The Treasure of the Sierra Madre is a 1948 drama starring Humphrey Bogart, with supporting roles by Walter Huston and Tim Holt. The film, which received a Best Picture Academy Award nomination, was directed by John Huston, who also makes a cameo appearance early in the film. Huston won two Academy Awards for his work here---best director and best screenplay.
Bogart and Holt are Dobbs and Curtin---broke, unemployed Americans living in Tampico, Mexico. After hearing old prospector Howard (Walter Huston) tell stories of rich gold strikes in the Sierra Madre Mountains, the two men get gold fever. Though Howard insists that gold can change a man's soul, Dobbs doesn't believe it. He's certain that gold can be as good as it can bad.
Since jobs hadn't worked out in Tampico, Dobbs and Curtin decide to head into the mountains in search of their fortune. Howard, the seasoned gold-mining veteran, accompanies them on their long, arduous trek. When they finally find a strike, greed begins to take root and the men's personalities begin to change. Can they trust one another anymore? Or will one partner be just as glad if another partner is killed in a mine cave-in? After all, one less man means one less partner with whom they need to share the riches.
I truly believe this is the most brilliant performance of Humphrey Bogart's amazing career. (Yes, even better than his superb work in Casablanca, my 2nd favorite film of all-time!). How he wasn't even nominated for an Academy Award for Treasure of the Sierra Madre, let alone not walk away with the win, is beyond my understanding. It was definitely an oversight on the part of the Academy. Walter Huston was fabulous as well, very deservedly winning the Academy Award for best supporting actor.
This movie is a gem, and it really shows what greed can do to a person. Definitely, a must-see film!! (The acting is what takes it from 4 to 5 stars for me.) Happy viewing!!
