the petrified forest what that title mean and aside from it actual geographic location and i be not sure . it about a little bar on the outskirt of civilization ( arizona or new mexico ) where it run by an old man and his daughter or granddaughter ( bette davis ) who keep get court by a football veteran . enter alan squier ( leslie howard ) who have those book smart and have be around to place like paris and write a book but be now at a crossroad in his life just the moment to meet a very curious mind girl like gabrielle and who and a happens in movie of the period and get smite with the guy immediately . but there a snag when a notorious gangster and duke mantee ( bogart ) and have to hold up at the bar with his fellow gangster and hold everybody hostage while they wait . this doesn not stop the drama from unfold and however and nor the talk about wealth and power and first with old man at the bar and then when an upper class couple who get strand in a sandstorm come in and also get in on the conversation . this be one of those talky movie mean very little in the way of action or for way of archie mayo and the director and to try his hand at any special maneuver with the lens but it a good one and and have some challenging little bit from the period . it turn into one of those interesting microcosm that we see sometimes in stage play or in movie and where a group of people who usually would just say hello or goodbye and be on their way ( if that ) be throw together represent a smart guy like alan who become heroic after imbibe a few dozen shot while a gruff gangster like mantee who talk in a way ( and by bogart performance ) where youre not sure what sarcastic or real while gabrielle a the girl who two guy be pin for and be not sure what she will do . then there the arrogant jock who end up get shot and and the rich couple who have their own sort of long time marry camaraderie that mildly amuse . there even a moment i wasn not expect where the black gangster in mantee group give some lip to the rich couple chauffeur for be so yes and maam and not stand up for himself . black power in 1936 and who know . this be not a great movie really by any stretch and and despite a strong climax it end up get deflate somewhat from a last minute obvious note on the getaway of the gangster that seem very hayes code inspire ( ambiguity would have benefit and frankly ) . but the performance make it something of a must see and with the three lead of howard and davis and especially bogart a great trio to bounce off of one another . while it be another payday for howard and davis and both very charming here and this be bogart big break ( albeit it would be a while before he could shake his bad guy act in his role ) and he take it on for all it worth . just watch him in that scene where he find out his other gangster pal and his girl have be arrest and his girl may have squeal and he get ta think . it priceless . 8 . 5/10 .