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.