Classic 30s Movie: “The Petrified Forest”

May is Classic 30s Movie Month. Today’s guest post comes from Rachel Sheridan.

Movie Title: The Petrified Forest

Year: 1936

Writers: Charles Kenyon and Delmer Daves, based on the play by Robert E. Sherwood

Lead Actors: Leslie Howard, Better Davis, Humphrey Bogart

Director: Archie L. Mayo

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

Why I Think This Is A Classic 30’s Movie

I think the The Petrified Forest is a classic movie for a couple of reasons. The Petrified Forest seems to bleed themes stemming from the dire ills of the Great Depression, as 30’s cinema often did. The movie poetically exploits the human condition with questions asked from generation to generation, such as, “why are we here?”, “what is my purpose?”, “what do I want?”. The exploration of these questions, in a manner so dark it borders on existential nihilism, helps keep the movie relatable and relevant today. It’s a solid predecessor to film noir, checking off the commonly held bullet points of the genre.

The entire movie takes place in one location, with the exception of a few short scenes. The film is heavy on intriguing dialogue. Every word and exchange emits such emotion and tension, that including many locations to help move the story forward is unnecessary.

The movie is adapted from the wildly popular play by the same name. The play starred Leslie Howard as Alan Squire and Humphrey Bogart as Duke Mantee. Howard and Bogart reprised the same roles for the movie. Bogart’s movie portrayal of Duke Mantee was his break-out performance and he moved from Broadway to Hollywood to star in a number of Warner Brothers films immediately after. Initially, an A-List actor was hired to play Mantee, but Howard, who held production rights, said he will not move on with the project unless Bogart was cast as Duke Mantee. The rest is history and later, Bogart and Lauren Bacall named their daughter, Leslie Howard Bogart, after Howard in recognition of the huge impact Howard had on Bogart’s career.

My Favorite Moment In The Movie

My favorite moment in the movie is when Edith Chisholm (Genevieve Tobin) convinces Gabby that she should go to France after Gabby insists she won’t. This sheds light on why Edith went along with Alan’s plan to make Gabby his insurance beneficiary and then insist Duke kill him.

Edith was also acting as a Mother-figure to Gabby which was much needed at that moment. Gabby’s mother lived in France and she longed to reconnect with her; not having her mother around marked Gabby deeply.

My Favorite Dialogue In the Movie

It was very difficult to choose just one exchange of dialogue, but this one drenched in foreshadowing is definitely a favorite.

Alan: Let there be killing. All this evening, I’ve had a feeling of destiny closing in. Do you believe in Astrology?
Duke: I couldn’t say, pal.
Alan: I don’t normally. But tonight, as I was walking along that road, I began to feel the enchantment of this desert. I looked up at the sky, and the stars seemed to be mocking me, reproving me. They were pointing the way to that gleaming sign [of the diner’s] and saying, “There’s the end of your tether. You thought you could escape and skip off to the Phoenix Palace, but we know better”. That’s what the stars told me. For perhaps they know that carnage is imminent and that I’m due to be among the fallen. Fascinating thought.
Duke: Let’s skip it.

Duke raises his glass for a toast.

Duke: Here’s to happy days.

Key Things You Should Look For When Watching This Movie

Each character share many similarities regarding their station in life: dead end, no where else to go and so forth. Gabrielle is the only exception. She’s yearns to break free of her circumstances.

In Duke’s early scenes, his character is positioned in such a way that horns from a bull’s head, mounted on the wall behind him, look as though they are coming out of the sides of Duke’s head. This seems to be alluding to Duke’s Devilish characteristics.

Duke Mantee is the type of antagonist that you almost start to sympathize for as we get to know him. Some reasons being: his calm demeanor, his dejected outlook on life and his longing for his girlfriend, who eventually betrays him.

As Howard and Bogart played the same roles the year before in the Broadway smash, it’s interesting to observe their interaction on screen together.

Thanks, Rachel!

To show our gratitude for your guest post, here’s a dash of creative juju for you. Whoosh!

We already have a set of classic 40s movies, 5os movies, 60s Movies, 70s movies, 80s Movies and 90s Movies. This month, we’re working on 30s movies. And thanks to the GITS community, we’ve got at least 22 movies in the works and hopefully!

Those who I put in bold have already sent me their posts. If you haven’t sent yours to me, please do so as soon as you can!!!

All Quiet on the Western Front — Michael Waters
Bride of Frankenstein — Marija Nielsen
Bringing Up Baby — Melinda Mahaffey
Captain Blood — John Arends
City Girl — Adam Westbrook
Dracula — Sheila Seaclearr
Duck Soup — David Joyner
Gone With The Wind — Mark Twain
Gunga Din — Steve Huerta
It Happened One Night — Joni Brainerd
Make Way for Tomorrow — Susan W
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington — Amber Watt
Rebecca — Katha
Snow White and the Seven Dwarves — Will King
Sabotage — Jeff Xilon
Stagecoach — Thenewlight
The 39 Steps — Felicity Flesher
The Adventures of Robin Hood — Clay Mitchell
The Petrified Forest — Rachel Sheridan
The Women — Liz Clarke
Topper — Wayne Kline
Trouble in Paradise — Vincenzo

I am still looking for volunteers. If there’s a 30s movie you’d like to write about, please post your suggestion in comments or contact me via email.