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Reviews
Dark Victory (1976)
Under-Rated Remake
I have loved this movie from the first viewing.
Like many people, I'm a huge Davis fan.
However, I don't love her in everything. In most of her movies, she never completely submerges her personality into the characters she plays; we never quite forget it's Davis we're watching. She was trained in the theater and tends to overact. Perhaps it's discomfort with the given role; or just her outsize personality roaring it's way out of that tiny frame. She's splendid, but she's nearly always Bette.
I watched her version of this movie years ago bc I wanted to see how she handled the role. It was dramatic, noble, what was once called a "woman's picture."
I hated it (although Bogie has an interesting role as a servant with a passable Irish brogue, believe it or not). She played the role on the knife-edge of hysteria, even before she knew her days were numbered. I was uncomfortable throughout and glad when it was finally over, for me and Bette.
It all just felt staged and artificial.
Ms. Montgomery's remake drew me in and never let go of my heart.
Her Katherine is a TV producer consumed by her job who ignores her headaches and blurred vision until a loss of balance at a party leads to a fall down a flight of stairs.
From there, the conclusion isn't hard to forsee.
The script is witty and well-written, and Ms. Montgomery and Anthony Hopkins as her doctor are unforgettable. (I was very young when I saw it, and it stayed with me since then.)
The music and scenery are lovely. (But then, I'm easy to please. Give me a beach house with.a fireplace, a great score, and a romantic plot that's not too sappy, and I'm in.)
Give this one a shot, and see if you agree.
P. S.--My husband watched it with me and liked it as well. It was more accessible for us than Bette's original.