The Petrified Forest

Starring: Leslie Howard, Bette Davis, Humphrey Bogart, et al.

A rundown diner bakes in the Arizona heat. Inside, fugitive killer Duke Mantee sweats out a manhunt, holding disillusioned writer Alan Squier, young Gabby Maple and a handful of others hostage. The Petrified Forest, Robert E. Sherwood's 1935 Broadway success about survival of the fittest, hit the screen a year later with Leslie Howard and Humphrey Bogart magnificently re-creating their stage roles and Bette Davis ably reteaming with Howard, her Of Human Bondage costar. Sherwood first wanted Bogart for a smaller role. "I thought Sherwood was right," Bogart said. "I couldn't picture myself playing a gangster. So what happened? I made a hit as the gangster." So right for the part was he that Howard refused to make the film without him and helped launch Bogie's brilliant movie career.

• Format: DVD
• Language: English
• UPC: 012569522626
• Release Date: January 2005
• Rating: Not Rated
• Publisher: WARNER HOME VIDEO
• Director: Archie Mayo
• Starring: Leslie Howard, Bette Davis, Humphrey Bogart, Dick Foran, Genevieve Tobin, Charley Grapewin, Porter Hall
• Runtime: 1 hour, 23 minutes
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Great transition from stage play to film.

Leslie Howard and Humphrey Bogart were in the original Broadway play. This was made into a film called “Escape in the Desert” (1945). The actual shooting (oops) I mean filming location is Red Rock Canyon, California, USA. Because I knew this movie, “The Petrified Forest,” was supposed to have Humphrey Bogart in it, I wanted to watch two movies: the one before he appeared and the one with him. This is a story about a lot of people coming from different directions in their lives. Together, they evaluate and solve their problems the best they can in a short amount of time. The beauty in this movie is the action and reaction of the characters. A similar action and reaction movie that comes to mind is “Key Largo” (1948). However, in this movie, Humphrey Bogart gets to be a good guy. After these two movies, one that you need to look for is “Outward 1930) with Leslie Howard.