The outdoors hasn't exactly been Hollywood's forte. While IMAX and PBS documentaries consistently convey the thrills and splendors of the natural world, narrative films set in the outdoors have a much spottier track record. Plunking down $10 for these films is risky; you hope for the inspirational but often end up with the unwatchable. That's not to say Tinseltown hasn't been trying. Some of the greats of the 30s, 40s, and 50s—Spencer Tracy, Humphrey Bogart, John Wayne, and Alfred Hitchcock, to name a few—-directed or starred in films focused on nature and adventure. And since its Golden Age, Hollywood has continued to produce winning outdoor films, but the demands of big action and bigger financial returns have lead to many a Vertical Limit for every Deliverance.

So, we at GORP have taken it as our responsibility to cull through the dreck to give you some possibilities. The result is a diverse, opinionated list of wonderful movies that evoke nature or adventure. Can't get out this weekend? Well, grab one of these films and give your outdoor soul some vicarious satisfaction.

Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
Setting aside the drama and acting that make this a classic on any list, Lawrence of Arabia gets top billing here for its photography and musical score, which bring the Middle East desert brilliantly alive with danger and romance. David Lean's epic biography of the eccentric British adventurer T.E. Lawrence offers something for everyone, and his vision will sweep you away to a time and place like no other.

	What are your favoite outdoor flicks? We've given you our choice for the classics that pay homage to the beauty and grandeur of nature and adventure. Are there any movies we missed? Join the GORP movie discussion board

Jaws (1975)
More than a quarter-century after its release, Stephen Spielberg's smash hit is still scaring swimmers out of the water. You know the story by now: A Long Island fishing and beach community is terrorized by a huge, vengeful great white shark; resourceful town sheriff (Roy Scheider), shark specialist (Richard Dreyfuss), and grizzly fisherman (Robert Shaw) go after their prey, only to discover that they are the ones being hunted. Jaws struck fear of the ocean into countless souls, and sharks are still paying the consequences at the hands of sport fishermen worldwide.

Aguirre, The Wrath of God (1972)
Aguirre is no Hollywood action movie: The famed German director, Werner Herzog—who shot this incredibly vibrant film on location in Peru—brilliantly captures the intense realism of colonial South America. Klaus Kinski is riveting as the deluded leader of a 16th-century Spanish expedition searching for gold along the Amazon. This tale of greed and madness is strangely hypnotic, and Herzog does an amazing job of conveying the menacing power of nature and despair.

Easy Rider (1969)
The classic American road trip with a 60s twist, Easy Rider offers a different kind of scenic driving. Captain America (Peter Fonda) and Billy (Dennis Hopper) take off on their Harleys to see the country and indulge in plenty of rock and roll, drugs, and sex. They pick up stragglers along the way, including Jack Nicholson, who won an Oscar nomination for his role as a boozy lawyer. A great rock soundtrack accompanies this cross-country journey, which reveals both the beauty and ugliness to be found along America's roadside. This classic flick also makes the list for one of the all-time great campfire scenes.

The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)
It's John Huston's classic western adventure film about treachery, paranoia, and suspicion-so how does it make the list of great outdoor movies? Well, any movie that follows Humphrey Bogart on a gold-prospecting expedition, where he confronts greed and moral corruption amidst the splendor of the Sierra, certainly qualifies as both outdoors and adventurous. From the opening scene to the devastating end, this film ranks as one of the best movies ever to come out of Hollywood.

Move on to Rounding Out the Classics

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