OF HUMAN BONDAGE
UK, 1964, 100 minutes, Black and white.
Kim Novak, Laurence Harvey, Robert Morley, Siobhan Mc Kenna, Roger Livesey, Jack Hedley, Nanette Newman, Ronald Lacey.
Directed by Ken Hughes.
Of Human Bondage is based on a novel by W. Somerset Maugham. According to the Internet Movie Data Base, one hundred and twenty films have been based on novels and plays by Maugham. They include Sadie Thompson in several versions of the novel Rain, The Letter, with Bette Davis in 1942 and a remake with Lee Remick, The Painted Veil, Too Many Husbands, The Razor’s Edge in two versions.
Maugham spent a great deal of his life in Asia and that provides the background for some of these stories. However, with its English setting, Of Human Bondage takes up themes very dear to Maugham: strong women and their domination of men, their use of men, the men coming back to the woman who destroyed them, their human bondage.
In this story, Mildred Rogers is a waitress who attracts a medical student, Philip Carey. He is sensitive and has a club foot. As a medical student, he is committed to his work, but is eventually destroyed by his infatuation for Mildred. She moves away, takes up with others, becomes pregnant, relies on Philip for caring. Ultimately, she dies.
The first film version starred Bette Davis early in her career (and she did not receive the Oscar, but won the Oscar the next year for Dangerous). Leslie Howard was a strong British actor appearing in many Hollywood films and embodies Philip Carey. He was to appear in such classics as The Petrified Forest, Pygmalion and Gone With The Wind. He directed a number of films for the war effort, The Forty -Ninth Parallel, The First of the Few before dying in a plane crash during the war. The film was directed by John Cromwell, a classic director of the 30s and 40s.
Edmund Goulding (Grand Hotel, The Razor’s Edge) directed a 1946 version with a tour-de-force performance by Eleanor Parker with Paul Henried as the student.
The film was updated and remade in 1964 by Ken Hughes (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Sextet) with Kim Novak as Mildred and Laurence Harvey as the student.
Response to the films critically seems to depend on the affection for a particular period, with the common opinion being that the 1964 version is the weakest of the three. However, in looking back at the 1930s version, it was early film-making in the sound era and is rather creaky. However, it is interesting that there are three versions for audiences to compare the impact of Maugham’s story.
1. The meaning of the title, the reference given during the film, indication of themes?
2. The quality of black and white photography, the Rodin statues during the credits, the music, atmosphere, the stars?
3. Was the film a genuine dramatic drama, or a soap opera? How Much insight into relationships between men and women? The insight of Somerset Maugham? The book on which it is based as a classic?
4. The significance of the prologue concerning Philip at school, the cruelty of the boys, his ambitions, his being a cripple, disfigured? As seen throughout the rest of his life?
5. How was the audience meant to identify with Philip? The significance of his initial failure in artwork? His tutor giving him directions for life? His purpose in life? The contrast of the art world to medicine? Philip as a sensitive and cultivated man?
6. The importance of the film's stress on the medical world? The presentation of the doctor and his lectures, the detail of study, the humiliation of the students? As a balance to the world in which Mildred was the centre? The film's editing of the world of Mildred and the world of medicine?
7. The audience's first glimpse of Mildred? The impression, what kind of woman in herself, her style, as formed by her environment? The students and their attention to her, her handling of them?
8. How did the audience gradually get to know Mildred? Through the eyes of Philip? Seeing more than Philip? Her charm, yet her cheapness, her sluttish attitudes, her fickleness in breaking appointments, leading people on? Her unfeeling attitudes and self-centredness? The significance of the outings with Philip. her boredom at the theatre and her attitude towards the audience, her lies to Philip and his catching her out? The pressures that she put on Philip? His effect on her?
9. How well did the film show Philip's infatuation? His growing preoccupation, drawing her, going back? The importance of the war by Griffith? His lack of experience even though he had lived in Paris? The joy that Mildred gave him? Mildred's remembering of the rhyme that 'when she was bad she was horrid'? Philip's failing his exams because of infatuation with Mildred?
10. The significance of his proposal? Buying the ring, her attitude towards the ring? Sexual fulfilment and her revelation of the truth? its effect on him and her callousness?
11. The effect of disillusionment on Philip? His work at the hospital and his study? His being taken to the party, meeting the authoress, her care of him? How good was she for Philip? The effect on him? His truthfulness in telling her about Mildred? The importance of Atherlay and his daughter? Sally as a contrast to Mildred?
12. Audience response to Mildred and her suffering? The baby her need for help. her tirades against Philip his being hurt?
13. The contrast of Philip trying to get Mildred out of his system? His work as a doctor? His encounter with Mildred as she walked the streets? Her refusal to be confined by him? Finally the encounter at the clinic?
14. Mildred's failure as she began to go down her final illness, the significance of her death? Philip's infatuation, love and hatred until the end? How moving was Mildred's death? Philip and his freedom?
15. The significance of the funeral and the way that it was filmed? The background of the conversation with Atherlay, the background of Philip's love for Sally and her love for him? The future for them?
16. How much truth and insight into love, power, bondage did the film offer?
