Filmmaker reacts to The Treasure of Sierra Madre (1948) for the FIRST TIME!

[@JamesVSCinema]

At what cost is claiming your fortune worth?! Want to vote on what I should watch next? Click here! www.patreon.com/jamesvscinema Have a great day!

[@jeffpawlinski3210]

Vince Gilligan, creator of Breaking Bad, stated countless times that The Treasure of Sierra Madre was the most significant influence on his inspiration to create Breaking Bad.

[@cineclassics2277]

William Friedkin, the director of The Exorcist and The French Connection, who just passed away, stated The Treasure of the Sierra Madre as one of his favorite films. He declared Bogart's performance as one of the great American male performances of all time in how it shows the complete descent into paranoia and greed. Director John Huston in the initial cut of the film showed (*spoiler*) Dobbs being beheaded and his head rolling---the production code put a stop to that one quick. Also a fun fact: There is a Humphrey Bogart statue of his character Fred C. Dobbs in Tampico Mexico.

[@balthasarEF]

The Man Who Would Be King is another great John Huston movie if you haven't seen it yet.

[@gylmano]

James, remember when you watched Chinatown, that evil old man Noah Cross? That was John Huston, director of this movie, who also appears in this one as the white suited big cigar man at the beginning. The old miner was Walter Huston, his father.

[@melanie62954]

I was hoping someone else would mention this--so I wouldn't have to. 😆

[@michaeltomsic9485]

One of my all time favorites. Another great film with Bogart playing a deranged character is "The Caine Mutiny".

[@donferoce5652]

It's unsettling to watch Fred MacMurray's character play such a dick in that film when you know him from the sixties sitcom "My Three Sons" and Disney movies: "The Absent-minded Professor", "Son of Flubber", and "The Shaggy Dog". Fred MacMurray stars in "Double indemnity" as an insurance agent who falls for a woman (Barbara Stanwyck) determined to kill her husband and live off the insurance. Directed by Billy Wilder, adapted with Raymond Chandler from a novel by James M. Cain, it is a benchmark of Film Noir.

[@magicknight13]

I love bogart's lesser known or less appreciated movies!

[@amafirenze-vi1uh]

In The Cain Mutiny you feel sympathetic for Bogart after he breaks down in the trial. Here you you feel he deserves his tragic fate.

[@wsn0009]

Such a great movie! One of my favorites. Walter Huston steals the show.

[@richard_n]

A great example of how good the old movies were. They were still discovering how to make films and it's really amazing the things they came up with and how they still influence cinema today.

[@Jeff_Lichtman]

One thing I like about this movie is that Howard never pretends to be more moral than anyone else. He has wisdom gained from experience, but he knows he has the capacity for greed and avarice. The kid who sells the lottery ticket was played by Robert Blake, who got his start in the Our Gang comedy shorts, and later starred in the TV cop show Baretta.

[@apc9079]

He also killed someone, Robert Blake.

[@TexoFides]

This one is a top 10 for me. Phenomenal film and remains so fresh. Love the character study of Dobbs and how greed can corrupt a man's soul.

[@edwardsighamony]

Another great choice. Huston's not a director that gets talked about these days but he has a pretty varied body of work. I mean his first movie was The Maltese Falcon. Some of my favorites I think you should check out are The Man Who Would Be King, Fat City, and Prizzi's Honor.

[@auerstadt06]

The Man Who Would Be King is awesome!

[@EdDunkle]

Yeah, John Huston was great at picking out good material to adapt. Fat City, Wise Blood, The African Queen, Under The Volcano, and, of course, The Dead.

[@kingfield99]

agreed! @@auerstadt06

[@kyralaird3234]

Yes! The Man Who Would be King!!!

[@robertjewell9727]

One of director John Huston's best films and a primary lesson in scriptwriting.

[@tessesmom]

Badges? We don't need no stinking badges 📛

[@ozchris1]

He never actually said that though. It's a misquote.

[@ejtappan1802]

Badgers? Badgers!? We don't need no stinking badgers!! (My favorite quote from weird Al's UHF.)

[@alankoemel3168]

Those actual words were said in Blazing Saddles.

[@charlieeckert4321]

Gold Hat was played by Alfonso Bedoya. His last role was in William Wyler's The Big Country. Very talented man who died far too young.

[@michaelclawson6576]

One of the few times Humfrey Bogart played the antagonist and boy did he ever lean into it. Easily on my top 5 films of all time. The old man's laughter brightens my day every time I see it. Great vid!

[@evilpenguinmas]

The physicality of Bogart's performance is impressive. His ape-like stand from a crouch when Curtin falls asleep is just impressive. This is just a plain great story. This film is like the best Steinbeck and Stephen Crane adaptation even though neither writer had anything to do with it.

[@Parmigiano502]

Cracking yarn of a film...I first saw this as a kid in Italy with the film being screened against a white washed village church wall...which reminds me...if ever a film was made for film buffs like yourself, then Cinema Paradiso is that film but not sure if you do foreign films...treat yourself even if you choose not to show it on here....love your content by the way, you are excellant

[@michaelt6218]

Thank you, James, for taking the time to understand and to appreciate how the best classic films of long ago are every bit as well-made and as important as anything modern. And thank you for sharing your insights with all of us!!

[@russevans3586]

I had to stop and think a minute about your insightful comment at 16:50 regarding films taking the time to "sit with themselves." I think there's a lot of merit to that statement, especially in a film like this where there are so many action scenes. It gives the audience a chance to breathe, to decompress, to return to a level stretch after all the ups and downs. Another great reaction that I really enjoyed!

[@billhayden3637]

When it comes to screenplays, don't forget about Redford and Newman in The Sting. Which also stars Darth Vader's father.

[@antionedebusei6378]

Think it's cool seeing people watch the older classics. Another channel I watch did 12 Angry Men a few months ago and it was a lot of fun too.

[@WilliamTheMovieFan]

Check out the film, A Face in the Crowd, from 1957. Great character study film, like this one. Andy Griffin in his first starring role is fantastic!

[@xotmatrix]

Absolutely amazing film. One of the films I became obsessed with and have probably watched it 50 times and loved it every time.

[@OronOfMontreal]

As others have mentioned, the old man was played by Walter Huston, father of the movie's director John Huston. Walter, born and raised in Canada, won the Academy Award for this role, setting the mold for all future "crazy old coots" in movies. The Huston dynasty continues to this day. John's daughter Angelica was a big star in the 80s and 90s, excellent as Jack Nicholson's girlfriend in "Prizzi's Honor", as John Cusack's tricky mother in "Grifters" and many more great roles. Son Jack Huston played the lead vampire in "Thirty Days of Night", was in the fantastic Aussie film "The Proposition" and in "Children of Men". I hope this family dynasty long continues.

[@dianef6038]

So excited to FINALLY see a reaction to this great movie...especially your channel. Looking forward to your commentary!

[@mango4ttwo635]

Damn! Some fine old school film choices on here. Been checking some of your back catalogue. Decent. Some I wonder if you have: from the UK 1940s golden age, The Third Man, The Red Shoes, Brief Encounter, or Italian Bicycle Thieves, a great short from Spain that is practically a silent film from the 70s, La Cabina - just 30 minutes, near no dialogue but tonnes of suspense. Really, wow! gotta see! and a real silent gem from USSR: Man with a Movie Camera

[@CalvinChikelue]

One of my favorites of all time! I actually have the original book but haven’t gotten around to reading it yet

[@karlmoles6530]

James don't need no stinkin' badges!

[@Jared_Wignall]

Such a classic film. It’s awesome you’re watching this James, hope you’re doing well!

[@maxxmackereth5627]

Literally watched this for the first time the day you uploaded. Pure coincidence. I was pleasantly surprised by it. Especially Humphrey Bogart’s performance. Not the suave, straight laced guy he’s known for. Seeing him slowly deteriorating towards the end was great to watch. I can see why him not being nominated for best actor is still seen as one of the biggest snubs.

[@robertharper5087]

Great reaction! This is a timeless movie, such a great character study.

[@steved1135]

Sierra Madre ?!??!! James, hitting hard with the classics again. I feel so much joy seeing you enjoy these...

[@IvorPresents]

Interesting your bringing up The Thing. Even though you were talking about the breakdown of trust, more relevant in the Carpenter remake, I was thinking of the Howard Hawks original. The Dialogue is what I thought of.

[@shainewhite2781]

Nominated for 4 Oscars including Best Picture but won for Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor Walter Huston. Walter Huston is also the father of John Huston the director.

[@briankirchhoefer]

Glad you did this one. Bogart had a bunch good movies but this one is my favorite. A buddy and me did gold prospecting in Colorado one year, barely made more than the costs of a permit and claim.

[@JamesVSCinema]

Hahahaha the reality. Does sound like one hell of a time though

[@AbrasiousProductions]

I absolutely love this film! I watched it last year and I was blown away

[@JoYiSgUiTaR]

Let’s gooo! I love this film, had no idea you were gonna react to it

[@ZacCostilla]

Need to do “The Caine Mutiny” for your next Bogart film! He plays a great antagonist!

[@owenhershey13]

One of my all time favorite movies! So great!

[@herbertragan5849]

The film was released in 1948. Based off of the 1927 novel.

[@bobcrandall2776]

Old man directors father and won academy award for his performance in this movie one of my favorite movies

[@johnsensebe3153]

I've been waiting so long for one of my regular KZbin watches to cover this film. It was Humphrey Bogart's favorite of his films, and he does a great job.

[@Soundhypno]

The Man Who Would Be King (1975) Perhaps Huston's most highly regarded film of the 1970s, The Man Who Would Be King was both a critical and commercial success. Huston had been planning to make this film since the '50s, originally with his friends Humphrey Bogart and Clark Gable. Eventually, the lead roles went to Sean Connery and Michael Caine. The movie was filmed on location in North Africa. The film was praised for its use of old-fashioned escapism and entertainment. Steven Spielberg has cited the film as one of the inspirations for his film Raiders of the Lost Ark.

[@chamberofprogress5025]

Here’s food for thought: Coal Miner’s Daughter.

[@KBH27]

It's about time someone did this classic

[@magicknight13]

This is giving major Key Largo energy, another amazing movie by John Huston, one of my all time favorites! It has Bogart of course, but also a lot of the same elements of heartfelt compassion and giving things a sacredness that they deserved.

[@tomfowler381]

If you get a chance, watch The Oxbow Incident, starring Henry Fonda. It’s a master class in every facet of filmmaking, IMHO.

[@bigneon_glitter]

Among the greatest American films ever made. If you liked _Treasure Of The Sierra Madre,_ similar essential classics for the list: _Rififi_ (dir. Jules Dassin, 1955) _A Face In The Crowd_ (dir. Elia Kazan, 1957) Walter Huston (the old man) was the "Tom Hanks of the 1930s" - a massive star & father of John Huston, the director of _Treasure,_ _The Maltese Falcon,_ and the villain in _Chinatown._ More Walter Huston: the classic _Dodsworth_ (1936)

[@xotmatrix]

Seconding "A Face In The Crowd". Incredible movie and kind of similar with Andy Griffith playing against type. His performance as Lonesome Rhodes is stunning (Patricia Neal is fabulous too) and the film is extremely relevant today.

[@citpeks2000]

Oooh. A Face In The Crowd is a good one! Still applies to people today.

[@melanie62954]

Walter Huston is one of my favorite actors solely on the strength of Dodsworth. He's so endearing! He's also great in The Devil and Daniel Webster.

[@jameskirschling7887]

James, I'm happy to see you react to this movie. Every time someone reacts to Casablanca I always hope that someone will react to this movie. I have been watching this move for well over fifty years. Howard (Walter Huston) is my favorite character. When Howard laughs at the end of the movie after losing everything is always my favorite part. Even as a kid I got the point of that scene. There is a movie that I doubt very many people know about. The movie is The List of Adrian Messenger starring Kirk Douglas and George C. Scott. It's another movie from my childhood. I love special make-up effects in movies and I think this movie is what started my fascination with movie make-up. I think you would like this movie James. I don't want to say too much about the movie so you can watch it "cold."

[@LaurelT1948]

Note to screenwriters: know your classics! The plot of this movie is basically Chaucer’s Pardoner’s Tale, from the Canterbury Tales. And what a wonderful story it inspired!

[@BAD46660]

Another great movie and fantastic reaction. Your insights always help me see things i missed or overlooked. Thanks James🎥🎞️🎭🎬

[@seansersmylie]

One of the all time greats:)

[@fredt5526]

This is my favorite Bogart film, The little kid selling lottery tickets is former Little Rascals star and future Murder suspect Robert Blake.

[@anjo2365]

The little boy who sold the lottery ticket to Humphrey Bogart was played by Robert Blake. Loved your to reaction.

[@tonygourdine512]

The little kid who got water thrown in his face is Robert Blake ( former member of the Little Rascals and later on the crime television show "Barretta " ) which was a highly successful show in the mid to late 70's . The man in the white suit is John Huston( one of the greatest directors of All Time ). Then you have Humphrey Bogart , Walter Huston, and Tim Holt. The Huston family has 4 generations of Academy Award winners. They are the First Family of Cinema ! It's important, being a filmmaker yourself, to know these pillars of the industry !! Keep up the good work !!!

[@tonygumbrell22]

Every detail in this movie, and there are some most people would overlook, is part of the story, a very moral story.

[@cliffchristie5865]

An earlier and equally impressive performance by Walter Huston is in "Dodsworth" from 1936.

[@rabbitandcrow]

Your channel just keeps rocking harder & harder & harder. Next up, watch John Huston's The Man Who Would Be King - one of the greatest adventure movies ever.

[@EBDavis111]

I recommended this after the Casablanca reaction, and while I'm not a patron, I hope a patron saw it and recommended it too.

[@EastPeakSlim]

I live for the Crazy Prospector Dance at 10:30. Probably because I'm older than Walter Huston was when he made the movie.

[@mikemoore4033]

Always been a fan of Humphrey Gokart. If you haven’t (or even have) seen “The Big Sleep”, recommend you cover it on this stream. Also highly recommend all of Raymond Chandler’s books, he’s the king daddy of Noir crime fiction. Apologies if you’re already familiar.

[@jollyrodgers7272]

Alfonso Bedoya (El Bandito) said "Mounted" Police, not 'mountain police'. He delivered the classic line "We don't have no badges. We don't NEEEED no badges!" but ALWAYS misquoted as "STINKING badges", and became an almost instant meme in Parodyland and Satireville - by late night comics and mimics, and in BLAZING SADDLES, and Al Yankovic's UHF , etc. BUT YOU MISSED IT! Bogart was such a good actor everyone hated him in this, but loved him in CASABLANCA (and delivered the classic line he NEVER said, in "Play it again, Sam."). As pointed out, Director Houston's father won an Oscar playing the old prospector.

[@geoffm9944]

A superb movie, with the wonderful Walter Huston, Howard, who played the delightful, grizzled and elderly gold prospector. He was a truly mesmerising character, who I couldn’t take off my eyes off, whenever he was appeared in a scene. Also, Bogart put in a great acting performance as Fred C Dobbs, who played the ultimate cynical character, who became so totally obsessed with amassing the maximum amount of gold, he became mentally deranged. Special mention too on Tim Holt’s performance as Curtin, the quiet, and more introspective younger man. ‘Treasure of Sierra Madre’ in my humble view is one of the truly great films of the cinema.

[@williamkerner3758]

Some Bogart suggestions for you James. There are so many to choose from, it's hard, but for a tough guy, there is The Maltese Falcon and To Have or Have Not (there really are too many of these). For crazy, there is The Caine Mutiny. You can even see him do Comedy in We're No Angels, which is one of my favorite Christmas movies. Love your reactions.

[@BoyPadForDan]

Cool Hand Luke

[@jeffs555cc]

In the opening minutes there is a cameo by the films director/writer John Huston. He is the tall man in the white suit with the big cigar. The old man is Walter Huston the director's father.

[@StCerberusEngel]

This is my favorite Bogart movie. He got a chance to really show his range. Not to mention the story is a classic with timeless themes and the whole cast is great. Especially Walter Huston, who pretty much embodies the old wily prospector character in this. And of course, this is where we get the always misquoted line about proper identification. XD

[@pumkinheadfanvhsforever6087]

I will always say that this film....due to it's ending will always be my favorite. Sometimes just ending something on a good laugh is what we need. No explanation....Just laughter! 😆

[@robertfindley921]

Nice job. It must have been hard to edit this given there are so many good scenes. In my view, this is in the top five best movies of all time.

[@GarthKlein]

Walter Huston is always a delight to watch. You might try "The Devil and Daniel Webster (1941) which is also called "All that Money Can Buy."

[@rogermorris9696]

Thanks James, for giving me a reason to re-watch my favorite movies in a new light.

[@chemquests]

One of my favorites. In some ways it reminds of another modern favorite, The Big Short

[@vincentjoyce5100]

Bogey and John Huston had kind of a DeNiro/Scorsese thing going.

[@jrobwoo688]

A true classic

[@EdDunkle]

Had to look it up: "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre was one of the early Hollywood productions to be shot on location outside the United States (in the state of Durango with street scenes in Tampico, Mexico)."

[@charlieeckert4321]

One behind the scenes story has to do with John Huston asking his father to take the upper plate of his dentures out to play Howard. Walter resisted, but eventually agreed. He won the Oscar for best supporting actor.

[@billolsen4360]

You saw deeper into this movie than I ever did. Fred Dobbs is played by Humphrey Bogart. The guy in white suit was the film's director, John Huston. You'll like Bogart in moves like The Big Sleep, To Have and Have Not, Key Largo, The Petrified Forest, The Maltese Falcon and especially The Caine Mutiny. All masterpieces from different directors that were very influential on films made up to this day. The Caine Mutiny has Jose Ferrer in it, too, so that's just an extra experience of remarkable acting.

[@totallytomanimation]

Bogart's best role with a great performance.

[@mrIamspacemonkey]

Such a great movie.

[@fanofactionflicks]

i love this movie!

[@S_047]

Howard (old man) is easily the best character of the movie. From his mannerisms, quips , and being a gosh darn great guy, how can you not like him

[@banjoman101145]

A Cracker Jack of a tale…my favorite. FYI the American Dobbs keeps hitting on in the beginning is director John Houston who is also the son of the old prospector, Walter Houston.

[@mikecaetano]

Goldlust madness kills. The old man is buried in a cemetery in the older part of the city I live in. He's the father of the director, who played the man dressed in white getting his shoes shined.

[@ZacCostilla]

I LOVE the contrast between the pureness of the mountain villagers and the greed and corruption of the miners and the bandits. BTW, this is the only movie Bogart ever took where his character dies. The studio was afraid he’d turn it down for that reason, but he felt the character was so good, that it was the only fitting end for him.

[@drewbond1117]

Great choice!

[@jeffpawlinski3210]

One of my Top-10 Favorite Films and my most cherished black and white ever! I cozy up and hunker down in my fridged Milwaukee winters with the black and white classics. The Treasure of Sierra Madre is always on my December-February watch-list. Two things: 1) Bogart's morphing into a paranoid psycho is one of Hollywood's most amazing performances. 2) Did you catch the little boy selling the lottery ticket as iconic (and troubled) actor Robert Blake? (Baretta)

[@fronkykoko]

Humphrey Bogart's performance as a man who decsends into madness is probably his best...

[@chickedee1085]

🎼”Sometimes you have to try to get along dear I know the truth and I know what you're thinking”. 🎶

[@bennychristensen4314]

John Huston was a tremendous storyteller and this movie is one of his best. Of course, his partnership with Bogart stands the test of time. I would also recommend Huston's The Man Who Would Be King. He wanted to make it with Bogart, but it never happened. He finally made it with Sean Connery and Michael Caine. Also, the Old Miner story in The Ballad of Buster Scruggs is an obvious homage to this movie. The behind the scenes stories about this movie are almost unbelievable. They shot around Mazatlán and basically turned a very remote village into a resort town. Huston also adopted a boy from Mexico around this time, I think someone he met shooting this film. Unfortunately, Huston also developed a taste for Mexican relics and brought home a houseful of ancient artifacts and objects of art. An interesting side note about The Maltese Falcon is that much of the dialog was lifted directly from the book. Huston and Bogart made it so memorable that it became almost cliche.

[@Mark_McC]

‘Smeagol’d out?’ That’s just hilarious man, lol

[@JamesVSCinema]

LMFAO he was addicted hahaha

[@Mark_McC]

@@JamesVSCinema nah, you’re right. He Smeagol’d out! That was Humphrey Bogart, one of the best from the classic era of Hollywood. I’d heartily recommend several other Bogie flicks. High Sierra, The Maltese Falcon, To Have and Have Not, In a Lonely Place and, maybe the greatest movie ever made, Casablanca!!! Love your channel! Edit: i see you’ve reacted to Casablanca! I’ll check it out!

[@MRxMADHATTER]

Badges?... We don't need no stinking badges!!! Line was referenced in "Blazing Saddles".

[@glennthompson1173]

Great movie this is a true classic

[@randallparr680]

I always like to describe this movie as the greatest adventure that could have actually happened. Not to mention "I don't have to show you no stinking badges!". Also, do you remember why Dobbs' gun was empty? Curtin unloaded his gun and handed it back to him. He later shot Curtin with Curtin's gun but left it lying with Curtin's "body". So... in his haste and arrogance after double crossing his partners, Dobbs was only half as clever as he thought he was.

[@billythekid1365]

Good for you for watching it in black & white. It is superior than the coloured version imo

[@toastnjam7384]

The kid who had the drink thrown in his face is Robert Blake.

[@Lethgar_Smith]

One of the interesting details about the production that I appreciate is the actors dont shave. Something that is unheard of, not only back then but even today. Seldom are male actor's facial hair allowed to be portrayed in a realistic fashion when it would be highly impractical for the male characters in a particular story line to be shaving and trimming their facial hair everyday.

[@MrRondonmon]

The kid selling the lottery tickets in this movie was played by Robert Blake ( In Cold Blood movie and the series Baretta). He just died in March of 2023. Also, this director played the old man in Chinatown who slept with his daughter.

[@JamesVSCinema]

Woah! That’s awesome!

[@johndoejjdujd]

“ I dont have to show you no stinkin badges”!!!!! And i am Latino so i can say that

[@arjunapartha]

Wonderful!

[@tom-er6yb]

the kid that sells bogart the lottery ticket is Robert Blake !!