Overview
A gripping tale of ambition and betrayal set against the backdrop of the Mexican wilderness.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- tense
- bitterly humorous
- suspenseful
- classic cinema night
- western double feature
What critics said
Critics broadly regard John Huston's adaptation as a landmark, darkly comic morality tale distinguished by its direction, writing, performances, and cumulative psychological power.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The prospectors' search for a gold deposit drives the expedition while the real dramatic focus shifts to greed and distrust.
Fred Dobbs, Bob Curtin, and Howard are tested by the discovery and accumulation of gold.
The central Mexico wilderness intensifies physical hardship and magnifies the men's fear, suspicion, and isolation.
The film combines thrilling prospecting and bandit peril with darkly humorous observations about human nature.
Films like The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, and why
The Wild Bunch
shared western adventure, male camaraderie, moral testing, and harsh wilderness setting
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
shared treasure hunt structure, greed-driven conflict, cynical humor, and morally corrosive adventure
The African Queen
shared literary adventure tradition, colonial-era wilderness, psychological deterioration, and fatalistic themes
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
shared western setting, corrosive ambition, stark landscapes, and morally dark character drama
Movie Details
- Director
- John Huston
- Release Date
- 1948-01-15
- Runtime
- 126 min
- Rating
- 8.0 / 10 (1397)
Cast
- Humphrey Bogart
- Walter Huston
- Tim Holt
- Bruce Bennett
- Barton MacLane
- Alfonso Bedoya
- Arturo Soto Rangel
- Manuel Dondé
- José Torvay
- Robert Blake
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Treasure of the Sierra Madre about?
- Three desperate prospectors search for gold in 1920s Mexico, only to find that greed may be more dangerous than the wilderness or the bandits.
- What is The Treasure of the Sierra Madre like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Treasure of the Sierra Madre as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Treasure of the Sierra Madre violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in The Treasure of the Sierra Madre as moderate.
- What did critics think of The Treasure of the Sierra Madre?
- Critics broadly regard John Huston's adaptation as a landmark, darkly comic morality tale distinguished by its direction, writing, performances, and cumulative psychological power.
- Which films are like The Treasure of the Sierra Madre?
- Films with a similar feel include The Wild Bunch, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, The African Queen, and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.
- How long is The Treasure of the Sierra Madre?
- The Treasure of the Sierra Madre runs 126 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Treasure of the Sierra Madre?
- In United States, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand.
