The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
Fred C. Dobbs and Bob Curtin, both down on their luck in Tampico, Mexico in 1925, meet up with a grizzled prospector named Howard and decide to join with him in search of gold in the wilds of central Mexico. Through enormous difficulties, they eventually succeed in finding gold, but bandits, the elements, and most especially greed threaten to turn their success into disaster.
-
- Cast:
- Humphrey Bogart , Walter Huston , Tim Holt , Bruce Bennett , Barton MacLane , Alfonso Bedoya , Arturo Soto Rangel
Similar titles
Reviews
Excellent but underrated film
It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.
There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.
An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.
Movie Review: "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre" (1948)A book written by writer Bruno Traven (1882-1969) and presumingly published in 1927, then discovered by Hollywood director John Huston (1906-1987) and adapted to attract Hollywood star Humphrey Bogart (1899-1957) to break public character as the easing-cool figure of smoke and drink to become the thoughout unlikeable character of Dobbs, who nevertheless creates "high-rise" fascinations as suspense due to the teaming-up with down-to-earth empathetic Howard, played by the director's real-life father Walter Houston (1883-1950) with harding streetwise wisdom, and actor Tim Holt (1919-1973) as running-for-a-chance Curtin; together they embark into the title-given desert-mountain-strip of Mexico to dig for gold.The story-arc with this gripping 125-Minute-Movie received in times of a fading Hollywood era with "Consent Decree" of year 1948 with regard to United States versus "Paramount Pictures" concluding into splitting states of filmmaking empires by separating exhibition entities from incorporated film producing Major studios, when also Warner Bros. needed to bend a knee with this final effort of a high-concept alternative Western-drama out for the hunt of Academy-Awards at the Oscars in its 21st edition celebrated on March 24th 1949 to a fulminate win for "Best Directing" with regards to John Huston, who had hold together a highly-diverse state of emotions without giving in to spectacle over moral truthfulness.© 2018 Cinemajesty Entertainments LLC
Most excellent entertainment offered bar none. Who doesn't like a good story properly told and directed and acted out to perfection that remains timeless? Here it is! None other that the subject that is one of the banes of mankind i.e. "greed" is explored and the viewer is invited to ask what would I do or have done if that was me? Remember, there are no wrong answers as we all do what we must to figure out what works and what doesn't sometimes realizing there is a better way and sometimes not. We wont know unless we take the risk to know. That point is made quite well when the old man in the story simply states if we don't take a risk we can't make a gain. Of course as a viewer we have no stake in the movie except an emotional one but that teaches quite well along with holding your attention from start to finish. As a story, it unfolds rather nicely introducing you to the characters and allowing each their substance. What this does is make the move memorable for its quality scenes of which there are so many resulting in a comeback experience. I have seen this movie so many times and each time I am fed well just like a thanksgiving dinner. Greed, who hasn't suffered by it or for it makes its entrance and doesn't leave until moderated and brought into control. Not the other guys greed mind you but your own. When you become sensible then you may help or comment on others. The conclusion of the movie is ultra-satisfying and leaves you with a sense of adventure well lived just for the experience alone. This is what life is all about. Kudos to all involved including of course the author of the book of which I recommend reading. What is the Treasure of the Sierra Madre? I know what you think it is and what the story says but leave yourself open to discover perhaps riches not of this world. Good movie to eat a meal by with a tasty drink and superior snack to follow. Put this one in your film library!
No need to repeat plot or consensus points. As a boy, I saw the movie on first release. What's really stayed with me over time is Gold Hat's sudden reflection in the mud puddle a prostrate Dobbs is sucking from. The suddeness startled me in a way that's lasted 70-years. On geezer viewing, I note the apparition is also a moment of great irony— it's water that sustains the thief while escaping with his loot; at the same time, his doom is cast upon the water from the sky above. In Dobbs' case, it's the life-saving fluid that both sustains and forebodes. But then it's his lust for gold that's left the penniless man alone and isolated. In a sense, the stolen gold dust in the saddlebags is striking back in the form of a golden hat. Then too that same dust was stolen from its mountain home. But now it will be borne through the air back to its womb in the Sierra Madre. Between the symbolism and Howard's concern for a torn mountain, there may be a subtle environmental message from this, one of the best adventure films of all time.
Dobbs and Curtin are two guys that are desperate from living on streets and after meeting Howard they decide to go on gold searching journey which will bring a lot to table. All three of them went there with hopes to find anything that will give them some kind of life but after realizing how much they could get Dobbs starts to change attitude towards them leaving with quantity of gold they have. Dobbs slowly but surely starts to lose himself in so much gold that starts to eat him and now his mistrust is pointed into everybody. After encountering Cody, there arrives trouble with bandits and now they are face to face and trying to survive. Cody ends up dead and bandits running away from Federals and now three companions decide to leave. One night they come in touch with indios that seek help for their kid and Howard decides to help them and tomorrow they are going away but villagers are determined that Howard stays and enjoys with them leaving Dobbs and Curtin to carry his gold. Dobbs finally lost it and in his madness he shots Curtin taking all gold and hoping to leave with everything. Dobbs soon after gets caught recognized by bandits which led to his death and Curtin was found by indios so now they are leaving to find Dobbs. Their discovery shocked them but it had a great sarcastic ending. It was a great journey and adventure but sometimes movie feels to slow and to long but it had a a great point of view on humans. There were some great and intense moments alongside with a great script by John Huston. All three men Bogart (Dobbs), Holt (Curtin) and Walter Huston were great in the movie giving three different portrayals of men but original. 3.5/4