Question 1

Why did Leslie Howard insist on Humphrey Bogart playing Duke Mantee in the film?

Accepted Answer

Leslie Howard sent a telegram to Jack L. Warner stating 'Insist Bogart play Mantee; no Bogart, no deal,' securing Bogart's role after Warner Bros. wanted to replace him with Edward G. Robinson.

Question 2

What real-life gangster inspired the character Duke Mantee, and how did Humphrey Bogart prepare for the role?

Accepted Answer

Duke Mantee was mainly inspired by bank robber John Dillinger. Bogart closely resembled Dillinger and studied film footage of him to perfect his mannerisms.

Question 3

What brand of beer is prominently featured in the movie, and why is it notable to collectors?

Accepted Answer

Apache Beer is featured with an advertisement in the background and on the table. Introduced in 1934 and discontinued in 1943, its items are rare, with cans in very good condition valued at thousands of dollars.

Question 4

What does a sign in the restaurant say about tipping, and why was this considered 'un-American' in the 1930s?

Accepted Answer

A sign says 'Tipping is Un-American. Keep Your Change.' It was considered un-American because tipping resembled European aristocratic customs, creating a master-servant relationship and undermining fair wages.

Question 5

What is the basic plot conflict in 'The Petrified Forest'?

Accepted Answer

Gabby, a waitress dreaming of a better life, meets penniless intellectual Alan at an isolated Arizona diner. Notorious killer Duke Mantee then takes the diner's inhabitants hostage, forcing them to wait overnight in the desert.

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The Petrified Forest

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