- Actors: Leslie Howard, Humphrey Bogart, Bette Davis, Genevieve Tobin, Dick Foran
- Directors: Archie Mayo
- Writers: Charles Kenyon, Delmer Daves, Robert E. Sherwood
- Producers: Hal B. Wallis
- Language English
- Classification: PG
- Studio: Warner
- VHS Release Date: 6 Mar 2000
- Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B00004D35H
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 13,474 in Video (See Top 100 in Video)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Whenever I watch a classic film, I think about whether it has worn well over the years. Some, such as "Casablanca," should never be remade. This one could perhaps use an update by a skilled director who might do justice to it as a period piece--perhaps Ridley Scott (??)--because "The Petrified Forest" is a product of the Great Depression, and it deserves to be recreated within its historical context.
And yet, as shopworn as it is--with gaps between stagily delivered lines, especially in the beginning of the film, to give but one example--"The Petrified Forest" contains splendid moments. Bette Davis and Leslie Howard--who convey palpable romantic chemistry--bring poignancy to Robert Sherwood's lines. This film gives only a hint of the appeal of Leslie Howard though, who was to play Ashley Wilkes in "Gone With the Wind," and whose career was cut short tragically in World War II. Humphrey Bogart's suggestion of scruples behind the hardened persona of gangster Duke Mantee is both subtle and compelling; his character practically jumps off the screen, prognosticating Bogey's future stardom.
The desert sandstorm sets a mood that makes plausible the romantically improbable story about a girl who reads poetry and longs to escape from her father's roadhouse diner to study art in Paris; whose future is changed when a handsome Englishman enters her life with the suddenness of a tumbleweed blowing in the desert wind. The title of the film/play suggests the girl's entrapment as well as the petrification of people of the United States in the face of the Depression.
I cannot imagine younger audiences appreciating this film. And many of those left who were contemporary with the imagined events, when dreams seemed unobtainable, can hardly remember the era. Nevertheless, the film deserves to be appreciated as a piece of movie history, in which we get glimpses of stars before they began to shine in their greatest magnitude.
And yet, as shopworn as it is--with gaps between stagily delivered lines, especially in the beginning of the film, to give but one example--"The Petrified Forest" contains splendid moments. Bette Davis and Leslie Howard--who convey palpable romantic chemistry--bring poignancy to Robert Sherwood's lines. This film gives only a hint of the appeal of Leslie Howard though, who was to play Ashley Wilkes in "Gone With the Wind," and whose career was cut short tragically in World War II. Humphrey Bogart's suggestion of scruples behind the hardened persona of gangster Duke Mantee is both subtle and compelling; his character practically jumps off the screen, prognosticating Bogey's future stardom.
The desert sandstorm sets a mood that makes plausible the romantically improbable story about a girl who reads poetry and longs to escape from her father's roadhouse diner to study art in Paris; whose future is changed when a handsome Englishman enters her life with the suddenness of a tumbleweed blowing in the desert wind. The title of the film/play suggests the girl's entrapment as well as the petrification of people of the United States in the face of the Depression.
I cannot imagine younger audiences appreciating this film. And many of those left who were contemporary with the imagined events, when dreams seemed unobtainable, can hardly remember the era. Nevertheless, the film deserves to be appreciated as a piece of movie history, in which we get glimpses of stars before they began to shine in their greatest magnitude.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Leslie Howard and Humphrey Bogart were in the original Broadway play. And this was made again into a film called "Escape in the Desert." Because I knew this movie was supposed to have Humphrey Bogart in it, it was almost like watching two movies, the one before Humphrey Bogart appeared, and the one with Humphrey Bogart. The actual shooting, (oops) I mean filming location is Red Rock Canyon, California, USA. With one this is a story a lot of people coming from different directions in their life. Together they evaluate and solve their problems the best they can in a short given 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 Bound (1930)" with Leslie Howard.
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 Bound (1930)" with Leslie Howard.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This great 1936 film noir, directed by Archie Mayo, is adapted from the excellent 1935 play by Robert Emmet Sherwood; The Petrified Forest.
The plot of this film, although filled with action and romance, is very typical of the pessimistic world view of the intellectuals of the 1930s. Failed and disillusioned writer Alan Squier (Leslie Howard), wandering in the Arizona desert, trying to discover the "Petrified Forest" and the meaning of his existence, finds himself at a local restaurant. He is drawn to the owner's daughter and aspiring artist Gabby Maple (Bette Davis) and is moved by her eagerness to experience the world and to escape the suffocating life she is trapped in. A catalyst to both their lives will prove to be the outlaw and murderer Duke Mantee (Humphrey Bogart), who seeks refuge in Gabby's restaurant.
This film is a great adaptation of the original play, beautifully directed and with fantastic performances by Leslie Howard, Humphrey Bogart, and Bette Davis. Both Howard and Bogart were in the very successful Broadway production, and when Warner Bros. decided to produce this film, although they wanted to get Howard for his role as Alan Squier, they were reluctant to cast newcomer Bogart. However, Leslie Howard insisted and since he refused to do the film without his friend Humphrey Bogart, the studio was left with no choice and Bogart's successful career begun.
In total a great classic film that is wonderful to have as a DVD. Highly recommended!!!
The plot of this film, although filled with action and romance, is very typical of the pessimistic world view of the intellectuals of the 1930s. Failed and disillusioned writer Alan Squier (Leslie Howard), wandering in the Arizona desert, trying to discover the "Petrified Forest" and the meaning of his existence, finds himself at a local restaurant. He is drawn to the owner's daughter and aspiring artist Gabby Maple (Bette Davis) and is moved by her eagerness to experience the world and to escape the suffocating life she is trapped in. A catalyst to both their lives will prove to be the outlaw and murderer Duke Mantee (Humphrey Bogart), who seeks refuge in Gabby's restaurant.
This film is a great adaptation of the original play, beautifully directed and with fantastic performances by Leslie Howard, Humphrey Bogart, and Bette Davis. Both Howard and Bogart were in the very successful Broadway production, and when Warner Bros. decided to produce this film, although they wanted to get Howard for his role as Alan Squier, they were reluctant to cast newcomer Bogart. However, Leslie Howard insisted and since he refused to do the film without his friend Humphrey Bogart, the studio was left with no choice and Bogart's successful career begun.
In total a great classic film that is wonderful to have as a DVD. Highly recommended!!!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
An old classic
For a Humphrey Bogart fan it is a must.
Generally good, even if the fact that it was a stage play from the start is obvious here as well. Read more
Generally good, even if the fact that it was a stage play from the start is obvious here as well. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Johan Andersson
"Since I've been a grown up, I've spent most of my life in prison,...
Warner Bros. Pictures presents "THE PETRIFIED FOREST" (1936) (82 min/B&W) (Fully Restored/Dolby Digitally Remastered) -- Starring Leslie Howard, Humphrey Bogart, Bette Davis, Dick... Read more
Published 15 months ago by J. Lovins
Another mostly forgotten gem!
I remembered watching this film years and years ago in my tender childhood (and that was a good few years ago! Read more
Published 15 months ago by T. S. Hughes
Great transition from stage play to film
Leslie Howard and Humphrey Bogart were in the original Broadway play. And this was made again into a film called "Escape in the Desert. Read more
Published on 24 Sep 2000 by bernie
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