{"id":32703,"date":"2013-11-15T10:21:14","date_gmt":"2013-11-15T17:21:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=32703"},"modified":"2021-02-05T20:34:59","modified_gmt":"2021-02-06T03:34:59","slug":"of-human-bondage-1934","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=32703","title":{"rendered":"Of Human Bondage (1934)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;There&#8217;s usually one who loves, and one who is loved.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Of-Human-Bondage-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Of-Human-Bondage-Poster-196x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"196\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-55656\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Of-Human-Bondage-Poster-196x300.png 196w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Of-Human-Bondage-Poster-671x1024.png 671w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Of-Human-Bondage-Poster-84x128.png 84w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Of-Human-Bondage-Poster-177x270.png 177w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Of-Human-Bondage-Poster.png 725w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 196px) 100vw, 196px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nA club-footed medical student (Leslie Howard) falls obsessively in love with a cold, calculating waitress (Bette Davis) who repeatedly leaves him for other men.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Alan Hale Films<\/li>\n<li>Bette Davis Films<\/li>\n<li>Femmes Fatales<\/li>\n<li>Frances Dee Films<\/li>\n<li>John Cromwell Films<\/li>\n<li>Leslie Howard Films<\/li>\n<li>Obsessive Love<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Response to Peary\u2019s Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nPeary argues that this adaptation of the second half of <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Of_Human_Bondage\">W. Somerset Maugham&#8217;s thrice-filmed novel<\/a> &#8212; directed by John Cromwell &#8212; is &#8220;static, claustrophobic, and uninterestingly acted by Howard&#8221;:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Of-Human-Bondage-Howard.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Of-Human-Bondage-Howard-1024x576.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-55658\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Of-Human-Bondage-Howard-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Of-Human-Bondage-Howard-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Of-Human-Bondage-Howard-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Of-Human-Bondage-Howard-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Of-Human-Bondage-Howard-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Of-Human-Bondage-Howard-480x270.png 480w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Of-Human-Bondage-Howard.png 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; but that it&#8217;s &#8220;worth watching&#8221; as &#8220;the film which really launched Davis&#8217;s career&#8221;. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Of-Human-Bondage-Davis2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Of-Human-Bondage-Davis2-1024x576.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-55659\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Of-Human-Bondage-Davis2-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Of-Human-Bondage-Davis2-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Of-Human-Bondage-Davis2-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Of-Human-Bondage-Davis2-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Of-Human-Bondage-Davis2-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Of-Human-Bondage-Davis2-480x270.png 480w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Of-Human-Bondage-Davis2.png 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>In <em>Alternate Oscars<\/em>, Peary names Davis Best Actress of the Year for her performance as the &#8220;mean and menacing&#8221; Mildred, a &#8220;cold-hearted, money-loving opportunist who treats Philip like dirt&#8221; &#8212; or, in the words of <em>New York Times<\/em> film critic Mourdant Hall, &#8220;a heartless little ingrate&#8221;. In <em>Alternate Oscars<\/em>, Peary provides more detailed information on how and why Davis came to take on this role, which &#8220;no major Hollywood actress would consider playing&#8221; &#8212; she apparently &#8220;wasn&#8217;t concerned about image because no one really knew who she was after twenty-one pictures&#8221;, and she &#8220;figured [this was] her one shot at stardom&#8221;. <\/p>\n<p>Peary writes that this role &#8220;made such an impression because it was conceived and played in such an original manner&#8221; by Davis, given that her Mildred &#8220;isn&#8217;t especially pretty&#8230; or alluring&#8221; and &#8220;isn&#8217;t smart or knowledgeable&#8221;. He points out that she &#8220;is not a vamp, she is just cheap, stupid, and shallow&#8221; &#8212; which is precisely why Howard&#8217;s relentless obsession with her is so fascinating. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Of-Human-Bondage-Obsession.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Of-Human-Bondage-Obsession-1024x576.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-55661\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Of-Human-Bondage-Obsession-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Of-Human-Bondage-Obsession-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Of-Human-Bondage-Obsession-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Of-Human-Bondage-Obsession-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Of-Human-Bondage-Obsession-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Of-Human-Bondage-Obsession-480x270.png 480w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Of-Human-Bondage-Obsession.png 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>As Peary argues, Philip &#8220;hates himself for being a cripple&#8230;  [and] Mildred is his punishment&#8221;. Indeed, Davis&#8217;s Mildred is a unique variation on a <em>femme fatale<\/em>: she&#8217;s clearly Philip&#8217;s undoing, yet he&#8217;s almost entirely responsible for their continued dysfunctional &#8220;relationship&#8221;. She could genuinely care less about him, but &#8212; almost to her own surprise &#8212; he continues to make himself available to her time and again; and so, as an inveterate manipulator, she takes easy advantage. Theirs is a morbidly fascinating dynamic &#8212; not one I find pleasant to watch, but certainly one film fanatics should see at least once. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Note:<\/strong> Peary ends his review by stating he&#8217;s &#8220;never seen a film in which so many letters are read&#8221; &#8212; really? That&#8217;s somehow hard to imagine. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Bette Davis as Mildred<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Of-Human-Bondage-Davis.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Of-Human-Bondage-Davis-1024x576.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-32704\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Of-Human-Bondage-Davis-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Of-Human-Bondage-Davis-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Of-Human-Bondage-Davis-300x168.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Of-Human-Bondage-Davis.png 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes, for Davis&#8217;s Oscar-nominated performance. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Oscar Winner or Nominee<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?page_id=1784#classic\">Genuine Classic<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?page_id=1784#noteworthy\">Noteworthy Performance(s)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0025586\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/3911\/of-human-bondage#articles-reviews?articleId=31567\">TCM Article<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.allmovie.com\/movie\/of-human-bondage-v35970\/review\">All Movie Guide Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.filmsite.org\/ofhu.html\">FilmSite Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s usually one who loves, and one who is loved.&#8221; Synopsis: A club-footed medical student (Leslie Howard) falls obsessively in love with a cold, calculating waitress (Bette Davis) who repeatedly leaves him for other men. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Alan Hale Films Bette Davis Films Femmes Fatales Frances Dee Films John Cromwell Films Leslie Howard Films Obsessive Love Response to Peary\u2019s Review: Peary argues that this adaptation of the second half of W. Somerset Maugham&#8217;s thrice-filmed novel &#8212; directed&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=32703\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-32703","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-responses-to-peary"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32703","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=32703"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32703\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":69127,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32703\/revisions\/69127"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=32703"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=32703"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=32703"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}