow who liked to keep those around them on their toes. It talks honestly about his attributes and faults, his many great films and his more than a few stinkers. They've even found an old radio broadcast from 1949 of the film with Bogart and Walter Huston reprising their roles. After the film has been seen, it has little more than novelty value, but on that level it is fun to listen to. Additionally, there is another Bugs Bunny cartoon where Bogart's Dobbs is parodied, a boatload of Bogart trailers, and a gallery of storyboards, cast and crew stills, and pictures of the sets.

Whether one has seen THE TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE or not, this lavish set is worth the purchase price. The movie alone is worth it, but the DVD set makes it a fine addition to any collection to treasure.