Of Human Bondage (1934) A Sucker For Punishment!

Featuring one of the most scathingly brutal smash downs I’ve seen on screen. Not only do you witness the moment the human spirit breaks inside a poor unfortunate fellow but you the viewers own eternal soul is torn from its tether. The intensity of the fierce, savage beatdown is spat into the face of its victim like erupting molten lava. He stands, shocked, flabbergasted and innocently stupid as he takes his punishment!  But what else would you expect from a movie with a title called Of Human Bondage?

Tagline – The story of a man who burnt up his soul for an idol cold as ice!

Haha I will say this has to be up there with one of the most depressing films I’ve seen. You know what, if the snapping of a human heart with an uppercut of pure venom, hate and disgust wasn’t enough? They only went off and made this film three blooming times!

Oh course I’m being facetious. This is a deep look into the human condition. Obsession or simply put “a sucker for punishment”. Showing what rejection, disappointment and failure through your life could do to your self-importance. When your self esteem, ego and pride have all taken a right royal bashing. Becoming obsessed with a girl even if she is a screaming banshee and the queen of the harpies.

It’s based on a novel by W. Somerset Maugham and somewhat an autobiography of his life!! Poor guy. Recognized as a masterpiece. Reading his bio, William Somerset Maugham didn’t sound like Philip in anyway! Served in the ambulance corps during WW1 and was recruited into the Secret Intelligence Services. Wrote many novels that were turned into films, was openly bisexual and an atheist whilst living to the ripe old age of 91.

Tagline – The greatest novel of the twentieth century now brings to the screen humanity’s tortured heart-cry!

After coming off the back of The Petrified Forest with the duo Bette and Leslie depicting a vision of hope, dreams and destiny in a film that I adored and constantly on my mind. The stark reality was after that film I just wasn’t prepared for the bleakness Of Human Bondage. You will be pleased to know that I did manage to laugh it of and joking aside it’s a fantastic film with strong performances.

Mildred Rogers (Bette Davis) gives us the no-nonsense sleazy waitress who flirts smiles hot and flips stern cold. Whether it’s an elderly gentleman (Alan Hale) or a young innocent medical student like Philip Carey (Leslie Howard) she seems to attract men like a magnet. But let’s be fair to her, she doesn’t lead him on at all, she’s nasty and off right from the get go. He’s just a sucker who’s lost in a delusional state. Never been in love, picked on, had his dreams of being an artist squashed and losing his parents at a young age all took there toll on poor Philips ego. To add to his woes, Philip sufferers from a club foot. His desire is to walk without the limp and impress with his dancing skills. Can Mildred and Philip make a go of this blossoming relationship?

So if you are feeling a tad bit happy with yourself and need to have the happiness levels brought down a touch then tune into Of Human Bondage. It dropped into public domain and is available to watch on Youtube here. It features fantastic performances from both Bette and Leslie. I read that it is regarded by critics as the performance that made Bette Davis a star, even with that cockney accent!

Directed by John Cromwell who made the prison drama with Eleanor Parker called Caged (that I loved) and Dead Reckoning with Humphrey Bogart which I’m still to see. Looking at his filmography he made a ton of films, especially throughout the 30’s. I will need to go investigate.

Of the two other versions Of Human Bondage. In 1946 club foot duties go to Paul Henreid and Eleanor Parker takes on the terrorizing slut slot. Then if your sadistic mood was high and were thirsty for more pain and anguish you could head off to 1964 for more doom and gloom. The low self esteemed limping doctor this time is Laurence Harvey and the saucy sexy siren of too much desire is portrayed by Kim Novak. Apparently I read that Novak thought Harvey was arrogant and conceited, so I assume the hate filled moments might have some extra venom in the sting! Anyone seen either of these two versions?

Tagline – He swore he’d never touch her again…… and then she whispered his name and he was lost…..

• IMDB links for Of Human Bondage (1934),  Of Human Bondage (1946), Of Human Bondage (1964) and Wiki Links to the novel Of Human Bondage (1915) and writer W. Somerset Maugham
• One last note, look out for the great special effects during the film as Philips imagination keeps thinking of Mildred.