this one really had me and my wife mesmerized.
I got it to watch Bogey’s performance, but ended up being more impressed with Leslie Howard.
Perhaps not Bette Davis’s best acting, but she was adorable and I completely bought into the instant connection between her and Leslie.
Fantastic movie!
I agree with every word! I watching it not too long ago for the same reason and had the same reaction that you did :)
shareI love Bogart, but I didn't think much of it. Billy Wilder would have made this gold.
shareI didn't buy the connection at all.
shareWhat's so wonderful about Petrified Forest is that it takes a whole half hour before we even see any action from Humphrey and his gang. But the whole time there is this looming sense of doom. The gang is constanly mentioned, and the desert atmosphere is fantastic (although you can tell it's done on a set, it's well done)
Leslie Howard is so good, and the dialogue during the hold-up is so interesting that it made for a very unique experience. I don't think Petrified Forest is about a gang holding up a bar-b-q. It's about a man who has little to live for, but finally finds someone to help. Since he really doesn't have much in his life - no money, wandering aimlessly - he decides to help a young woman with dreams of poetry and art get out of the dead-end existance. Great movie!
"That is the whitest white part of the eye I have ever seen; do you floss?"
Absolutely. The hold-up at the station diner is a mere plot device (if a very good one) to handing the drifter his chance to finally give meaning to his life and help the only person to have ever stirred his primal urge to love. The set-up makes for absorbing dialogue and top-notch acting (even if Bette Davis appeared to have a few glances at off-screen cue cards!) Today's movies may be superior in a few other ways but none gets close to matching the charm of the oldies, imo.
shareI heard this was Bogart's break out role, but I agree Howard really impressed me the most. I've some of his other films and he was always great. Bogart wasn't bad at all. The acting was good all around. The Slim character also stood out.
shareWhat makes this film adaptation of "The Petried Forest" incredibly wonderful is that the actors are so good that they are the driving force behind the films success. Archie Mayo was a mediocre director and Davis was probably glad not to have to work with him has her acting career progressed. I think it is one of the most solid pieces of ensemble acting of the thirties. there was chemistry between all the characters because the actors were talented enough to make it such. Still, could one imagine if John Huston was around and then was assigned to direct this film?
shareI'm going through a Leslie Howard phase atm - I saw this for the first time on Tuesday night and absolutely LOVED IT!!! Just such a great gem of a movie - its such a shame its not better known.
Leslie Howard was so wonderful in this film, I thought it was an interesting role and he played it beautifully. and as someone else pointed out - loved little moments like how he pronounces "Bar be que" lol
Do you have monkeys in Scotland?
~No, but if we did we'd probably deep fry them!
Just finished it myself. Completely blown away. It was stunning.
"It's that kind of idiocy that I empathize with." ~David Bowie
An old thread but still couldn't stop myself from posting. I totally agree. I wasn't expecting much and, like you, was also going to watch this for Bogie but ended up adoring Howard. And was I blown away. This film is just impossible to put in words.
shareIt was a lovely movie, but by the ending I was cringing like hell at Alan's poetry (physically, I was pushing myself to the back of my seat). That alone kept me from giving the flick a heavily deserved 10. Regardless though, it was such a refreshing piece of cinema.
there's a highway that is curling up like smoke above her shoulder
Yup, excellent movie! I've seen it a few times.
Leslie Howard sure was a cutie in this flick!
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Jim Hutton: talented gorgeous hot hunk; adorable as ElleryQueen; SEXIEST ACTOR EVER