The Treasure of the Sierra Madre

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The Treasure of the Sierra Madre

Released Jan 6, 1948

2h 4m

Adventure

Western

Drama

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Popcornmeter

100%

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54 Reviews

93%

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25,000+ Ratings

In this classic adventure film, two rough-and-tumble wanderers, Dobbs (Humphrey Bogart) and Curtin (Tim Holt), meet up with a veteran prospector, Howard (Walter Huston), in Mexico and head into the Sierra Madre mountains to find gold. Although they discover treasure, they also find plenty of trouble, not only from ruthless bandits lurking in the dangerous Mexican wilderness but from their own insecurities and greed, which threaten to bring conflict at any moment.

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Critics Consensus

Remade but never duplicated, this darkly humorous morality tale represents John Huston at his finest.

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Kate Cameron

New York Daily News

In Treasure of the Sierra Madre, John Huston has turned out the best picture that has come from Warner Brothers' studios since the war.

Rated: 4/4

Jan 12, 2023

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Edwin Schallert

Los Angeles Times

That gold changes the character of men who are fortunate enough to find it is the central thesis of this curiously powerful production.

Jan 12, 2023

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Rob Humanick

Slant Magazine

Transcends the medium to become a mandatory viewing experience for anyone that identifies themselves as a human being, period.

Rated: 4/4

Apr 20, 2011

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Unlike most studio releases of the era, the film's depiction of wretched moral depravity is not sweetened by a studio ending, where, say, the ugly impulses of greed are suppressed by a higher moral calling.

Rated: 4/4

Feb 14, 2022

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Matt Neal

ABC Radio (Australia)

Wildly unconventional for its time, it makes its A-list star a villain, there's no romantic subplot, and it's far grimmer than most movies of the age.

Rated: 5/5

Jul 30, 2021

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Sarah Brinks

Battleship Pretension

The film is about the power of human greed. From the moment Dobbs sees that first seam of pyrite, he is obsessed...

Apr 1, 2021

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Brad S. R

First-rate filmmaking across the board.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/14/25

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Ishara L

As far as movie making techniques are concerned, this movie doesn't invent something new. Where it shines in though is it's story, dialogue and acting. It's a great tale of morality; 3 guys set out to find gold and become rich. They do anything in their power to protect it when they find it, even amongst themselves. Greed is a vile thing and even the most thrustworthy of the two admits if he was younger, he might have been tempted by it. Sometimes a challenge along the way becomes an asset, an enemy can become a friend and aid in the mission. The greatest danger always comes from within though. Humphrey Bogart is excellent as Dobbs, jovial when everything goes well, crule and suspicious when he's in a bad mood. Fear drives him more than actual malice though. It's also because of him that he influences the rest of the guys, make them just as suspicious. If a character like Dobbs wasn't there, the party would have made it with less anxiousness. When in the end, all the efforts are futile, those that remain can't help but laugh about the fate of it. They tried and worked so hard for it only to have it blown away. What else can you do? But, along the journey for the one thing, they've found something else. Not the thing they were looking for that would make them rich, but something that will make them richer in life.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/12/25

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David S

Yes this is one of my favorite movies- a lot of people enjoy this so what!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/28/24

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William B

One of the best adventure movies. Great plot and casting.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/22/24

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Fer S

Great movie! Nice pacing, unpredictable plot.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/19/24

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Alec C

Sometimes, the most dangerous of enemies can come from within! As a trio of drifters attempt to strike it rich by gold mining, they have to ward off claim-jumpers, the intense heat and their own greed before it consumes them. Played by a memorable cast of actors, this is a tale where the treasure is just as dangerous as the men pursuing it!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/03/24

Full Review

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John Huston

Director

Humphrey Bogart

Fred C. Dobbs

Walter Huston

Howard

Tim Holt

Bob Curtin

Bruce Bennett

James Cody

Barton MacLane

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Synopsis

In this classic adventure film, two rough-and-tumble wanderers, Dobbs (Humphrey Bogart) and Curtin (Tim Holt), meet up with a veteran prospector, Howard (Walter Huston), in Mexico and head into the Sierra Madre mountains to find gold. Although they discover treasure, they also find plenty of trouble, not only from ruthless bandits lurking in the dangerous Mexican wilderness but from their own insecurities and greed, which threaten to bring conflict at any moment.

Director: John Huston
Producer: Henry Blanke
Screenwriter: B. Traven, John Huston
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures, MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc.
Production Co: Warner Brothers
Genre: Adventure, Western, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 6, 1948, Original
Release Date (Streaming): May 8, 2015
Runtime: 2h 4m

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