Portrayals of Mental Illness/Trauma in Film: Humphrey Bogart as Duke Mantee in "The Petrified Forest" (1936)

Robert Emmet Sherwood's "The Petrified Forest" opened on Broadway January 7th, 1935 which wasn't the best time for his friend and sometimes film but established theater actor Humphrey Bogart. His 1930 Fox contract was dropped after five films and he had moved back and forth from Hollywood to New York multiple times. His father had died in his arms during this time and leaving him ten thousand dollars worth in debts while during the beginnings of the Depression. One of his sisters also passed away of alcoholism and another left by her husband and penniless, falling into poor mental health while taking care of her only child.

But Bogart was adamant in getting the part of Duke Mantee, going as far as to study film footage of gangster John Dillinger which Sherwood had based the character on and copying many of his mannerisms. Sherwood was ready to suggest him for a different role, but producer Arthur Hopkins was hesitant. Hopkins would later describe Bogart's reputation on stage as "an antiquated juvenile who spent most of his stage life in white pants swinging a tennis racquet." (Edward Copeland's Tangents: "This is Duke Mantee, the world-famous killer ... and he's hungry!")  Even fellow producer and the star of the show, movie superstar Leslie Howard liked him and even wanted Bogart to play opposite him in the film version. Howard even told Bogart he would do his best to get him to repeat the role in the upcoming screen version which he already held the rights to. Bogart would hold him to this.

But Warner Brothers had tested other actors for Mantee and even announced in the trades that Edward G. Robinson for the role which Bogart found out right away. He immediately cabled Howard while he was vacationing in Scotland and Howard got back to Warner Brothers informing them "he would not play in the picture if Bogart was not cast in it." (Schickel, Richard. Bogie: A Celebration of the Life and Films of Humphrey Bogart. 2006) Warner Brothers listened.










Links to Check Out
Leslie Howard: The Petrified Forest