Great Moments From Cinema - 2

The Golden Flames
Movie: The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (Warner Bros.; 1948)
Director: John Huston
Screenplay: B. Traven (book) and John Huston
Major Cast: Humphrey Bogart, Tim Holt and Walter Huston

Film Synopsis: Bogart and Holt are two laborers in Mexico who are trying to survive after being cheated by a contractor. They meet an old prospector, Huston, who tells them of these hills which have untapped gold. Once they find the treasure, mistrust sets in amongst the trio.

My Favorite Moment: Bogart succumbing to the madness of paranoia and greed.

Why I Like It: If all the cinema legends were to live on the first level of an apartment building, Humphrey Bogart would occupy the penthouse. No one has had a screen presence to rival his. He can say a dialogue with such authority that he owns the scene, no matter who his co-stars. This is one of his best acting roles and a realistic portrayal of how little the difference is between man and an animal, when gold is on the line.

The three men start the prospecting with high hopes for a good future. But the more gold they collect, the more fearful they get of their surroundings, including each other. Even if anyone were to leave his sleeping place in the night, the others get up, alert to his intentions. They have to fight off bandits in the process and at one point plot to kill an innocent passer-by who comes to their camp and asks for a chance to prospect with them, in return for his help against the bandits. After the gold has been collected, they are on their way home when Bogie starts getting suspicious about everything. Huston leaves his two colleagues, trusting them with his share of the gold, and goes off to help some natives who have a sick person. After this, Bogie’s paranoia reaches its peak as he starts accusing Holt of planning to murder him and run off with the treasure. Both men refuse to fall asleep, afraid of the other. Finally, as Bogie attacks Holt and tries to kill him, the flames from the campfire seem to get brighter and partially light’s up Bogie’s face, which reveals the madness that has consumed him. When he thinks that he has killed his partner, Bogie lies next to the fire and talks to himself, “Conscience. What a thing! If you believe you got a conscience it'll pester you to death. But if you don't believe you got one, what could it do t'ya? Makes me sick, all this talking and fussing about nonsense.” His depiction of this pathetic man trying to justify his actions is so real that we pity, more than hate, him for his deeds.

Apart from Bogie, who is outstanding and should have won the Academy award for best actor, Holt has done a good job. But the real surprise is Walter Huston whose son directed this movie. Upon winning the Academy award for supporting actor, Huston said, “Many, many years ago I raised a son and I said to him, if you ever become a writer or director, please find a good part for your old man.” This poignant moment is a Hollywood ending in itself. The movie has not aged a day and is still considered an all time classic. What a great character study of three individuals who started off with similar motives, but ended up with choosing different paths. It was as the tagline said, 'They sold their souls for The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre'.