The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (film)

The Treasure of the Sierra Madre is a 1948 American neo-western film written and directed by John Huston. Based on the 1927 novel of the same name by B. Traven, the film stars Humphrey Bogart, Walter Huston, Tim Holt, and Bruce Bennett. The narrative follows two down-on-their-luck Americans who team up with an experienced prospector in search of gold in the mountains of Mexico.

The film was released theatrically in the United States by Warner Bros. on January 14, 1948, following a delayed production that began after the success of The Maltese Falcon (1941) but was postponed due to World War II and Huston’s military service. It was one of the earliest major Hollywood films to be shot extensively on location outside the United States, with filming taking place in Mexico.

A critical and commercial success, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre received three awards at the 21st Academy Awards: Best Director and Best Screenplay for Huston, and Best Supporting Actor for Walter Huston—marking the first time a father and son won Oscars for the same film. It also received the BAFTA Award for Best Film and the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Drama. The film continues to be regarded as one of the greatest in American cinema and was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry in 1990.