Directed by:
John HustonScreenplay:
John HustonCinematography:
Ted D. McCordComposer:
Max SteinerCast:
Humphrey Bogart, Walter Huston, Tim Holt, Bruce Bennett, Barton MacLane, Alfonso Bedoya, Arturo Soto Rangel, Manuel Dondé, José Torvay, Margarito Luna (more)VOD (3)
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Drifters Fred C Dobbs and Curtin share a cheap flophouse and meet Howard, a seemingly crazy old man who regales them with stories about prospecting for gold. Dobbs and Curtin cobble together what cash they can get a hold of, and along with Howard, plan a prospecting expedition. Dobbs promises that anything they dig up will be split three ways, but Howard doesn't believe them. As the gold is mined the men become increasingly distrustful, and soon turn against one other. (official distributor synopsis)
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Fraňa Šrámek had his “Silver Wind". Across the pond, John Huston didn’t know half-measures and gave up immediately on shoddy silver. Because gold ore, even though it doesn’t sparkle, changes characters more reliably than anything else. And Humphrey Bogart, in this the best performance of his career, and the rest of the cast (who aren’t here just to be pretty) proves this to be true. The movie itself is flawless perfection in every thinkable respect. From the screenplay and camerawork, through the pace and all the way to the music. The Treasure of the Sierra Madre is a picture that will probably never be forgotten. It was, is and (if human kind continues to exist) will be too relevant. We all have our price for forgetting our humanity and common sense. My price is Fred Dobbs’ scruffy fedora. I simply MUST have it, whatever the cost. ()
An accurate study of the nature of ordinary people in a situation that would drive a wedge even between Pat and Mat. Unique performances by veteran actor Walter Huston, whose energetic prospector perfectly embodies the feelings of the gold rush, and the legendary Humphrey Bogart, who perhaps for the first time traded his dashing suit and looks for the shabby coat and creepy grin of a man with a treasure that has clouded his brain and awakened a lurking evil. John Huston conducts his masterpiece with his own precision, not forgetting to emphasize the cinematic trend of the time, full of western shootouts and unreadable heroes, while delving deep into the human soul and exploring its most basic nature. An exceptional film for which one screening is not enough and which can hardly be compared to anything American cinematography has ever produced. 100% ()
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre is not a typical western. It’s more of a drama set in the period when westerns usually take place. However, it focuses on something that often appears in westerns: gold. It’s an incredibly powerful film about what gold can do to you when you let it seep too deeply into your life, when you allow it to become the most important thing. Humphrey Bogart plays a character here that he usually didn’t portray. You picture him as the guy from Casablanca, typically seen in a perfectly fitted suit or a trench coat with a hat pulled down low over his eyes. Here, though, he plays a drifter who barely touches work. However, a great opportunity arises. Along with another drifter and an old prospector, they head to the Sierra Madre to check out the local rivers and their gold potential. But gold means money, and money leads to greed. This is the film’s strongest aspect: how even the most steadfast individuals can ultimately succumb to gold and become its slaves. They care nothing for others; they only chase after riches. As often happens, they encounter trouble. This happens to the main protagonist as well. The ending is truly good, and I must say it struck me quite deeply. Humphrey Bogart delivers a top-notch performance, as he had his entire life. He didn’t win an Oscar, but the film certainly didn’t leave empty-handed. John Huston won Oscars for both directing and writing. Rightfully so. Even the old prospector Walter Huston (yes, he was John’s father) took home an Oscar for his supporting role. That’s what you call a family success. This is a film that is definitely worth watching even after all these years. Another reason why westerns are so beloved and why they rank so highly in lists of the best films. ()
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