The Petrified Forest

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The Petrified Forest

1936

1h 23m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

94%

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17 Reviews

80%

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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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Nick De Semlyen

Empire Magazine

10/22/2024

3/5

If you can get past the painted backdrops and interminable tumbleweed, there's some smart banter, a sweet romance, and a surprising ending.

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Chris Barsanti

Slant Magazine

02/11/2005

3.5/4

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

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Jul 28

3.5/4

The two dissimilar parts of the film coalesce nicely to form a riveting whole.

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Nick Rogers

Midwest Film Journal

Jul 22

2/5

Even though Humphrey Bogart clearly had not yet refined his inimitable persona, he remains the lone bright spot in a windbag drama of romantic fatalism in which the stagey, soliloquized pontification feels endless even as bullets pelt the plaster.

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Jorge Luis Borges

Sur

12/15/2021

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.

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

07/30/2020

7/10

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

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Orin D

Nov 30

Bogart's breakthrough role in his excellent portrayal of psychopath Duke Mantee. Leslie Howard & Bettie Davis are both also first rate. The production values are on the cheap, but this is still a very worthwhile film to watch today. Orin Domenico

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Alex S

@AlexAmerica 06/18/2024

So far ahead of its time, and a brilliant debut for Humphrey Bogart.

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Steve D

03/10/2024

Great cast but slow and really self important.

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bobfv1

09/23/2023

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.

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07/16/2022

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

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08/08/2021

Great movie. I really enjoyed the setting.

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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
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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