Of human bondage
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| Original title | Of human bondage |
| Country of production | United States |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 1934 |
| length | 83 minutes |
| Rod | |
| Director | John Cromwell |
| script |
Lester Cohen Ann Coleman |
| production | Pandro S. Berman |
| music | Max Steiner |
| camera | Henry W. Gerrard |
| cut | William Morgan |
| occupation | |
| |
Of Human Bondage is an American film drama from 1934. The screenplay is based on the novel of the same name (German: Der Menschen bondage ) by William Somerset Maugham .
action
Philip Carey tries his hand at painting. In Paris , a painter criticizes his lack of talent. Philip returns to London to study medicine. Despite his disability - Philip has a club foot - he flirts with the waitress Mildred Rogers. However, Mildred treats him badly; however, Philip keeps coming back and trying to get her to meet. When they actually meet for dinner, Mildred remains cool and aloof. She cancels an appointment to go to the theater because she wants to meet another man, Emile Miller.
Philip is so obsessed with Mildred that he fails his intermediate exam. He really wants to marry Mildred and presents her with a ring. But Mildred tells him that she is with another man. Philip finds out the other man is Miller. Philip meets the writer Norah, who overwhelms him with love. Philip tries to return their love. When a pregnant Mildred shows up, he ends his relationship with Norah. Mildred has been abandoned by Miller, who was married. After the birth of the child, Mildred Philip cheats with the student Harry Griffith, but he quickly leaves her too.
Philip now meets Sally Athelny, the daughter of a former patient. She invites him to visit her and her family. Months later, Mildred reappears, without money, but with her child. Philip's affection for Mildred has waned, which makes her angry. She destroys all the pictures that Philip has painted on the side and burns a pile of loans that Philip received from his uncle to finance his studies. Having become penniless, he had to quit his studies. However, before leaving university, Dr. Jacobs his clubfoot with an operation.
Philip is accepted by the Athelnys. He gets a job in one of their shops. He receives a letter from Mildred in which she asks for help. She lost her baby and has tuberculosis . Philip sent her some money out of pity. Philip's uncle dies leaving him with a small fortune. Philip can resume and complete his studies. He becomes the ship's doctor on a cruise ship. Before the ship departs, Philip learns of Mildred's death. Now he is free from his past. He decides to stay in London and marry Sally.
criticism
Mordaunt Hall of the New York Times found the film lacks the dramatic density of the novel, but the lifelike story and the authenticity of the atmosphere leave viewers hanging on the lips of interesting characters. In addition, Bette Davis, who made his breakthrough with this role, played extremely effectively.
Awards
In 1935 , Bette Davis was nominated for an Oscar in the category of Best Actress . (The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences only counts Davis as a "write-in candidate" and thus not one of the three official nominations for Best Actress of the Year).
background
The premiere took place on June 28, 1934 in New York.
Originally, Bette Davis was not nominated for an Oscar. But a campaign by her colleague Norma Shearer as well as a report in The Hollywood Citizen News produced an announcement by the President of the Academy that the name Bette Davis could subsequently be written on the ballot papers.
The film drew two remakes. In 1946 Edmund Goulding made a remake of the same title with Paul Henreid and Eleanor Parker . In 1964 Der Menschen bondage was released , a British production by Ken Hughes with Kim Novak and Laurence Harvey .
Web links
- Of Human Bondage in the Internet Movie Database (English)