The Petrified Forest

Released Feb 8, 1936

1h 23m

Drama

List

100%

Tomatometer

14 Reviews

80%

Audience Score

2,500+ Ratings

In this film adaptation of the Robert E. Sherwood play, a drifter, a waitress and a notorious gangster cross paths in the Petrified Forest region of Arizona. Alan (Leslie Howard), a destitute writer, goes into the diner where Gabrielle (Bette Davis) works. Gabrielle dreams of studying art, and she and Alan connect as they talk about Europe and she tells him her ambitions. But gangster Duke Mantee (Humphrey Bogart) shows up and takes the customers hostage.

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Chris Barsanti

Slant Magazine

Huch of what's on display here evokes a society on the decline.

Rated: 3.5/4

Feb 11, 2005

Full Review

Jorge Luis Borges

Sur

Once the allegorical motive is dismissed or relegated to a secondary level... the plot of The Petrified Forest seems admirable to me. In this film, death works like hypnosis or alcohol: it brings the recesses of the soul into the light of day.

Dec 15, 2021

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Bogart is merely the villain, and his screentime is rather limited, but he immediately provides a striking presence.

Rated: 7/10

Jul 30, 2020

Full Review

Yasser Medina

Cinefilia

Mayo makes it endearing, dark, almost existential with its radiograph of American stereotypes from the years after the Great Depression. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 7/10

Jul 16, 2020

Full Review

Ann Ross

Maclean's Magazine

Very young people won't find The Petrified Forest much fun, but adults, who like wise and witty talk, with or without gunplay, should find it rewarding.

Sep 25, 2019

Full Review

Henry Stewart

Brooklyn Magazine

Darker looks have never been cast on celluloid.

Nov 9, 2016

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Steve D

Great cast but slow and really self important.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

03/10/24

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bobfv1

I loved this movie! It was a psychological tour de force with outstanding dialogue. All the modern issues of the mid-30's were brought to light in the movie including crime, hopelessness, and despair. The eternal human issue of mortality is also deeply explored. Leslie Howard and Bette Davis play kindred spirits and in his first big movie role, Bogart reprises the role of the gangster that he made famous in the stage production of this work. Be prepared fora deep psychological play disguised as a movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/23/23

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merick h

One of my all time favorites. Smart, funny and thoughtful...

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

This is a film worthy of scholarly review as it's crammed with sub-themes of social class, the need for love, and existentialism.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

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Audience Member

Great movie. I really enjoyed the setting.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/27/23

Full Review

william d

I thought the story and the performances by Davis and Howard were excellent. Based on the other reviews I seem to be the only one who thinks Bogart's performance was sub-par.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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Archie Mayo

Director

Leslie Howard

Alan Squier

Bette Davis

Gabrielle "Gabby" Maple

Humphrey Bogart

Duke Mantee

Dick Foran

Boze Hertzlinger

Genevieve Tobin

Mrs. Edith Chisholm

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Synopsis

In this film adaptation of the Robert E. Sherwood play, a drifter, a waitress and a notorious gangster cross paths in the Petrified Forest region of Arizona. Alan (Leslie Howard), a destitute writer, goes into the diner where Gabrielle (Bette Davis) works. Gabrielle dreams of studying art, and she and Alan connect as they talk about Europe and she tells him her ambitions. But gangster Duke Mantee (Humphrey Bogart) shows up and takes the customers hostage.

Director: Archie Mayo
Producer: Hal B. Wallis
Screenwriter: Robert E. Sherwood, Charles Kenyon, Delmer Daves
Distributor: The Vitaphone Corporation, MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc., Key Video, Warner Bros.
Production Co: Warner Bros.
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 8, 1936, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 1, 2009
Runtime: 1h 23m
Sound Mix: Mono

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