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“The Treasure of the Sierra Madre” – a classic movie starring Humphrey Bogart and directed by John Huston has a couple of memorable lines.
Probably the most referenced line is:
“Badges?… We ain’t got no badges. We don’t need no badges. I don’t have to show you any stinking badges!”
… I don’t think it will spoil the movie for any first time viewer to know that the “Badges” line is delivered by someone pretending to be a Federales – so of course they don’t have any “badge” to show … and that is usually the context in which the line is used (e.g. this scene from “Blazing Saddles” )
The old “Bugs Bunny” shorts used to make the occasional reference to real world Hollywood Stars – Fred C Dobbs (Humphrey Bogart’s character) makes an appearance as a running gag
The line Mr Bogart actually says in the movie is:
“Say, mister. Will you stake a fellow American to a meal?”
Fred C Dobbs
“Treasure of the Sierra Madre” would win 3 Academy Awards (John Huston won for Best Director, and Best Screenplay – Walter Huston won for Best Supporting Actor) – so there is obviously a lot of good stuff in there – BUT the movie revolves around Mr Bogart’s character going from “penniless beggar” to “greedy hoarder.”
Walter Huston plays the older/wiser prospector who tries to warn his companions on the effect “gold” has on human nature — i.e. everyone is friendly and cooperative until “real” money/gold enters the picture.
SO “Fred C. Dobbs” goes from “happy to have money for a meal” to “packs of gold aren’t ‘enough’”
the “human nature” on display is how the concept of “enough” can change — e.g. if you are cold and hungry – then just NOT being “cold and hungry” is probably “enough.” BUT to “wealthy business executive” having millions in the bank may not be “enough.”
Of course it ain’t my job to tell anyone else how much is “enough” for them — but “greed” is never good.
In an ideal scenario where someone is helping others fulfill a want/need then accumulating a massive fortune will be a side effect of their purpose NOT their actual purpose.
A famous quote comes to mind:
“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power”
The quote tends to be attributed to Abraham Lincoln – but it was PROBABLY said ABOUT Mr Lincoln not BY Mr Lincoln. The point being that “power” and “money” tend to attract each other – i.e. being “poor” is not inherently more (or less) virtuous than being “rich.”
BUT if you have never considered the question of “what REALLY matters” then ‘Fred C Dobbs’ becomes a cautionary tale …
The Rat Pack
Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall took on the roll of “Hollywood royalty” to a certain degree — the term “Rat Pack” traces back to parties at the Bogart’s house in California (e.g. Lauren Bacall usually gets credit for coining the phrase “The Rat Pack”)
When Humphrey Bogart died in 1957 – Frank Sinatra (one of those friends attending the Bogart’s house parties) took over the “celebrity mantle.” The press started calling Mr Sinatra’s inner circle “The Rat Pack” – but the rumor was that Frank Sinatra didn’t care for the term
It is fair to say that the Sinatra ‘circle’ had layers — with Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis jr forming the hub of that circle.
The movie most associated with the “Rat Pack” was “Ocean’s 11” (1960) — which isn’t a ‘bad’ movie, but also not a ‘great’ movie in part because the “Rat Pack” were splitting time between ‘making a movie’ and ‘carousing‘ on a Las Vegas stage all night
btw: Mr Sinatra (probably) didn’t consume excessive amounts of alcohol — the rumor was that he enjoyed playing ‘host’ surrounded by friends (i.e. getting OTHER people drunk). I’m sure he drank his share – just not as much as he APPEARED to be drinking …
road trips
Las Vegas positioned itself as a “road trip” destination when they legalized gambling in 1931. I don’t gamble so I find the entertainment options being more interesting — and of course the Raiders are in Vegas now, and MLB is coming to town — sounds like it is time for a road trip …
If you would like to help out a fellow traveler (and see the pictures/video from the road trips) my Patreon link is above or just buy me a coffee (link above) …
as always, we thank you for your support
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