Another Bogart movie I love (watched on Turner). This movie is actually a better flick than CASABLANCA-I think the plot is better. Anyway, the movie was based on a novel , written by a mysterious author named “B. Traven”. Anyone know who this guy was? Also, the boy (played by Robert Blake)-was this Blake’s first movie role?
I always liked the ending: Bogart dies trying to keep the gold-whereas the old prospector (and Tim Holt) are philosophical about their loss-they just keep on living. The gold blows away-pretty strong lesson about the impermanence of wealth. 
Best film (and novel) ever about greed.
About the only thing I think I remember about B. Traven is that he is really German, and published under several more popular pseudonyms in Europe.
B Traven, according to Wiki:
As for Robert Blake, prior to Treasure of the Sierra Madre he was Mickey (under his birth name Mickey Gubitosi) in the Our Gang movies, and Little Beaver (as Bobby Blake) in the Red Ryder movies, as well as a number of other small parts.
Some more info. Have no idea if any of it can be corroborated, but damned interesting, nonetheless.
Second Best. This is the First. 
Here is another short biography which begs to differ.
The man was definitely an enigma.