A film about adventure and a quest, but one in which greed makes almost everyone a suspected person. This aspect is unique - in many movies heroes fight off bandits, a traitor in their midst, etc. There are no real heroes here, doubt is all over...
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A film about adventure and a quest, but one in which greed makes almost everyone a suspected person. This aspect is unique - in many movies heroes fight off bandits, a traitor in their midst, etc. There are no real heroes here, doubt is all over the place.

Mexican locations add authenticity and good performances make this an excellent study in the psychology of desire. The conclusion is also somewhat startling, no one really gains what they thought they wanted and those that come out best only leave with what they started with (their lives). The iconography of this film is fairly ingrained in modern culture. Allowing Bogart to play a gitty and suspicious character and emphasizing the noir aspects makes this a unique and trend-setting motion picture for the time.