Of Human Bondage (1964): A Review

 

OF HUMAN BONDAGE (1964)

Thirty years after the first adaptation of Somerset Maugham's tale of twisted love hit the screens, we have our third and so far, final version to Of Human Bondage. With some surprisingly good performances, Of Human Bondage is a strong way to end the various adaptations.

As a child, Philip Carey was always bullied and self-conscious about his club foot. When he grew older, Philip (Laurence Harvey) thought of becoming a painter until he found that he had skill but no talent for it. Philip was prodded into going into medicine, where he did better albeit not as the most enthusiastic of medical students. Trained and bullied by stern Dr. Jacobs (Robert Morley), Philip does reasonably well. 

That is until he meets Cockney waitress Mildred Rogers (Kim Novak). She had caught the eye of many a male admirer, including some of Philip's fellow students. Philip, however, has become slowly besotted with our working-class wench, a flirt who is not above sleeping with men whom she knows are engaged. Philip soon begins a relationship with Mildred, but she does not see it as exclusive and eventually goes after a wealthier admirer.

Philip forges a new romance with writer Nora Nesbitt (Siobhan McKenna), but it is not long before Mildred comes back, knocked up and tossed out by her husband. Philip, like a moth to a flame, takes her in and moves away from Nora. Mildred is still up to her old tricks, fooling around with his best friend, stealing Philip's money, treating him like dirt and pretty much forgetting her child. Philip, now a full-fledged doctor, has finally forced himself away from this luscious monster. They do meet once more, under tragic circumstances brought about by Mildred's wanton and wasted life.

It is interesting that Of Human Bondage had three adaptations in 1934, 1946 and 1964 but has never been brought back since. I wonder why that is. I cannot say that the 1964 adaptation is the definitive version of the Maugham novel. I do think that Of Human Bondage is a strong film, with some good performances that work well.

I do not know if Kim Novak has been given enough credit for being a capable dramatic actress. In Of Human Bondage, she is a very good Mildred. She kept a convincing Cockney accent and initially came across as fun, slightly flirtatious and appealing. Novak made her into less a shrew and more a thoughtless albeit selfish creature. I do think that perhaps she was at times a bit too soft-spoken. On the whole, though, I think Novak did quite well in the role. 

Laurence Harvey is also good as Philip. He makes Philip into someone you can believe became so possessed by this tramp that he would forsake so much for her. Again and again, no matter what abuse Mildred heaped on him, Philip would go back to her. Harvey manages that elegance that I think Philip would have, a more upper-class manner. For good or ill, he and Novak had at times somewhat soft voices. I think that did help when either of them finally started raging.

A big surprise is Robert Morley as Dr. Jacobs. While his part was small, he dominated his scenes, showing a gruff manner that is a surprise. Morley had a jollier public persona and in Of Human Bondage, he did have a blustery and slightly comical manner. However, Morley also showed that behind that bluster was someone who could be harsh, even downright cruel, to his students. Belittling them in order to get them to work harder, Of Human Bondage picked up more in Morley's brief moments. 

The film is also helped by Ron Goodwin's lush score, which gives the film that sense of doomed romance.

I think that despite the more open manner that the times had, Of Human Bondage still pulled some of its punches. The film closes with Philip seeing the effects of Mildred's moral and physical decay, but it is filmed in such a way that most of it is in shadow. Granted, even in shadow the effects are still ghastly, so that is not too bad. However, I think that perhaps we could have seen Mildred's thoroughly wasted state rather than focus on keeping Kim Novak still a bit appealing.

I also think that despite its hour-and-forty-minute runtime Of Human Bondage skimped out on Philip's other romances with Nora and Sally (Nanette Newman). I won't say that they were rushed through, but perhaps underdeveloped.

Still, this Of Human Bondage adaptation works well and I think makes for good viewing. 

DECISION: B+