Episode 493: The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)

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Starting in the 1940s, the name Humphrey Bogart was common knowledge as Hollywood royalty, but he didn't always play the hero. In 1948's "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre," which re-teamed him with director John Huston, Bogart plays Fred C. Dobbs, a penniless American stuck in the Mexican town of Tampico. After begging for a meal "for a fellow American" from the same man three times (John Huston's cameo), he's recruited by contractor Pat McCormick (Barton MacLane) to help build oil derricks. On this job, he meets Bob Curtin (Tim Holt), and the two strike up a friendship. After completing the job, Pat can't find the agent who's supposed to have their pay, but promises to find them as soon as he does. Fred and Bob head to a cantina to have a drink, where they discover that Pat is running a scam and has "employed" many people in the past, and paid none of them. They head to a flophouse where they meet an old man, an ex-miner, who talks romantically about hunting for gold in the mountains. The next day, the pair encounter Pat outside of a cantina and he offers to buy the two a drink. The drink turns into a brawl and the two manage to take down Pat, then pay themselves their promised wages out of the money he has on-hand. They talk and decide to seek the old man (Howard, played by Walter Huston, John's father) out and try their luck as gold miners. From there, the story begins its laborious trek into the mountain in search of the promised wealth. They face painful weather conditions, mutual distrust, and bandit attacks, all in pursuit of the gold. But how the story ends is quite unusual for Hollywood of the 40s. Also starring Bruce Bennett, Alfonso Bedoya, and an extremely young Robert Blake! Plus, the trio unveil which two films they'll pair next, in honor of the passing of Diane Keaton!

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