The Petrified Forest
1936 | Drama, Film Noir | 82 minutes | English
Info
A burnt-out, penniless, British writer, Alan Squier, wanders into a roadside diner in the Arizona desert. The diner, located at the edge of a petrified forest, is managed by Jason Maple, his daughter Gabrielle, and Gramp, Jason’s father. Gabrielle’s mother abandoned her when she was a child and moved to France. She keeps in touch with Gabrielle by sending her letters and poems. Gabrielle now dreams of leaving the depressing diner and moving to France where her parents first met after World War I. Alan regales Gabrielle about his years living in Paris, writing a novel, and living the bohemian life. Gabrielle is smitten. Meanwhile, Duke Mantee, a dangerous gangster fleeing the police, storms into the diner. Duke’s plan is to rendezvous with his girlfriend Doris and flee to Mexico. But Doris is captured by the police and reveals Duke’s location. While waiting, Alan engages in conversation with Duke calling him “the last great apostle of rugged individualism.” Realizing the police are closing in, Alan has an idea: He changes the beneficiary of his life insurance policy to Gabrielle. He then urges Duke to shoot him. This will provide Alan with two worthwhile legacies: He will die nobly and he will help Gabrielle fulfill her dream of living in France.
Cast
Why Stream This Film?
- Rotten Tomatoes Score (Critics Consensus): 100%
Accolades
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The film received a perfect 100% Rotten Tomatoes rating.
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The film received 31/2 stars out of 4 in Leonard Maltin’s MOVIE GUIDE
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THE PETRIFIED FOREST served as a good acting vehicle for the three leads, Leslie Howard, Bette Davis, and especially Humphrey Bogart, in a breakthrough performance. All three would achieve greater heights of skill and popularity in future movies.
Due to the scowly presence of Humphrey Bogart, THE PETRIFIED FOREST would later be considered as one of the decades great gangster films.
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