Now I don’t always ride an ass, but if I do, it’s not a burro. Standards. But alls you trying to tell me that apparently that’s Mexican terminology for donkey, screw you, I don’t speak Burroito. Burrito. Damn. Now I want a taco.
Some Americans, down and out in Tampico, Mexico in the B&W times of the 1920s. Not much for jobs, and the ones a few get end up a bit grifty. So fuckit, Frank Dobbs (Bogart) and his new buddy Bob Curtin (Tim Holt) hook up with an old prospector who professes Gold is just layin in the hills out there for the takin! So they pool their meager cash for some gear and burros and head off into the desert jungles of the Sierra Madre regions. Heavy with Banditos, though. And gila monsters (the non-radiated variety...yet). So, there are significant risks.
Bogart here in the lead may be a little overzealous as we watch what gold and greed does to a person, but pretty damn solid performance overall. Sheeit, it’s 1948, so they were a bit more Emote-y on the films back then. But I would be too, always worried about those damn Mexican tigers! They love snarfin on humans almost as much as they love burros! Good story but more psychological examinations and why it’s always better to have a sense of humor instead of a dire obsession. I would’ve scored this a little better but dammit if Burro #3 never hit his mark. Not once. Fkn burros. So obstinate! Considered a Classic of the Western genre, John Huston already known as a good writer, made his name with his first directorial effort with Bogart in his adaptation of The Maltese Falcon, and then after The War, came back to do this casting Bogart again and casting his own dad Walter Huston as Prospector Joe, who is unfortunately named Howard here. Just remember, when you’re out there in the shit, be sure to avoid the fool’s gold, the paranoid, delusional, egotistical, accusatory and especially, the donkey-talkers!
