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Dark Victory

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7.0/10 • 144

1939-04-201h 44m

DramaRomance

I've crammed every minute so full of waste. And now there's so little time. I don't know what to do. I'm afraid!

Socialite Judith Traherne lives a lavish but emotionally empty life. Riding horses is one of her few joys, and her stable master is secretly in love with her. Told she has a brain tumor by her doctor, Frederick Steele, Judith becomes distraught. After she decides to have surgery to remove the tumor, Judith realizes she is in love with Dr. Steele, but more troubling medical news may sabotage her new relationship, and her second chance at life.

Directors
Edmund Goulding
Editors
William Holmes

Top Billed Cast

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  1. Bette Davis

    Bette Davis

    Judith Traherne

  2. George Brent

    George Brent

    Dr. Frederick Steele

  3. Humphrey Bogart

    Humphrey Bogart

    Michael O'Leary

  4. Geraldine Fitzgerald

    Geraldine Fitzgerald

    Ann King

  5. Ronald Reagan

    Ronald Reagan

    Alec

  6. Henry Travers

    Henry Travers

    Dr. Parsons

  7. Cora Witherspoon

    Cora Witherspoon

    Carrie

  8. Dorothy Peterson

    Dorothy Peterson

    Miss Wainwright

  9. Virginia Brissac

    Virginia Brissac

    Martha

Reviews1

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CinemaSerf Avatar

CinemaSerf

Mar 22, 2024

7/10

Bette Davis always did know how to play the spoilt little rich girl character well, and my but she does it with aplomb here. She is "Judy", a young woman full of a privileged joie-de-vivre who starts to suffer from headaches and dizzy spells. Her family doctor recommends the specialist "Dr. Steele" (George Brent) who tells her that she has a brain tumour. An operation ensues, she is ostensibly cured and gradually she and "Steele" fall in love. The thing is, though, that her best friend "Ann" (Geraldine Fitzgerald) and her beau know that her prognosis isn't actually that hot - news that rocks the woman to the core when she finds out. A memorable scene around a dinner table demonstrates that skilfully and forcefully! It's hardly a surprise that "Judy" now goes off the rails a bit - plenty of booze and gentlemen friends to distract her from the inevitable, but maybe her friends can rally around and remind her that there might be a better way to live what's left of her life? This is a characterful drama loaded with emotion and chemistry between an on-form Davis and the understated but effective Brent. The writing provides for some strong dialogue and Edmund Goulding creates a working template for both actors to own the film from start to finish. It's not often you can say that Humphrey Bogart made little impact on a film, but here he is very much the oil to their wheels - and his enamoured "Michael" character is played well too. Max Steiner is at his most dramatic with the score and all-in-all this is a compellingly put together story well worth a watch.

Media

  • Dark Victory poster
  • Dark Victory poster
  • Dark Victory poster
  • Dark Victory poster
  • Dark Victory poster
  • Dark Victory poster
  • Dark Victory poster

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Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
--
Revenue
--
Keywords
horseback ridingbrain tumorfemale friendshipbased on play or musicallong island, new yorksocialitedoctor patient relationshipblindnessbrain surgerydepressingcompassionatehopeful