The Petrified Forest

Gabrielle Maple works in a dusty desert gas station-café, but yearns for the life of an artist in France, knowing there must be something finer than the provincial dead-end she is trapped in. A hitch-hiking writer, the disillusioned Alan Squier, appears and revitalizes her dreams of a better place, and finds his own sense of worth refreshed by this vital young girl. When Duke Mantee and his gang, wanted killers, show up and take hostages, Gabrielle falls in love with the poetic Alan, and Squier begins to see a way to give Gabby the life she deserves.

6.8

76 min

Cast

Humphrey Bogart

as Duke Mantee

Henry Fonda

as Alan Squier

Lauren Bacall

as Gabby Maple

Paul Hartman

as Jason Maple

Jack Warden

as Boze

Richard Jaeckel

as Ruby

Joseph Sweeney

as Gramps

Natalie Schafer

as Mrs. Chisholm

Richard Gaines

as Mr. Chisholm

Jack Klugman

as Jackie

Dick Elliott

as Commander

Steven Ritch

as Lineman

Morris Buchanan

as Pyles

Julia Montoya

as Paula

Frank London

as Radio Announcer (voice)

Director

Delbert Mann