FlickFlick
The Petrified Forest backdrop
The Petrified Forest logo
1936·Crime·1h 22m
7.1
★
Gabby, the waitress in an isolated Arizona diner, dreams of a bigger and better life. One day penniless intellectual Alan drifts into the joint and the two strike up a rapport. Soon enough, notorious killer Duke Mantee takes the diner's inhabitants hostage. Surrounded by miles of desert, the patrons and staff are forced to sit tight with Mantee and his gang overnight.
Directed by Archie Mayo
gangster
arizona
diner
based on play or musical
film noir
fugitive
drifter
desert
hostage situation
aspiration
poetry recitation
françois villon
isolated place
kindred spirit
roadside diner
YouTube
Trailer
IMDB
IMDB
N/A
Where to Watch
Amazon VideoApple TV StoreGoogle Play Movies

Cast

Leslie Howard
Leslie Howard
Alan Squier
Bette Davis
Bette Davis
Gabrielle "Gabby" Maple
Humphrey Bogart
Humphrey Bogart
Duke Mantee
Genevieve Tobin
Genevieve Tobin
Mrs. Edith Chisholm
Dick Foran
Dick Foran
Boze Hertzlinger
Porter Hall
Porter Hall
Jason Maple
Charley Grapewin
Charley Grapewin
Gramp Maple
Paul Harvey
Paul Harvey
Mr. Chisholm
Joe Sawyer
Joe Sawyer
Jackie
Eddie Acuff
Eddie Acuff
Lineman
Adrian Morris
Adrian Morris
Ruby
Slim Thompson
Slim Thompson
Slim

Crew

Archie Mayo
Archie Mayo
Director
Delmer Daves
Delmer Daves
Screenplay
Hal B. Wallis
Hal B. Wallis
Executive Producer
Robert E. Sherwood
Robert E. Sherwood
Theatre Play
Orry-Kelly
Orry-Kelly
Costume Design

Popular Reviews

16 reviews
Luz
Luz
9.0★ · 05/07/26
The Petrified Forest
"I don't know about you, my dear. But I do know what it means to repress yourself and starve yourself through what you conceive to be your duty to others"

Why, I loved this!
"What are you looking for?"
 
"I don't know. I suppose I was looking for something to believe in, worth living for, dying for"
"I don't know about you, my dear. But I do know what it means to repress yourself and starve yourself through what you conceive to be your duty to others"

Why, I loved this!
"What are you looking for?"
 
"I don't know. I suppose I was looking for something to believe in, worth living for, dying for"
Favorite
Comment
Someone Yea
8.6★ · 11/11/25
The Petrified Forest

Bette Davis holding a dead Leslie Howard whilst reciting poetry is the best way to end any movie ever. 

Anyway I love this movie. The philosophy, the acting, the comedy, the story, the heartbreak, Bette Davis, Leslie Howard and Humphrey Bogart all in a movie together. It’s so good.

Bette Davis holding a dead Leslie Howard whilst reciting poetry is the best way to end any movie ever. 

Anyway I love this movie. The philosophy, the acting, the comedy, the story, the heartbreak, Bette Davis, Leslie Howard and Humphrey Bogart all in a movie together. It’s so good.
Favorite
Comment
Julie Andrews
Julie Andrews
9.6★ · 05/10/25
The Petrified Forest
Holy shit, this was so much better than I thought. I am not a huge fan of the crime genre but the story and romance was so interesting that I was engaged throughout. I also adored Bette's and Bogie's performances in this and the dialogue ate so hard. I highly recommend this!
Holy shit, this was so much better than I thought. I am not a huge fan of the crime genre but the story and romance was so interesting that I was engaged throughout. I also adored Bette's and Bogie's performances in this and the dialogue ate so hard. I highly recommend this!
Favorite
Comment
ChaiclassicsPRO
9.0★ · 03/14/22
The Petrified Forest
Great
Great
Favorite
Comment
Elma
Elma
9.0★ · 05/18/21
The Petrified Forest
one of the film noirs that I actually really really enjoyed watching there’s so much tension around .the lonely  diner in the dessert made it looks so stressful
one of the film noirs that I actually really really enjoyed watching there’s so much tension around .the lonely  diner in the dessert made it looks so stressful
Favorite
Comment