The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)

Director:

John Huston

Writers:

John Huston (screen play)
B. Traven (based on the novel by)

Release Date:

24 January 1948 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Drama | Western

Tagline:

The more he yearns for a woman's arms . . . the fiercer he lusts for the treasure that cursed them all!

Plot:

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.

Plot Keywords:

Mexico | Gold | Prospector | Tampico Mexico | Greed

Awards:

Won 3 Oscars. Another 12 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Humphrey Bogart	...	Dobbs
Walter Huston	...	Howard
Tim Holt	...	Curtin
Bruce Bennett	...	Cody
Barton MacLane	...	McCormick (as Barton Mac Lane)
Alfonso Bedoya	...	Gold Hat
Arturo Soto Rangel	...	Presidente (as A. Soto Rangel)
Manuel Dondé	...	El Jefe (as Manuel Donde)
José Torvay	...	Pablo (as Jose Torvay)
Margarito Luna	...	Pancho
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Robert Blake	...	Mexican Boy Selling Lottery Tickets (uncredited)
Guillermo Calles	...	Mexican Storeowner (uncredited)
Roberto Cañedo	...	Mexican Lieutenant (uncredited)
Spencer Chan	...	Proprietor (uncredited)
Jacqueline Dalya	...	Flashy Girl (uncredited)
Ralph Dunn	...	Flophouse Bum (uncredited)
Ernesto Escoto	...	Mexican Bandit (uncredited)
Pat Flaherty	...	Customer in Bar Who Warns Curtin and Dobbs about Pat McCormick (uncredited)
Martin Garralaga	...	Railroad Conductor (uncredited)
Jack Holt	...	Flophouse Bum (uncredited)
John Huston	...	American in Tampico in White Suit (uncredited)
Francisco Islas	...	Indian (uncredited)
Mario Mancilla	...	Child (uncredited)
Julian Rivero	...	Barber (uncredited)
Ann Sheridan	...	Pretty woman walking past barbershop (uncredited)
Jay Silverheels	...	Indian Guide at Pier (uncredited)
Valdespino	...	Indian (uncredited)
Ildefonso Vega	...	Indian (uncredited)
Harry J. Vejar	...	Bartender (uncredited)
Ignacio Villabajo	...	Mexican Bandit (uncredited)
Clifton Young	...	Flophouse Bum (uncredited)

Directed by
John Huston

Writing credits
John Huston		(screen play)
B. Traven		(based on the novel by)

Produced by
Henry Blanke	....	producer
Jack L. Warner	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Max Steiner

Cinematography by
Ted D. McCord		(director of photography) (as Ted McCord)

Film Editing by
Owen Marks

Art Direction by
John Hughes

Set Decoration by
Fred M. MacLean

Makeup Department
Perc Westmore	....	makeup artist
Betty Delmont	....	hair stylist (uncredited)
Frank McCoy	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Monty Westmore	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Don Alvarado	....	production manager (uncredited)
Don Alvarado	....	unit manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Richard Maybery	....	assistant director (uncredited)
John Prettyman	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Bob Bono	....	props (uncredited)
Frank Durlauf	....	assistant art director (uncredited)
Ed Romero	....	painter (uncredited)
George Sweeney	....	props (uncredited)

Sound Department
Robert B. Lee	....	sound
Rafael Ruiz Esparza	....	sound (uncredited)
Edward Ullman	....	sound recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Hans F. Koenekamp	....	special effects (as H.F. Koenekamp)
William C. McGann	....	special effects director (as William McGann)
Eddie Craven	....	special effects (uncredited)

Stunts
Harvey Parry	....	stunts (uncredited)
David Sharpe	....	stunt double: Tim Holt (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Dave Brodie	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
William Classen	....	grip (uncredited)
Ellsworth Fredericks	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Burdette Hoke	....	best boy (uncredited)
Mac Julian	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Clair Sealey	....	gaffer (uncredited)
Jorge Stahl Jr.	....	photographer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Robert O'Dell	....	wardrobe (uncredited)
Ted Schultz	....	wardrobe (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Fred E. Farrell	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Murray Cutter	....	orchestral arrangements
Leo F. Forbstein	....	musical director
Jack Dumont	....	musician (uncredited)
Max Steiner	....	conductor (uncredited)

Other crew
Antonio Arriaga	....	technical advisor
Ernesto A. Romero	....	technical advisor
Fred Applegate	....	script supervisor (uncredited)
Jaime Contreras	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Luis Sánchez	....	production chief (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Warner Bros (as a Warner Bros.-First National Picture)

Distributors

• Warner Bros (1948) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. Films (1948) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Suomi-Filmi (1965) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Fazer Musiikki Oy/Fazer Video (1990) (Finland) (VHS)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2004) (Finland) (DVD)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1969) (1975) (1991) (2006) (2008) (Finland) (TV)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1983) (Finland) (TV)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical) (35mm print)
• Elite Films (1948) (Spain) (theatrical)
• M.P.E.A. (1949) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Motion Picture Export Association (MPEA) (1948) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Neue Visionen Filmverleih (1949) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1949) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1948) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Key Video (19??) (USA) (VHS)
• Living Colour Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (VHS)

Also Known As:

"Treasure of Sierra Madre" - USA (poster title)

Runtime:

126 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | Netherlands:AL | Sweden:15 | UK:PG | USA:Approved (certificate #12347) | Canada:G (Nova Scotia/Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | South Korea:12 | West Germany:12 (nf) | Canada:PG (video rating) | Norway:16 | West Germany:6 | Netherlands:18 (original rating) (1948) | USA:TV-PG | USA:Not Rated

Filming Locations:

Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico

Company:

Warner Bros

Trivia:

The reclusive novelist B. Traven was asked if he would like to visit the set during location shooting. He demurred, but said he would be sending an associate instead. The associate was actually Traven himself, using a pseudonym.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Howard is laid on a hammock, being served by Indian women, he has a little bunch of flowers on his left ear which disappear in subsequent shots.

Quotes:

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

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Getting Wasted (1980)

Soundtrack:

Believe Me If All Those Endearing Young Charms

A treasure presented to the viewer

Some movies have certain scenes in them that hold the viewers interest more than others. However every single scene in this film holds the viewers interest. There is never a dull or lagging moment. Three down and outers who at one time in their lives were maybe up and comers strike out in search of a fortune or at least enough to live better than they have been.

While Humphrey Bogart gives a superb performance it is Walter Huston who turns in the greatest performance as the old prospector Howard. The scene in the Indian village where he helps to restore a comatose child is one of the most touching in all of film history and is done virtually without any dialog. Mexican character actor Alfonso Bedoya of course steals all the scenes he appears in and delivers his classic "Stinking Badges" line. (what person would dress up as a Bandito for a costume party and not want to look exactly like Bedoya's Gold Hat character?) This film probably should have been a little higher on AFI's top 100. A must see!