212. The Treasure Of Sierra Madre (1948)

Directed By John Huston

Synopsis

Bogart and another guy are just hanging around a Mexican town getting more and more dissatisfied with the job opportunities. When they meet an old gold prospector they decide to take their chances mining for it. Greed drives them all a bit crazy, but one more than the others.

Review

This was definitely a very interesting film and probably the most violent film on the list after the implementation of the Production Code, the story is also a pretty stressful and well crafted one which leaves you a little unsatisfied in the end, but in a good way.

The whole film revolves around three characters really, all the rest is scenery so it would always live or die depending on their acting capabilities. Fortunately they pull it off greatly. Bogart has his best performance in a film up to this point and that by itself makes the film worth watching.

Then the film is eminently quotable, particularly the Badges scene, which is kind of representative of the quite xenophobic portrayal of Mexicans, even though the evil guy here ends up being an American. Still, one of the best thrillers in the list up until now. And remember kids, greed drives you MAD!

Final Grade

9/10

Trivia

From Wikipedia:

A few notable uncredited actors appear in the film. Director John Huston appears (see below) as does actor Robert Blake as a young boy selling lottery tickets.

In an opening cameo, director John Huston is pestered for money by one of the two main characters.

The most controversial cameo is Ann Sheridan. Sheridan, who was in Mexico at the time, allegedly did a cameo as a streetwalker. After Dobbs leaves the barbershop in Tampico, he spies a passing prostitute who returns his look. Seconds later, the woman is picked up again but this time in the distance. Some film goers and critics feel the woman looks nothing like Sheridan, but the DVD commentary for the film states that it is she. Many film internet sources, including IMDb, credit Sheridan for the part.

Co-star Tim Holt's father, Jack Holt, a star of silent and early sound Westerns and action films, makes a one-line appearance at the beginning of the film as one of the men down on their luck.

Bruce Bennett, who plays a key role as a rival prospector, had portrayed Tarzan in Edgar Rice Burroughs's own 1935 film version, under Bennett's birth name of Herman Brix. Bennett, who celebrated his hundredth birthday on May 19, 2006, died February 24, 2007.

Badges?: