Movie Review: The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)

The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948) written and directed by John Huston

Two drifters, Dobbs and Curtain (Humphrey Bogart and Tim Holt), try to get work in a small Mexican town. After getting ripped off by an oil rig contractor, they decide to go prospecting for gold. They met an old codger named Howard (Walter Huston) who knows all about prospecting. He loves the search and has done it many times. He is happy to go, though he is very chatty and has some interesting opinions about human nature, especially as it relates to finding gold. According to Howard, a lot of people change for the worst when they first make a find. Beforehand, a guy may tell himself he only needs ten or fifteen thousand dollars' worth to be happy; as he works a mine, he gets greedy and wants more and more. People's souls are corruptible, a fact that comes out when they search for wealth together and have to share.

His opinion turns out to be true in Dobbs's case, who has already demonstrated a certain amount of harshness and selfishness in the Mexican town. Dobbs is quick to assume the worst about others and he wants to get more from the gold mine (of course they find one) than he originally agreed on with the others. Curtain's character is a little more complicated. He goes along with Dobbs's plans in many situations, though he does have qualms with Dobbs's ideas and decisions. Howard is mostly a happy-go-lucky guy who is more interested in adventure and making the best of the situation as it is. He's both tougher and more experienced in the ways of the world than the other two, making him a mentor to the others. He also has a good understanding of the other two.

In addition to being an exciting adventure (the trio goes through a lot of hardships, including a confrontation with bandits who utter the classic line, "Badges? We ain't got no badges! We don't need no badges! I don't have to show you any stinking badges!" which is commonly shortened to "We don't need no stinking badges!", the parody line in Blazing Saddles), the story makes for an interesting morality tale. Curtain seems to be torn between living a life like Dobbs or like Howard. The movie definitely shows one way as better.

Highly recommended.

The movie is discussed on A Good Story is Hard To Find podcast #240.