Humphrey Bogart became a big star by playing a criminal taking the patrons of a diner hostage in “The Petrified Forest.” Director Archie Mayo crafted this fine film that has been a template for movies of this genre ever since. Screenwriters Charles Kenyon and Delmer Daves adapted it from the 1934 stage play of the same name by Robert E. Sherwood, in which Bogart and Leslie Howard played the same roles.
Bogart played the menacing role of Duke Mantee so well that he was stereotyped by producers for years. Howard played Alan Squier, the sensitive writer. Bette Davis plays the sympathetic and artistic waitress, who is also the daughter of the owner of the diner. All three delivered marvelous performances.
Co-stars include Paul Harvey and Genevieve Tobin as Mr. & Mrs. Chisholm, Porter Hall and Charley Grapewin as Davis’ father and grandfather, Dick Foran as Davis’ lowbrow boyfriend, and Joseph Sawyer, Slim Thompson, and John Alexander as Mantee’s goons.
Although the film is set in the Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona, we do not see much of that amazing scenery in this film. It is based on a stage play, after all. At any rate, the very watchable drama “The Petrified Forest” was a success at the box office for producer Hal B. Wallis and Warner Bros. Pictures. In 1972, “The Carol Burnett Show” featured an hilarious spoof of this movie called “The Putrefied Forest” starring Carol Burnett, Steve Lawrence, and Paul Sand.
The Petrified Forest (1936)
cinema
My Review
Humphrey Bogart became a big star by playing a criminal taking the patrons of a diner hostage in “The Petrified Forest.” Director Archie Mayo crafted this fine film that has been a template for movies of this genre ever since. Screenwriters Charles Kenyon and Delmer Daves adapted it from the 1934 stage play of the same name by Robert E. Sherwood, in which Bogart and Leslie Howard played the same roles.
Bogart played the menacing role of Duke Mantee so well that he was stereotyped by producers for years. Howard played Alan Squier, the sensitive writer. Bette Davis plays the sympathetic and artistic waitress, who is also the daughter of the owner of the diner. All three delivered marvelous performances.
Co-stars include Paul Harvey and Genevieve Tobin as Mr. & Mrs. Chisholm, Porter Hall and Charley Grapewin as Davis’ father and grandfather, Dick Foran as Davis’ lowbrow boyfriend, and Joseph Sawyer, Slim Thompson, and John Alexander as Mantee’s goons.
Although the film is set in the Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona, we do not see much of that amazing scenery in this film. It is based on a stage play, after all. At any rate, the very watchable drama “The Petrified Forest” was a success at the box office for producer Hal B. Wallis and Warner Bros. Pictures. In 1972, “The Carol Burnett Show” featured an hilarious spoof of this movie called “The Putrefied Forest” starring Carol Burnett, Steve Lawrence, and Paul Sand.