Sign in
Trailer

The Petrified Forest

1936Movie1 h 22 minNR

CrimeDrama
84
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb7.5Rotten Tomatoes94%80%

A tense, nostalgic crime movie about history and crime.

Good for friends night · thought-provoking · adults

Where to watch

Fingerprint

Not for laughs, warmth or comfort.

Movies with

Story

AGAIN THEY TRIUMPH!...The stars of 'Human Bondage' in a picture greater than the play!

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.

Feels like

  • 1930s Drama
  • Desert Setting
  • Intellectual Conflict
  • Social Commentary
  • Hostage Situation
  • Existential Themes
  • Character-Driven
  • Dialogue-Heavy

Cast

19 of 19

Crew

Directed by
Archie Mayo
Written by
Delmer Daves, Charles Kenyon
Produced by
Hal B. Wallis
Music by
Bernhard Kaun, Leo F. Forbstein

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

February 8, 1936 · 1 h 22 min · NR

Released
February 8, 1936
Runtime
1 h 22 min
Age rating
NR
Content
Violence
Genres
Crime, Drama, Romance, Thriller
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Available in
60 countries

Tropes

Even Evil Has Standards, Heroic Sacrifice, Love Realization +9

  • Even Evil Has Standards
  • Heroic Sacrifice
  • Love Realization
  • Coincidental Broadcast
  • You All Meet in an Inn
  • Chuck Cunningham Syndrome
  • Equal-Opportunity Evil
  • Anti-Villain
  • No, Mr. Bond, I Expect You to Dine
  • Bittersweet Ending
  • Blasting It Out of Their Hands
  • Jerk with a Heart of Gold

12 of 33 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

4 questions, like "Where can I stream The Petrified Forest?"

Questions about The Petrified Forest

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Petrified Forest?

In the United States, you can rent or buy The Petrified Forest from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It streams in 2 other countries, but not in the United States.

Is The Petrified Forest worth watching?

84
GreatGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 84 (IMDb 7.5 and Rotten Tomatoes 94%). Critics rate it higher (94 out of 100) than audiences (78).

Is The Petrified Forest good for date night?

AdultsFriends NightPublic Viewing SafeSolo Watch

Not really: romance is 4 of 10, but the viewing guide doesn't list it for date night.

What tropes does The Petrified Forest use?

Even Evil Has StandardsHeroic SacrificeLove RealizationCoincidental BroadcastYou All Meet in an InnChuck Cunningham SyndromeEqual-Opportunity EvilAnti-VillainNo, Mr. Bond, I Expect You to DineBittersweet EndingBlasting It Out of Their HandsJerk with a Heart of Goldand 21 more

TV Tropes lists 33 tropes for it, including Even Evil Has Standards, Heroic Sacrifice, and Love Realization.