[7]

A claustrophobic mystery featuring a career-launching performance from Humphrey Bogart. Characters like Sam Spade can often be played over the top, but Bogart keeps it grounded and accessible for me. I also like the ensemble of supporting players, including Peter Lorre, Sydney Greenstreet and Mary Astor — all greedy characters who can’t be trusted. The final act puts them all in a room together, where they take turns trying to dupe one another in hopes of attaining “the stuff that dreams are made of.”  It’s my favorite sequence, and it culminates in a nice ending where Sam Spade’s character sticks to his code of ethics and lets the beautiful but duplicitous dame take the fall. Directed by John Huston.

Oscar Nominations: Best Picture, Best Screenplay (Huston), Best Supporting Actor (Greenstreet)