On Screen -- Waterloo Bridge (1931)

"Waterloo Bridge" (1931) is my favorite version of the film because it's a little grittier and not as polished as the 1940 film starring Vivien Leigh and Robert Taylor, and the story is told a little differently.  I think I read that the '31 film storyline is closer to the original story.  It's a really sad, romantic, and tragic story all at the same time.  The film was released before the production code went into effect in 1934 so to some viewers it may seem a little risqué or racy but it's still very tame by today's standards.

The film takes place in London during World War I.  "Myra" is an American chorus girl who followed a show to Europe but is now out of work resorting to street walking to make ends meet.  "Roy" is a naive young American who went to Canada to join the military so that he could fight in the war.  Roy meets Myra out on the street during a zeppelin attack on London and he immediately falls in love with her not realizing that Myra is a prostitute, while she misleads Roy explaining to him that she's a chorus girl.  The pair becomes very friendly as Myra invites him back to her apartment but then avoids Roy's questions about her history and background.  When he tricks her into spending the weekend with his family at their estate in the country, Myra begins feeling comfortable in her surroundings and around everyone in Roy's family, but then gets scared and runs off back to the city where she resumes her work.

Mae Clarke is beautiful and brilliant in her portrayal of "Myra", Kent Douglass stars as "Roy", Doris Lloyd stars as "Kitty, Myra's neighbor and "coworker."  And in one of her first roles Bette Davis costars as "Janet Cronin", Roy's sister.  The film is directed by James Whale in one of his first few directorial efforts... , yes, the same James Whale that directed "Frankenstein" (1931), "Bride of Frankenstein" (1935) , and "The Invisible Man" (1933).

On Screen -- Of Human Bondage (1934)




Davis and Howard

   "Of Human Bondage"is a great film.  It's a story about "Philip Carey" a sensitive, clubfooted painter and potential art student who then has his life turned upside down when he is told by a local artist/critic that he has no artistic talent.  Philip decides to enroll in medical school and shortly after he crosses paths with "Mildred Rogers", a flirtatious tearoom waitress.  Philip becomes obsessed with Mildred to the point of failing his mid-term exam, but Mildred shows no interest in him whatsoever.  She breaks dates with him to go out with "Emile Miller", a womanizing regular who visits her at the tearoom. 

To help Philip forget Mildred his friend "Harry" introduces him to "Norah" who shows great affection towards him.  But Philip leaves Norah for Mildred when the waitress shows up pregnant and has nowhere to stay.  Without giving too much away I'll just say the cycle continues through the rest of the film.  A satisfying ending wraps things up very nicely which makes the film definitely worth a look. 

Leslie Howard stars as "Philip", Bette Davis stars in a breakthrough role as "Mildred", and Alan Hale costars as "Emile Miller".  Reginald Denny also costars as "Harry", with Kay Johnson as "Norah" and Frances Dee as "Sally Athelny".  A "pre-Ebeneezer Scrooge" Reginald Owen also costars as "Thrope Athelny".  Watch for Bette Davis letting loose with one of the most venomous tirades I've ever heard in a film.