Tuesday, January 12, 2010

#6: Of Human Bondage

Starring: Bette Davis, Leslie Howard
Dir: John Cromwell (1934)
Let's keep this one short and sweet for the good of all concerned.
The bad and the good -
Bad: Let me sum up the bulk of Bette Davis' acting for you.
"WELL OI AIN'T SUCH A BAD GULL AM OI?? [wiggle wiggle] AN' OI DAN'T MOIND IF YA TAKE ME TEH THE THEATA [eye roll] BUT OI AIN'T GONNA KISS YA GADNAAAAAAHHHTTTT!! [wiggle]"
Good: Leslie Howard has a pretty face.

Summary: I vastly prefer Howard's treatment of the cockney urchin in Pygmalion. Of Human Bondage felt like being tied to a chair and having my eyeballs hammered unceasingly for an hour and twenty minutes. Good thing the most forgiving of guardian angels appear to have ushered Bette safely through such low points in her career... if not, we may never have had Baby Jane. And with that we may all say a short prayer of thanks, and good-night.

Stars:
-1,000 of 5

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