Director: John Cromwell
Writer: Lester Cohen
Starring: Leslie Howard, Bette Davis, Frances Dee
Runtime: 83 min
Rating: PG
Even after having landed a numerous amount of leading roles, Bette Davis did not acquire immense fame until her role as Mildred in this hectic tale directed by John Cromwell and adapted from the celebrated English novel by W. Somerset Maugham. A story of unrequited love, disdain, and deceit, Of Human Bondage is the perfect vessel to bring out the best in both Leslie Howard and Davis, resulting in a spectacle as entertaining as it is neurotic.
The 1934 film tells the story of Philip Carey (Leslie Howard), an aspiring young painter born with a club foot. After accepting the fact that he is talentless, he sets out for England, where he undertakes the study of medicine in university. Whilst there, he meets a young waitress called Mildred (Bette Davis). Philip cannot forget their encounter, and he begins a pursuit of the waitress that will bring everything but satisfaction to the young man’s life.
Although baffling that Bette Davis didn’t achieve stardom earlier in her career, it is understandable why this role was the one that finally converted her into Hollywood royalty. Mildred is a remarkable character, easy to identify with, easy to remember, and easy to despise. Davis excels at the role, and the emotions that Mildred stirs up inside spectators allow for great amounts of immersion, creating an experience where one’s opinions and feelings about the characters are actively lived and created.
Philip and Mildred are two compelling but equally insufferable characters. It is often the case that Philip is described as sensitive, loving, and passionate, while Mildred is described as heartless and manipulative. These adjectives might be an accurate description of the cunning Mildred, but Philips’s true colours are often overlooked. A pushy and insistent man with little understanding of personal space is what Philip truly is, and his seemingly innocent persona combined with this underlying obsessiveness is what gives the film its tantalizing, feverish tint. The interactions between the characters are fiery, and disdain towards both characters can often be experienced. Davis and Howard share a strange chemistry together that works perfectly to highlight faults in both Philip and Mildred. Even if it’s obvious that the characters will not easily end up together, they create a touchy and agitated relationship with perfect craft.
Special mention has to be made of how Howard is framed and filmed in the piece. Every close-up of his face is incredibly mystifying, and even those who have not stared in awe at Howard’s beauty before will find it hard to avoid a warm feeling when they stare at those doe eyes. The way the camera captures him seems to beat even Davis’s beauty; even her legendary eyes seem pale in comparison. Sadly, the camera does not show the same love to Davis, and in accordance with the scornfulness of her character, her framing is not special, and her beauty fleeting. It is fascinating that this role was the one that brought hoards of attention to Davis, when it seems that visually, the film is absolutely set on adoring Howard.
Although it is hard to take sides with the characters within the film, and the events and decisions it depicts will many-a-time leave the spectator with a sour taste in their mouth, Of Human Bondage is a riveting, extremely entertaining tale that leaves nothing to be desired if amusement is sought. With first class acting, pleasant music, and a wonderful script, the film’s witty and enthralling storyteller quickly engages the viewer, and it is impossible to find the piece tedious. Whether one is discovering Davis for the first time, or has been an admirer for a while, Of Human Bondage is a great film to turn to if the talent of the actress is to be confirmed, or rediscovered.
