The Petrified Forest (1936)

Director:

Archie Mayo

Writers:

Charles Kenyon (screenplay) and
Delmer Daves (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

8 February 1936 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

AGAIN THEY TRIUMPH!...The stars of 'Human Bondage' in a picture greater than the play!

Plot:

A waitress, a hobo and a bank robber get mixed up at a lonely diner in the desert.

Plot Keywords:

Desert | Arizona | Gangster | Hostage | Idealism

Cast

Leslie Howard	...	Alan Squier
Bette Davis	...	Gabrielle Maple
Genevieve Tobin	...	Mrs. Chisholm
Dick Foran	...	Boze Hertzlinger
Humphrey Bogart	...	Duke Mantee
Joe Sawyer	...	Jackie (as Joseph Sawyer)
Porter Hall	...	Jason Maple
Charley Grapewin	...	Gramp Maple
Paul Harvey	...	Mr. Chisholm
Eddie Acuff	...	Lineman
Adrian Morris	...	Ruby
Nina Campana	...	Paula
Slim Thompson	...	Slim
John Alexander	...	Joseph
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Arthur Aylesworth	...	Commander of the Black Horse Troopers (uncredited)
Jack Cheatham	...	Deputy (uncredited)
Jim Farley	...	Sheriff (uncredited)
George Guhl	...	Black Horse Trooper (uncredited)
Gus Leonard	...	Jim - Postman (uncredited)
Tom McGuire	...	Driver (uncredited)
Henry O'Neill	...	Trailer Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Addison Richards	...	Radio Announcer (voice) (uncredited)
Francis J. Scheid	...	Second Lineman (uncredited)
Perc Teeple	...	Driver (uncredited)

Directed by
Archie Mayo		(as Archie L. Mayo)

Writing credits
Charles Kenyon		(screenplay) and
Delmer Daves		(screenplay)
Robert E. Sherwood		(play "The Petrified Forest") (as Robert Emmet Sherwood)

Produced by
Hal B. Wallis	....	executive producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Bernhard Kaun		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Sol Polito		(photography)

Film Editing by
Owen Marks

Art Direction by
John Hughes

Costume Design by
Orry-Kelly		(uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Richard Maybery	....	assistant director (uncredited)
Frank Shaw	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
W.H. Patterson	....	props (uncredited)

Sound Department
Charles Lang	....	sound recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Fred Jackman	....	special photographic effects (uncredited)
Warren Lynch	....	special photographic effects (uncredited)
Willard Van Enger	....	special photographic effects (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
John Ellis	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Frank Evans	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Al Green	....	second camera operator (uncredited)
Harold Noyes	....	grip (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Mary Dery	....	wardrobe: women (uncredited)
Elmer Ellsworth	....	wardrobe: men (uncredited)
Eugene Joseff	....	costume jeweller (uncredited)

Music Department
Leo F. Forbstein	....	musical director
Bernhard Kaun	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
Henry Blanke	....	supervisor (uncredited)
Flo O'Neill	....	script clerk (uncredited)
Carl Schaefer	....	publicist (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Warner Bros

Distributors

• Warner Bros (1936) (USA) (theatrical)
• Vitaphone Corporation, The (1936) (USA) (theatrical) (as The Vitaphone Corp'n.)
• Warner Bros. (1936) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. First National Films (1936) (Austria) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. Films (1947) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Dominant Pictures Corporation (1957) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1968) (Finland) (TV)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1979) (Finland) (TV)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1986) (Finland) (TV)
• TV3 (1989) (Finland) (TV)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical) (35mm print)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2005) (Finland) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (2005) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Living Colour Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Continental Home Vídeo (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Key Video (19??) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (19??) (USA) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Berliner Synchron  German dubbing 1965

Also Known As:

"Petrified Forest" - USA (poster title)

Runtime:

82 min (Turner library print)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:(Banned) (1936) | USA:Approved (PCA #1751) | Germany:6 | Australia:G | Canada:PG (video rating) | Germany:16 | USA:TV-G (TV rating) | Australia:PG (TV rating) | Finland:K-16 (1946) | Argentina:13 | Netherlands:14 (original rating) (1936) | Netherlands:6 | USA:Not Rated

Filming Locations:

Red Rock Canyon State Park - Highway 14, Cantil, California, USA

Company:

Warner Bros

Trivia:

The character of Duke Mantee was mainly inspired by bank robber John Dillinger.

Goofs:

Continuity: The first time Leslie Howard is in the restaurant at the table with Bette Davis, he is on the point of lighting his pipe; in the next shot, he is not smoking.

Quotes:

[Talking about signing his $5,000.00 life insurance policy over to Gabby]
Mrs. Edith Chisholm:You're in love with her, aren't you?
Alan Squier:Yes, I suppose I am. And not unreasonably. She has heroic stuff in her. She may be one of the immortal women of France. Another Joan of Arc, George Sand, Madame Curie, or Du Barry. I want to show her that I believe in her, and how else can I do it? Living...
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Jeopardy!: Episode #22.206" (2006)

Soundtrack:

I'd Rather Listen to Your Eyes

The Petrified Forest (1936) ***1/2

Here is one of the reasons I love old movies so much - intriguing writing, great acting, and interesting characters hold our attention throughout the movie without needing to resort to desperate all-out action, explosions, and computer effects.

Leslie Howard is a gentle intellectual roaming the Arizona desert who happens upon a quaint little cafe/gas station in the middle of nowhere, amidst sand and cactus. He immediately stirs the emotions of big-eyed waitress, Gabby (played by an adorably youthful Bette Davis), who holds a dream of going to France and finding herself in the world. But despite their quick and mutual adoration for one another there is impending tension hovering around their introduction, as news continually escalates about a killer named Duke Mantee (Humphrey Bogart) who's on the run and not far from the diner. Eventually, the infamous gangster shows up with some thugs and takes over the cafe, holding an array of wonderfully colorful characters hostage.

This was originally a play with Leslie Howard and Humphrey Bogart, and leading man Howard reportedly refused to do the picture without Bogie being in it. As a result, this is noteworthy also as Bogart's big breakout movie, and it would only be a few more years before he would hit super-stardom all on his own. Humphrey seems to put a lot into his gangster character, investing Duke with the necessary evil demeanor, yet also with a hint of heart and soul.

Leslie Howard and Bette Davis make a wonderful pair, and both give fine performances; which makes the potentially talky twenty minute scene where they first get acquainted actually completely captivating. Charley Grapewin is delightful and funny as Davis' chattering grandpa.

Dick Foran, playing a strapping and comical football star who pumps gas while always trying to woo Gabby, was very good in this film and it's probably the best work I've seen him do in movies, before he wound up as a "B" player for Universal. His character here is in complete contrast from the heroes and "singing cowboys" I've been used to seeing him play.

At first watch I wasn't completely satisfied with the ending (which I will not reveal) but after thinking about it I came to the decision that it really fit the story well after all, and is actually very poetic.