Great Scenes: Of Human Bondage

One of Bette Davis greatest (and earliest) performances, her 1934 portrayal of predatory waitress Mildred Rogers was passed over by the Academy for a Best Actress nomination, only to precipitate a write-in campaign by her colleagues who recognized the talents of the young actress. The film's star, Leslie Howard, had insisted that Davis get the part, over the objections of the British producers of a story set in London.

The film is a fascinating tale of self-destruction, self-loathing and co-dependency, exposing the sometimes irrational but immutable nature of human attraction. The more medical-student Phillip (Howard) pursues her, the more relentlessly she abuses and humiliates him, only to return to him time and again when her other exploits (inevitably) fail.

Most reviews of this film I've read describe Mildred as horrible and 'slatternly', but this clip reveals her intense female charisma, and her innocent belief in her own invincibility, the combination of which make her charming, in spite of her bad behavior. Howard's character seems totally consumed with demonstrating his own virtue, and wallows in self-pity when all it earns him is more of her contempt.

In the end, Mildred gets what she supposedly deserves, and Phillip resolves to marry the latest of several women who aspire to spend their lives caring for him. I suspect that in the sequel (had Somerset Maugham provided one), they too would have gotten what they deserved.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• somerset maugham
• bette davis
• leslie howard
• obsession
• self-loathing
• vixen
• lust
• betrayal
• bad girls

[tman12563]

"I don't mind" saying what a great job Bette does of being a bitch in this movie. Now, the cockney accent she's kind of putting on...

[priapus56]

A 53 year old anarchist who hasn't read a book for 15 years..