The Petrified Forest: Guns, Dreams, and the Desert’s Edge

In this unforgettable Lux Radio Theater production of "The Petrified Forest: Guns, Dreams, and the Desert’s Edge", Herbert Marshall stars as Alan Squier, a weary intellectual wandering the Arizona desert in search of meaning, and Margaret Sullavan shines as Gabrielle Maple, a poetic soul longing to escape her dusty surroundings for the beauty of France. Their chance meeting at a roadside diner takes a dangerous turn when infamous gangster Duke Mantee (played with chilling menace by Eduardo Ciannelli) storms in with his gang, holding the staff and travelers hostage. As tension builds and ideologies clash, Alan and Gabrielle form a deep connection amidst the chaos, leading to one of the most powerful and poetic sacrifices in radio drama history. Adapted from Robert E. Sherwood’s acclaimed stage play and brought to life by Cecil B. DeMille’s masterful direction, this production captures the stark beauty of the American desert, the thrill of outlaw danger, and the quiet ache of unfulfilled dreams. Cast Members: Herbert Marshall, Margaret Sullavan, Eduardo Ciannelli, Donald Meek, Wallace Clark, Frank Milan, Frank Nelson, Ross Forrester, Cecil B. DeMille, Louis Silvers Special Guests: Charles J. Smith (Superintendent of Petrified Forest National Monument), Nick Janios (Café de Paris, 20th Century Fox)