The Petrified Forest

Starring: Leslie Howard, Bette Davis, Genevieve Tobin, Humphrey Bogart, Joseph Sawyer, Eddie Acuff, Porter Hall, Dick Foran
Directed by: Archie Mayo
Rating: Not rated
Genre: Drama, Crime, Romance
1936

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A failed writer (Leslie Howard) arrives in an isolated desert cafe, where he meets the owner's daughter (Bette Davis) and falls for her. The two consider running away together, but the plans are put on hold when a gangster (Humphrey Bogart) arrives and hides out from the police.

Review:

Tim: This is an interesting, different film. The movie contains more social commentary than you would imagine, and I strongly advise you to pay attention to this while you watch.

The film centers around Leslie Howard and Bette Davis, two wandering souls who briefly meet and vastly impact each others' lives. Their interactions are fascinating and are among the most memorable scenes in the film. They seem to be caught up in something much bigger than themselves, expressed vocally by Howard. We are quite caught up in this little relationship, and by the time gangster Humphrey Bogart shows up, we are caught slightly off guard. This is the role that really opened Bogart's path to stardom, and you can physically see the supporting role was holding him back. Once he shows up, it is hard to take your eyes off him. While most of the film takes place away from him, he's still crucial to the movie.

One of the most charming aspects of the film is how surprisingly intelligent it is. This movie is similar to the many other gangster pictures, except for the fact that it deals with more matters of the mind and some deeper idea than the vast majority of its contemporaries.

This film's social commentary derives everything else, and makes the movie enjoyable, putting it in a class of its own. There are so many reasons to see this movie.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: They Drive by Night, Casablanca, High Sierra