Pre-Code Hollywood: The Risque Years - Volume 1 (Of Human Bondage)
In April 1934, the Catholic Legion of Decency was formed to pressure Hollywood into enforcing the Production Code. By that June, the Production Code Administration (PCA) was in place under Will Hays and Joseph Breen. The "Hays Office" controlled what America saw at the movies well into the 60s. Each of the films in Volume 1 were released before the PCA. Each deals with Adultery (part of the Code's "Sex" heading). Watching these movies today, it's very easy to see what all the fuss was about.
This disc includes:
Of Human Bondage (1934), from W. Somerset Maugham's novel and directed by John Cromwell, stars Bette Davis (as the slut Mildred) and Leslie Howard. This put Davis on the list of Great Actresses.
Member Reviews
A Star is Born - CaptainDave
It's easy to see how her role in Of Human Bondage made a star of Bette Davis. I can't vouch for her accent, but it's clear how her performance as a sociopathic piece of gutter trash became pretty much a template for the rest of her career. (Her reaction to her new-born daughter is priceless.) She never could quite escape playing human gargoyles, but then she was so very very good at it.
What's less easy to see is how Leslie Howard managed to keep his career going. About all he does is mope and look constipated throughout the entire movie.
The melodramatic plot is a bit inexplicable. Just what is it that fatally draws Howard to Davis, whom he correctly identifies as a self-absorbed tramp to be avoided? But there is much fun to be had yelling at Howard's character to not do things ("No, no, don't take her back!") even though you know he pretty much has to do them, for the sake of the story.
Although I've never read the book, the film seems to be a model of compression, with some excellent "travelling" sequences. It obviously hits all the plot highpoints, and nails its main characters, but doesn't bother to linger to provide much nuance.
Seventy-five years later, it's hard to understand what the fuss over the film might have been. Was it the adultery, the extra-marital sex, the unwed motherhood, the paintings of nude women? Well, probably all of the above. But in many ways the film is quite circumspect. We are spared a view of Howard's bare club foot, we don't get to see the inside of Bette Davis' mouth during a quick medical exam, and Davis never looks even slightly pregnant.
A film both fascinating and, enjoyably, frustrating.Good Movie - Great Performance By Bette Davis - bwod
In "Of Human Bondage", Bette Davis gave such a good performance, she was nominated for an Oscar. Based on a classic novel, this 1934 film is considered to be the best filmed version, to this date. It is a some-what dated story, but the performances are very good. If you enjoy vintage movies that are about people in relationships, then I can highly recommend it. Two thumbs up.
Member Reviews
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A Star is Born - CaptainDave
It's easy to see how her role in Of Human Bondage made a star of Bette Davis. I can't vouch for her accent, but it's clear how her performance as a sociopathic piece of gutter trash became pretty much a template for the rest of her career. (Her reaction to ...Good Movie - Great Performance By Bette Davis - bwod
In "Of Human Bondage", Bette Davis gave such a good performance, she was nominated for an Oscar. Based on a classic novel, this 1934 film is considered to be the best filmed version, to this date. It is a some-what dated story, but the performances are very ...