Of Human Bondage (1934)

One of my all time favorites.

Just perfect...

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

First, I should note that I've never read Somerset Maugham's novel on which "Of Human Bondage" is based (I understand that of all the movie adaptations of the book, it's the most faithful to the book, having gotten produced before the introduction of the Hays Code). The obvious point is that Philip and Mildred, no matter how much they authentically love each other, are so different that one has to wonder if they could ever truly be right for each other. Just look at how it strains Philip's relations with other women. You can bet money that these sorts of relationships continue in the 21st century.There was something else about the movie that caught my attention. Philip gets told that his art is no good, so he returns to his medical studies, only to fail the test. It seems to me that a lot of people nowadays not only can't find jobs, but have no way to exercise their artistry (often because their parents suppressed it, considering it "inappropriate"). Get ready for even more unemployment.That's just a side note. It's a fine movie. As expected, Leslie Howard and Bette Davis do an outstanding job in their roles. Also appearing is Alan Hale (yes, the Skipper's father). Last but not least is that James Cromwell's parents are involved in the production: his father John Cromwell directs while his mother Kay Johnson co-stars.I recommend it.

This "review" is almost as much about the other comments as the movie itself. Had I read the book I reckon I would have rated the film lower. I believe many of the reviewers missed the significance of the term bondage, assigning it a sexual attraction, when it was a matter of being inexplicably smitten. The Mildred character, as portrayed by Davis, makes that hard to understand as does not touching on Philips upbringing.He was lucky to have had two other women attracted to him but due to the entrapment, the bondage, he is unable to reciprocate adequately. It is a disabilitating affliction. The story is intriguing on interweaving the off again on again abuse of the relationship and consequences to the characters. As noted by some other reviewers Philip has some dark sides of his own, allowing the viewer to distance themselves from being sympathetic and even chagrined at the unsatisfactory ending. Given the elegance of Somerset Maughn's short stories I suspect justice has not been done to the novel.

I don't know what it was about Leslie Howard that turned me off, but I always found him affected and sort of pale. So when he plays the victim of a woman with whom he is obsessed, I was not terribly sorry for him. That is an irrational response so I will try to be reasonable. As a reader I hated what that guy allowed that awful woman to do to him; and when I saw this movie I had the same feeling. I wanted to take him into an alley and beat some sense into him. Obviously, the poor guy was crippled and probably had never had anything like this happen to him which makes Bette Davis even more despicable. He cowered and hoped and did not have the experience to do anything right. Of all the versions, I think this one is probably the best. Although it's so hard to watch.

A must watch film, I genuinely loved it. Easy to watch and get drawn into, not that dated at all, and a good story we can all relate to.Lots of reviews here waxing lyrical about Bette Davis' bawdy performance, and in general I go along with them, bar her pitiful attempt at a cockney accent.Its worse than Dick van Dykes (Mary Poppins) and I never thought I'd say that about anyone. Dick had a naiive comedic consistency in his americanised version. Bette is all over the place, mainly sounding like a posh girl pretending badly to be cockney and throwing in intonations I've never heard anyone speak. Very false and messed up, and irritating - but that is what she's portraying too, so it kinda works. She was either sheltered and made no attempt to get out and hear how people speak or she wouldn't have dared do what she did, or else she has no accent skills.Beyond the accent, yes, Bette makes the film funky and fun. The other actresses I think perform better, are more convincing character wise. Kay Johnson (Norah) is stiff upper lip British and understated, a mirror to Leslie Howards character, though lighter. Frances Dee (Sally) plays a young girl who accepts her place with a charm and a wisdom beyond her years - and is the heavenly beauty of the film.Watch, enjoy, and indulge in reminiscences of the unrequited loves in your life.