"Of Human Bondage" (1946) is a moody tale of romantic obsession, set in Victorian England. Philip is a sensitive gentleman who becomes passionately obsessed with Mildred, a beautiful lower-class vixen who is selfish and ill-tempered. The film is based on the classic novel by W. Somerset Maugham.
There are five reasons why the 1946 movie is the best version. First, Eleanor Parker is perfect as Mildred, the beautiful, shrill vixen. Second, the film is set in the late 1800s and has Victorian costumes and sets. Third, the lighting of the night scenes is dark and moody. Fourth, the musical score is excellent. Fifth, the film was directed by Edmund Goulding, known for his elegant and refined films. He directed classics including "Grand Hotel" (1932), "Dark Victory" (1939) and "The Razor's Edge" (1946).
Other versions of "Of Human Bondage" include the famous 1934 version with Bette Davis, and a 1964 version. The 1934 version was set in the 1930s.
The 1946 film has great atmosphere, with Victorian costumes and sets. Horse-drawn carriages travel along the cobblestone streets. Women wear elegant gowns with hats. Philip and Mildred spend a gloomy, misty day at Brighton beach. The entrance to the elaborate amusement pier is shown in the background.
Mildred's costumes are in a tawdry-chic glamour style. Her jackets, skirts and hats do not match, and are decorated with sequins and feathers.
The lighting is generally dark. Most of the scenes occur at night. There is high contrast between dark and light. The narrow, dark cobblestone streets are lit with gaslights. In one scene, Mildred appears in a tiny bright window wearing a black gown, looking out at the vast night. The darkness of the scenes gives the film a moody look.
Eleanor Parker gives a superb performance as Mildred. She is alternately flirtatious and mean-spirited, and is prone to shrill outbursts of anger. Paul Henreid is also excellent as Philip, the gentleman who loves the wrong woman.
The film begins in the Latin Quarter of Paris in 1897, at an artists' masquerade ball. One partygoer wears a skeleton costume, which is symbolic of death. Philip lives in an artist's garret. He is morose, because he wanted to be an artist, but his art instructors informed him that he is not talented. Philip leaves for London to attend medical school, and moves into a Victorian flat.
Philip is a gentleman who is looking for passionate love. He is not charming or handsome, and is afflicted with a clubfoot, but he is kind, intelligent and well-mannered.
When Philip meets Mildred working as a waitress at a Victorian tavern, he is completely obsessed, and wants to marry her. However, she does not love him, and is often scornful and derisive to him. Mildred consistently chooses the wrong men, handsome charmers who use her and then leave.
Nora Nesbit (Alexis Smith) is an accomplished writer, and she loves Philip. However, she is too ambitious for Philip, and she does not understand his love of art.
Mildred's affairs with other men makes Phillip's passion grow cold. When Mildred becomes pregnant and is abandoned by a callous lover, she resorts to prostitution to survive. Philip feels sorry for her, and tries to help her by giving her room and board, in exchange for domestic duties.
There is a dramatic scene on Christmas Eve. Philip plans to spend Christmas with his friends, the Athelny family, instead of with Mildred. When Philip rejects her romantic advances, she becomes enraged. In a whirlwind of fury, Mildred screams as Philip departs, wrecks his apartment, burns his money and leaves.
Philip later hears the tragic news that Mildred and her baby are dying. He sadly visits Mildred in the hospital. When Mildred dies, Philip's strange obsession also dies.
In the springtime, Philip finds true happiness with the Athelny family, and plans to marry their young, proper daughter Sally. He has found joy in marriage, work and family.
This film has interesting themes. Romantic obsession. Unrequited love. Social class structure. Falling in love with the wrong person. The tragic consequences of bad choices and selfishness. The happiness of family.
The 1946 film "Of Human Bondage" has been underrated, and deserves more recognition. This movie has excellent acting, outstanding Victorian sets and costumes, moody night lighting, a great musical score, and skillful directing by Edmund Goulding. It should be on DVD. Highly recommended.
There are five reasons why the 1946 movie is the best version. First, Eleanor Parker is perfect as Mildred, the beautiful, shrill vixen. Second, the film is set in the late 1800s and has Victorian costumes and sets. Third, the lighting of the night scenes is dark and moody. Fourth, the musical score is excellent. Fifth, the film was directed by Edmund Goulding, known for his elegant and refined films. He directed classics including "Grand Hotel" (1932), "Dark Victory" (1939) and "The Razor's Edge" (1946).
Other versions of "Of Human Bondage" include the famous 1934 version with Bette Davis, and a 1964 version. The 1934 version was set in the 1930s.
The 1946 film has great atmosphere, with Victorian costumes and sets. Horse-drawn carriages travel along the cobblestone streets. Women wear elegant gowns with hats. Philip and Mildred spend a gloomy, misty day at Brighton beach. The entrance to the elaborate amusement pier is shown in the background.
Mildred's costumes are in a tawdry-chic glamour style. Her jackets, skirts and hats do not match, and are decorated with sequins and feathers.
The lighting is generally dark. Most of the scenes occur at night. There is high contrast between dark and light. The narrow, dark cobblestone streets are lit with gaslights. In one scene, Mildred appears in a tiny bright window wearing a black gown, looking out at the vast night. The darkness of the scenes gives the film a moody look.
Eleanor Parker gives a superb performance as Mildred. She is alternately flirtatious and mean-spirited, and is prone to shrill outbursts of anger. Paul Henreid is also excellent as Philip, the gentleman who loves the wrong woman.
The film begins in the Latin Quarter of Paris in 1897, at an artists' masquerade ball. One partygoer wears a skeleton costume, which is symbolic of death. Philip lives in an artist's garret. He is morose, because he wanted to be an artist, but his art instructors informed him that he is not talented. Philip leaves for London to attend medical school, and moves into a Victorian flat.
Philip is a gentleman who is looking for passionate love. He is not charming or handsome, and is afflicted with a clubfoot, but he is kind, intelligent and well-mannered.
When Philip meets Mildred working as a waitress at a Victorian tavern, he is completely obsessed, and wants to marry her. However, she does not love him, and is often scornful and derisive to him. Mildred consistently chooses the wrong men, handsome charmers who use her and then leave.
Nora Nesbit (Alexis Smith) is an accomplished writer, and she loves Philip. However, she is too ambitious for Philip, and she does not understand his love of art.
Mildred's affairs with other men makes Phillip's passion grow cold. When Mildred becomes pregnant and is abandoned by a callous lover, she resorts to prostitution to survive. Philip feels sorry for her, and tries to help her by giving her room and board, in exchange for domestic duties.
There is a dramatic scene on Christmas Eve. Philip plans to spend Christmas with his friends, the Athelny family, instead of with Mildred. When Philip rejects her romantic advances, she becomes enraged. In a whirlwind of fury, Mildred screams as Philip departs, wrecks his apartment, burns his money and leaves.
Philip later hears the tragic news that Mildred and her baby are dying. He sadly visits Mildred in the hospital. When Mildred dies, Philip's strange obsession also dies.
In the springtime, Philip finds true happiness with the Athelny family, and plans to marry their young, proper daughter Sally. He has found joy in marriage, work and family.
This film has interesting themes. Romantic obsession. Unrequited love. Social class structure. Falling in love with the wrong person. The tragic consequences of bad choices and selfishness. The happiness of family.
The 1946 film "Of Human Bondage" has been underrated, and deserves more recognition. This movie has excellent acting, outstanding Victorian sets and costumes, moody night lighting, a great musical score, and skillful directing by Edmund Goulding. It should be on DVD. Highly recommended.