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The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)

8.4
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Ratings: 8.4/10 from 50,422 users  
Reviews: 176 user | 90 critic

Fred Dobbs and Bob Curtin, two Americans searching for work in Mexico, convince an old prospector to help them mine for gold in the Sierra Madre Mountains.

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(screen play), (based on the novel by)
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Title: The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)

The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948) on IMDb 8.4/10

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Top 250 #76 | Won 3 Oscars. Another 12 wins & 4 nominations. See more awards »
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Cast

Complete credited cast:
...
...
...
...
...
McCormick (as Barton Mac Lane)
Alfonso Bedoya ...
Arturo Soto Rangel ...
Presidente (as A. Soto Rangel)
Manuel Dondé ...
El Jefe (as Manuel Donde)
José Torvay ...
Pablo (as Jose Torvay)
Margarito Luna ...
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Storyline

Fred C. Dobbs and Bob Curtin, both down on their luck in Tampico, Mexico in 1925, meet up with a grizzled prospector named Howard and decide to join with him in search of gold in the wilds of central Mexico. Through enormous difficulties, they eventually succeed in finding gold, but bandits, the elements, and most especially greed threaten to turn their success into disaster. Written by Jim Beaver <jumblejim@prodigy.net>

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

The nearer they get to their treasure, the farther they get from the law. See more »


Certificate:

Approved | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

Language:

|

Release Date:

24 January 1948 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Treasure of Sierra Madre  »

Filming Locations:

 »

Box Office

Budget:

$1,100,000 (estimated)
 »

Company Credits

Production Co:

 »
Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

(RCA Sound System)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Director John Huston had read the book "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre" by B. Traven in 1936 and had always thought the material would make a great movie. Based on a 19th-century ballad by a German poet, Traven's book reminded Huston of his own adventures in the Mexican cavalry. When Huston became a director at Warner Bros., the smashing success of his initial effort, The Maltese Falcon, gave him the clout to ask to write and direct the project, for which Warner Bros. had previously secured the movie rights. See more »

Goofs

Although set in Mexico in the 1920s, many of the cars on the street in the Tampico scenes are of 1930s and 1940s vintage. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
Dobbs: Say buddy, will you stake a fellow Am...
See more »

Connections

Referenced in Millennium: The Hand of Saint Sebastian (1997)
"Let me see your stinkin' badges" See more »

Soundtracks

"Believe Me If All Those Endearing Young Charms"
(1808) (uncredited)
Music traditional
Played on harmonica by Walter Huston
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

See more (Spoiler Alert!) »

User Reviews

 
What acting is all about.
26 April 2004 | by (Chicago, IL) – See all my reviews

Although John Huston's directing is absolutely equal to the screenplay, winning Oscars for both, it is the performance level of the actors that makes "Treasure of The Sierra Madre" the classic film that it is. Beginning and ending with Walter Huston's award winning role of the worn-out old miner who is looking for one last big score, Humphrey Bogart and Tim Holt are equal to the task and draw us in to this tale of need and greed. So convincing is Walter's portrayal of the seasoned old prospector, we come to believe that he is a gold digger by trade who only acts in movies so that he can dig and pan for gold again and again. His knowledge of mining and the lifestyle it demands and forces upon those who partake, is so thorough that Bogart and Holt seem like school kids in awe of a new hero. Of course, we know that his son John, did much research in preparation for writing the screenplay; but we are nevertheless plunged into a sure belief that this old miner must surely have been there age upon age, mine upon mine, and has therefore, a thousand tales to tell.

When, in the course of the story, Walter is taken away, somewhat without choice, to work the magic of a healer for a Mexican village, we are again convinced that he is a medical doctor hiding out as a prospector. This is the acting craft in full bloom. Walter becomes whatever is called for in the story. However, if one views his other films, the effect is the same. He is one of Hollywood's most under rated actors of all time. Those who have not seen this film have a joyous experience awaiting them. Great story, great screenplay, great acting. This is why we love movies the way we do.


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