Treasure of the Sierra Madre

Where I learn of the origins of a classic Mel Brooks Line

I just want to say that I like movies, including black and white movies. I grew up watching a wide variety including the old stuff like Errol Flynn and Zorro. So having an actor like Humphrey Bogart on the cover let me know I was in for a real treat.

Actually, between Casablanca, African Queen, Maltese Falcon, and Treasure of the Sierra Madre, he has wide variety of move genres under his belt doesn’t he?

Overview: Poor broke Fred C. Dobbs stuck in Durango, Mexico teams up with fellow down-on-his-luck Bob Curtin and prospector Howard to go find gold in the Sierra Madre mountains. But it isn’t just the wilderness and bandits that the men have to look out for.

I think I need to talk about the characters first because they are really fleshed out and in-depth. It still has the stilted line delivery that you just know from old movies, but the movie does well in showing who these men are. I think in part because this movie is basically a locked-room scenario (in a way). Three men more/less trapped together while mining the mountain, and the majority of the movie’s focus is strictly on them, so it makes sense that these characters need to feel like real people.

Let’s start with Humphrey Bogart, since he is the big named actor of the 40s. I love how the movie slowly shows his paranoia growing throughout the course. In the beginning, he fought a guy for what he is owed and no more. He only took what would have been his pay, and I respected him for it (though my sister had a different opinion lol). It showed that he was honorable with his money, in the beginning, but soon the thought of wealth and gold corrupted him in a steady slow decent. Makes it more believable.

Prospector Howard has to be my favorite. He’s chaotic neutral and I love the crazy man. Understands how to search for gold, how to take care of the environment to gold, and even what gold can do to people when mining. He was the one to give warning after all. Not saying he was entirely kind or perfect, but he was willing to help when he can and I swear he did an honest to fucking god old-western jig when he first found gold. It was beautiful to watch.

Also this movie ties in plot threads beautifully. Like picture perfect beautiful. I missed that in movies. They continuously run into the same bandits at different times, who were arguably hilarious at times, albeit deadly.

“Badges, we don’t need no stinkin’ badges.” I finally now know what the reference was from Blazing Saddles. Thanks Guys.

Gold is the goal of the film, but I think the main theme is wealth. What kind of wealth do you value, what are you willing to do to get it, how do you treat others when you have it. Dobbs begs for money in the street when he is poor. The scam artist employer who tricks people to work without pay. The bandits who wanted to steal guns and pelts. The treasure hunter who wants to provide for his family. It’s all subjective when you think about it. Greed for different things consume different people, while simultaneously liberates others.

Overall: I’m so glad I watched this movie, especially with the recent string of “not so greats” that I had to watch previously. This was really really good. A classic tale of the downfall of man, a harsh environment to show who people really are. Mix that in with a fun western beat and we got ourselves a winner. So basically, this is an Olde but a Goodie.