1948 — The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
The lust for gold has always been the bane of the frontier, driving men to madness and throwing their morality into the depths from which they are digging. Humphrey Bogart traded in his anti-hero charms from Casablanca to play Fred C. Dobbs, a man whose ambition makes him primed for a downward spiral. He and his fellow out of work buddy Curtain find old prospector Howard happily telling tales of his searches for gold. Using the last of their desperately fought for cash to employ him, the three set out into the harsh arid landscape. They find their gold, but that’s only the start of their tumultuous journey.
Its narrative becomes less about the treasure, and more about the sanity of the would-be prospectors. Bogart’s Dobbs becomes entrenched in manic behavior, convinced the others are trying to swindle him out of his share. His neuroses reach their peak, and violence is soon the name of the game.
What seemingly began as an adventure in the mountains of Mexico quickly transformed into an examination of greed and paranoia. Like many of us, our pursuits start out innocent enough but enough setbacks and shining visions of a rich future can lead us to do things we never thought imaginable.
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