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The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)

The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)
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John Huston's 1948 treasure-hunt classic begins as drifter Fred C. Dobbs (Humphrey Bogart), down and out in Tampico, Mexico, impulsively spends his last bit of dough on a lottery ticket. Later on, Dobbs and fellow indigent Curtin (Tim Holt) seek shelter in a cheap flophouse and meet Howard (Walter Huston), a toothless, garrulous old coot who regales them with stories about prospecting for gold. Forcibly collecting their pay from their shifty boss, Dobbs and Curtin combine this money with Dobbs's unexpected windfall from a lottery ticket and, together with Howard, buy the tools for a prospecting expedition. Dobbs has pledged that anything they dig up will be split three ways, but Howard, who's heard that song before, doesn't quite swallow this. As the gold is mined and measured, Dobbs grows increasingly paranoid and distrustful, and the men gradually turn against each other on the way toward a bitterly ironic conclusion. The Treasure of the Sierra Madre is a superior morality play and one of the best movie treatments of the corrosiveness of greed. Huston keeps a typically light and entertaining touch despite the strong theme, for which he won Oscars for both Director and Screenplay, as well as a supporting award for his father Walter, making Walter, John, and Anjelica Huston the only three generations of one family all to win Oscars. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Starring:
Humphrey BogartWalter Huston, (more)
Director(s):
John Huston
Theatrical MPAA Rating:
NR
Format(s):
DVD  |  Blu-ray  | Digital SD
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Synopsis of The Treasure of the Sierra Madre

John Huston's 1948 treasure-hunt classic begins as drifter Fred C. Dobbs (Humphrey Bogart), down and out in Tampico, Mexico, impulsively spends his last bit of dough on a lottery ticket. Later on, Dobbs and fellow indigent Curtin (Tim Holt) seek shelter in a cheap flophouse and meet Howard (Walter Huston), a toothless, garrulous old coot who regales them with stories about prospecting for gold. Forcibly collecting their pay from their shifty boss, Dobbs and Curtin combine this money with Dobbs's unexpected windfall from a lottery ticket and, together with Howard, buy the tools for a prospecting expedition. Dobbs has pledged that anything they dig up will be split three ways, but Howard, who's heard that song before, doesn't quite swallow this. As the gold is mined and measured, Dobbs grows increasingly paranoid and distrustful, and the men gradually turn against each other on the way toward a bitterly ironic conclusion. The Treasure of the Sierra Madre is a superior morality play and one of the best movie treatments of the corrosiveness of greed. Huston keeps a typically light and entertaining touch despite the strong theme, for which he won Oscars for both Director and Screenplay, as well as a supporting award for his father Walter, making Walter, John, and Anjelica Huston the only three generations of one family all to win Oscars. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Theatrical Feature Running Time:
126 mins

Complete Cast of The Treasure of the Sierra Madre


Director(s):
John Huston
Writer(s):
John Huston
Producer(s):
Henry Blanke
Theatrical MPAA Rating:
NR(Violence, Profanity)
Categories:
Action / Adventure
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre Awards:
  • 1998 - American Film Institute - 100 Greatest American Movies
  • 1948 - Film Daily - 10 Best Films
  • 1948 - Golden Globe - Best Picture
  • 1948 - Hollywood Foreign Press Association - Best Picture
  • 1948 - Hollywood Foreign Press Association - Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
  • 1948 - Hollywood Foreign Press Association - Best Director
  • 1989 - Library of Congress - U.S. National Film Registry
  • 1948 - National Board of Review - Best Screenplay
  • 1948 - National Board of Review - Best Actor
  • 1948 - New York Film Critics Circle - Best Picture
  • 1948 - New York Film Critics Circle - Best Director
  • 1948 - New York Times - 10 Best Films
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Member Reviews
 
Glenn B.

Wow. I need to stop underestimating these old classics. This is very good. Three very different characters among the backdrop of desert California in search for the elusive gold. To begin, Bogart is the careless roustabout, looking for a way to get a quick buck. As the gold tempts him, he turns into a corrupted, feverish monster who will stop at nothing for gold. It is the Bogie's best performance, shadowing even Casablanca. Then, there is Walter Huston, the old, wise prospector who still has the yearning but knows the price it comes with. An Oscar he deserved, if only for those crazy outbursts. Then, there is Tim Holt, who plays it cool as the middleman between two awesome characters, an honest laborer who goes along because he needs the money as much as Bogart. The descent into madness over greed is great, an Apocalypse Now of the 40's.

Yes   |   No

 
Cliff S.

Great characters, story, and dialogue ... the descent of one decent man into gold fever. An interesting message about true riches and contentment ... it is not getting gold but giving life that counts.

Yes   |   No

 
Aaron C.

One of the best classics we've rented. Strong performances from everyone in the cast, great direction and the DVD extras were cool too (Bugs Bunny short and a newsreel.) Badges?!

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