The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
A 1948 film directed by John Huston, following three American prospectors in Mexico whose gold discovery intensifies greed, suspicion, and violence.
John Huston: An American film director, screenwriter, and actor whose work includes The Treasure of the Sierra Madre. He adapted B. Traven’s novel, directed the film, and played Howard.
Fred C. Dobbs: A down-on-his-luck American prospector whose gold fever develops into violent paranoia. His changing behavior drives the film’s descent from teamwork to betrayal.
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (novel): A 1927 novel by B. Traven about men searching for gold in the mountains of Mexico. It is the source text that Huston reshaped for the screen.
Academy Awards: Annual awards recognizing achievements in the American and international film industries. The film won three Oscars, including awards for John Huston and Walter Huston.
The Searchers: A 1956 John Ford western about a veteran searching for his kidnapped niece across the American frontier. Its frontier quest offers a later, different model of obsession in a western landscape.
Humphrey Bogart: An American actor known for leading roles in films including The Treasure of the Sierra Madre. His portrayal of Fred C. Dobbs gives the story’s growing paranoia its center.
Gold prospecting: The search for naturally occurring gold deposits, often through sampling and excavation. The prospectors’ labor creates the wealth that destabilizes their partnership.
Mexico: A country in North America, bordered by the United States, Guatemala, and Belize. The story is set there, and substantial filming took place in the country.
AFI's 100 Years...100 Movies: The American Film Institute’s ranked list of 100 notable American films, first published in 1998. The film appeared on the 1998 list and its 2007 update.
The African Queen: A 1951 John Huston adventure film about two travelers navigating an African river during World War I. It shares Huston’s interest in an arduous journey but trades gold fever for unlikely partnership.