bombersflyup
The Petrified Forest is a nice little romantic film-noir set at a diner in the desert.I don't understand the regard for Humphrey Bogart in this or that it was his platform, I thought he had little to no impact on this film. Alan Squier has a personality type I don't much care for, but he won me over by the end. Gabrielle is the centerpiece, the romantic eyed dreamer played by Bette Davis. She was very good and I now understand who Kim Carnes is talking about in that song. I thought all the secondary characters brought something positive to the table, the Chisholms, Boze and Slim in particular. I think it is a good story told and acted well.
weezeralfalfa
I've stolen the title for a much later film for my review title, as I see much resemblance. The initial setting is a desolate part of the American West, such as has attracted dreamers and misfits: those looking for adventure or a pot of gold, and those running away from failure, creditors or people. In and around this lonely fast food and gas station establishment, we eventually find a collection of residents and 'guests': each a misfit in their own way.
There's Gramp Maple(Charlie Grapewin)., decaying father of Jason Maple: the chief proprietor of this establishment, and grandfather of Gabrielle(Gabby)(Bette Davis). Gramp mostly prefers to live in 'the good ole days', when desperados such as Billy the Kid made life interesting and precarious. To a lesser degree, Jason also liked to live in the past, when he was a GI in France and married a war bride, whom he brought here, but could not keep. He occasionally participates in patriotic displays.... In contrast, Gabby: young and single, dreams of a future life in France, where she could better participate in her interests of sophisticated art and poetry, possibly abetted by her mother. Then, there's Boze: handsome ex-college athlete, incongruously pumping gas and doing odd jobs in this outpost of civilization. He hopes to make love to Gabby, but she's not being accommodating, as he doesn't seem to offer her anything toward achieving her life goals......
And, there's penniless vagabond intellectual Alan(Leslie Howard) who has wandered into this establishment in a sojourn across America, seemingly looking for a purpose to his life, or a convenient way to end it. He was married, but his wife threw him out when it was evident he wasn't going to contribute to their wellbeing. He finds a temporary comrade here in Gabby, who shares his enthusiasm for poetry, especially that of Francois Villon(see "The Vagabond King"). He often leisurely smokes a pipe, contributing to his aurora as a self-satisfied intellectual, who is at the mercy of concrete realities of life. Like Gramps, he sees himself as largely obsolete in today's world.....
Finally, there's Duke Mantee and his gang of bank robbers and thieves. Gramps interprets them as the present equivalent of old time desperadoes, such as Billy the Kid and Jesse James, as opposed to big city gangsters. For some of those present, they were suggested to be the last bastion of rugged individualism: the last of the 'romantic' outlaws, whose exploits against 'fat cats' earned the respect of many ordinary citizens. As such, they were nearly as obsolete as Alan. Duke realized that his game was about up, as law officers enclosed the establishment, having captured his girlfriend.
The film mostly belongs to Leslie(Alan), who is both a defeatist and a romantic. Thus, he shares disparate elements with both Gabby and Duke. His most concrete expression of his romanticism is embodied in his gesture of naming Gabby the sole beneficiary of his life insurance policy. If he can just arrange a death that doesn't appear to be a suicide, she should have enough funds to try to realize her dreams, which is the most loving thing he can do for her. Thus, he seizes upon the idea of Duke shooting him. This should be a minimal cost solution, since Duke is headed for the gallows anyway. Duke grudgingly complies with this request.
Leslie and Bogart reprised their roles in Robert Sherwood's Broadway play of the same title. Both are nearly universally praised as ideal choices for their roles. However, I found Bogie's characterization of a Dillinger-like hoodlum to be extreme, reminiscent of a stereotypical caveman.... Charlie Grapewin was ideal as Gramps, as he would be a few years later in The Grapes of Wrath". ....Handsome Dick Foran was OK as the jock with eyes for Bette.....Bette was as beautiful and appealing as I have ever seen her, before or after.....
The contrast between the 2 African Americans , Slim(Slim Thompson ) and Joseph(John Alexander) is quite striking. The one is chauffeur to the wealthy Chisholms, and acts like an Uncle Tom. The other is a member of Duke's gang and seems to have a status within the gang comparable to that of most of the gang.
kindtxgal
Considering this film was made just a few years after motion pictures started "talking", it's a great movie thanks to budding talents of Leslie Howard, Bette Davis, and Humphrey Bogart. Clearly, their soon-to-be discovered star power propels the somewhat melodramatic story line. Within a few three years, all three would be superstars.Davis flits dreamily from scene to scene as a dreamy-eyed but tired, somewhat life-edgy waitress at a dump of a 'gas stop' in the middle of nowhere. Soon her life will be propelled into her dreamed-of destiny by the conflicting characters of Leslie Howard, who exudes line after line of platitudes, whimsy, and advise one can almost gag on it after awhile..thankfully Humphrey Bogart thrusts himself angrily and menacingly as a gangster on the lam running for Mexico with his cronies. The three decidedly different characters whirl around each other while the remaining cast drifts around them almost listlessly in contrast.Stellar directing clearly at work weaving the contrasting roles seamlessly. Each primary actor could easily hold court by their own talent power.Very entertaining, engaging with a titular splash of thought-stuff humming beneath the lines.
Frank Lampard
This is one of Bogart's first roles and boy does he steal the film. He has a presence that dominates the film. His "Duke" character is gangster at gangster's best. The problem with this film is the irritating performance of Leslie Howard. His character is so repulsive and obnoxious. Not an ounce of reality or common sense to the character. I just kept saying, come on Duke, kill him already. Come to think of it, there were a a few unbelievable and irritating characters in this film that just made overall enjoyment of this film impossible. This is the classic example of a play trying to make the transition to the big screen and failing quite uncomfortably. However, the film reveals the early brilliance of the legend that is Humphrey Bogart.
