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Dillinger in Petrified Forest


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Ran across this again, last night, had to watch, again. Great movie and an early Bogart.
What's interesting about it, and the link to John Dillinger, is Bogart plays Duke Mantee, a doppelganger to Dillinger. It's said he studied the odd walk Dillinger had ( couldn't of ) but the stories about JD show he walked this way. DID study the new photos of Dillinger tho,only a year old in 1935.
What's interesting is the close ups in the movie, ( watch it) a perfect Dillinger look, hair etc. Some perfect to the old photos- ( sorry Depp)
If this interests you, check the movie out again, a doppelganger to what Mr. Dillinger looked and acted like- sorta.

OCM

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It's almost comical the way he walks with his arms lifted, but I guess that's the way Dillinger walked. Hate to say this but it's a bit like Walter Brennen walking.
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It's almost comical the way he walks with his arms lifted, but I guess that's the way Dillinger walked. Hate to say this but it's a bit like Walter Brennen walking.

 

I never knew he was emulating JD; my dad always wondered why Bogie walked with him arm like that, like he might of had a stroke. :)

 

Rob

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That was it, Duke( Mantee) was imitating the John Dillinger gang. JD was only a year in the ground by that time. Besides the walking oddly, the closeup scenes are uncanny, the hair, face and all.

As I say, he supposedly studied the Dillinger character and research his walking, the 34 film at Crown Point etc.

Up and coming actor-

His character was imitating Dillinger, very fresh in the audience's minds.

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Bogy came up with the idea of holding his arms that way while he played the role on Broadway a year before the film version was shot. He figured that wearing the shoulder holster with the gat would produce that sort of hunched look. Warner's didn't want Bogy in the film version even after his great performance on Broadway, they wanted E.G Robinson who did such a great job in "Little Ceasar" as Erico Bandello, a character who was clearly modeled after Al Capone. Bogy only got the film role because Robinson was asking for too much money and the fact that Leslie Howard, (the lead of the film) insisted that Bogy get the part, the rest is history.

 

A very young Bette Davis was quite charming and attractive as "Gabby" in one her finest early performances. Here is a photo of her from that period that she signed for me many years ago. Also, a certain Michael Hammer in a Dillinger-like pose.

 

If you haven't seen the film, by all means rent it.

Petrified forest20151021_13220862.jpg

Bette Davis20151021_13323892.jpg

Dil.jpg

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Haven't seen this movie for years. Never noticed the Dillinger affectations. Will most definitely need to take another look.

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That's why I said he ( couldn't of ) studied JD's walk, no films of that, just the film of him in Crown Point, standing. ( a short in Tucson too) The original play ( 1934) Robert Sherwood, described Duke Manatee as " well-built but stoop shouldered and vaguely thoughtful" . Bogey did the play then the film. 1934 & 1936. ( Carlos Clarnes book)

I guess they were on thin ice a bit doing a film like this with a Dillinger -type character due to Hoover's censorship of gangster movies or something.

People, the knew Dillinger, did observe Dillinger having that odd walk with his arms to his side. Don't know if as drastic as Bogey's interpretation or what ?

His looks are uncanny in the film-

Yes, for sure rent it as Mike Hammer says, a true classic. Nice color shot of John Dillinger too or is that Bogey ?Thanks for sharing the old photos too. Way cool.

 

OCM

 

( a failing $10.00 DELL keyboard- sorry, you'll figure it out )

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Some look-a-likes-?????

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  • 2 months later...

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