Review of The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948) by Emerson B — 21 Aug 2013

Constantly billed as one of the best films ever made, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre certainly lives up its name. The movie follows two wanderers (Bogart and Holt) who team up with an experienced prospector (Huston) to traverse the Mexican wasteland in search of gold. Contrary to the title, the actual treasure becomes irrelevant as the film progresses as forces vie for control of this poisoned chalice extracted from the remote Mexican mountains. Those of you who know Humphrey Bogart as Hollywood's original charmer, you will not forget how he breaks this role in a dramatic way. Without giving away the plot, the lust of treasure hunting has the greatest effect on Bogart's already broken character from the opening scene.

The moral journey is the key to the film. Every character reacts differently to their newfound treasure and even has divergent views on what the treasure actually is. Could it be the appreciation for the journey, the physical embodiment of discovered wealth, the ability to exercise power over others by any means necessary, or is it something else entirely? I love the possible discussions that emanate from this picture and I highly recommend this amazingly timeless classic.