"Of Human Bondage": From Page to Screen

Paper Abstract:

Released in 1934, RKO’s adaptation of W. Somerset Maugham’s novel Of Human Bondage was plagued with problems from the start, mostly surrounding star Bette Davis. At first, Jack Warner refused to loan her out, but Davis wore him down, convinced it would be her star-making vehicle. She also dealt with an abortion and the hostility of cast members. Of Human Bondage received critical acclaim, but it was a box office flop. Bette Davis was the winner; as she predicted, it made her a star.

Paper Excerpt:

When Of Human Bondage was released, the critics loved it, but audiences did not feel the same. “Audiences were dumbstruck by Mildred’s tirades against Philip, shivered and averted their eyes from her horribly dissipated appearance at the end, and actively despised her” (Spada 105). People were not used to seeing such a violent and ugly character, and they could not accept the fact that Philip kept forgiving her. It was a huge box office failure and “wound up a $45,000 loser” (Jewell 74). But it did what Davis expected – it made her a star. There was an uproar when she did not receive an Academy Award nomination for the role. She received the award the following year for Dangerous, a gesture that many felt was the Academy’s apology.