I Watch Films: Of Human Bondage (1934)

 

Of Human Bondage (1934)

Philip Carey (Leslie Howard) fails as an artist, returns to London to study medicine. His fellow students enjoy his tales of being an artist and his pictures (which include nudes). He’s sensitive about his club foot, which the lecturer has him show the class. He falls for waitress Mildred Rogers (Bette Davis) who annoys him by responding to his romantic gestures with the phrase “I don’t mind”. He’s so distracted he fails his examinations. She leaves him for Miller, a loud and wealthy businessman.

He continues his studies, meets Norah, a romantic novelist, the two’s friendship deepening, though Philip clearly isn’t as into her as he was with Mildred (or as she is with him). Then Mildred returns, pregnant, abandoned by Miller (who was already married). Phillip lets her move into his flat, cares for her. He breaks off with Norah, explaining that he’s bound to Mildred in the way Norah is bound to him, and Mildred to Miller, and there’s nothing anyone can do about it.

The baby is born and Phillip plans to marry Mildred, though she is uninterested in the child, leaving her in the care of a nurse. Going out to celebrate the engagement Mildred hits it off with Phillip’s friend Harry, another medical student. Confronting her about it she leaves him, her and Harry running off to Paris together.

Phillip returns to his studies, funded by bonds his uncle sends him. He strikes up a friendship with Athelny, a patient, and in particular with his daughter Sally. Mildred returns again, with the baby and Phillip takes her in, though any illusion of romance is gone. When she expresses affection he refuses it and she wrecks his apartment, destroying his paintings (she thought them indecent), his books and the bonds paying for medical school. He’s forced to give up, though not before his lecturer offers to operate on his foot. It’s a success and he goes to work with Athelny dressing shop windows.

Phillip’s uncle dies and he inherits enough to go back to medical school. Mildred contacts him; she has tuberculosis and the child has died; the film implies she’s working as a prostitute. Phillip becomes a doctor, reconciles with Harry. He hears Mildred’s been brought into the hospital, goes to see her but she’s died and Harry keeps him away. He plans to become the doctor on a liner, changes his mind and decides to marry Sally rather than follow his dreams, choosing to bind himself to her because at least one of them will be in love.

The first adaption of W Somerset Maughn’s novel of the same name, the plot is very much the same as the second. However it has a notably different script and a more interesting Philip, his held in frustration visible, a vicious streak when he let it out. And Bette Davis as Mildred is good, definitely fascinating.

Watch This: Solid, cutting 1930s drama of love and relationships
Don’t Watch This: Depressing, old-fashioned, often very mannered